Strip test positive for my boy!!
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heard back from my vet that says he wouldn't jump to the gas test yet that he want me to bring him in for first some general blood work and an exam before we jump to the blood gases - does that make sense - i feel like i am at the mercy of the doctor and don't want to do anything wrong for the guy
Also a little story for you and others about Vets… A very good friend's Basenji started spilling. She called me and I said the same, blood gases... she then talked to her Vet and was "read" the riot act on how "she" was the Vet, What good are blood gases, I never heard of the Protocol" and my friend called me in tears.... wanting to know what to do... I told her she can do one of two things, get a new Vet or ask her Vet to call Dr. Gonto and talk to him about Fanconi and the reason that Blood gases are so very necessary... Her Vet (much to the Vet's credited) called Dr. Gonto, she then called my friend and said "So, lets get those blood gases scheduled and done asap!"
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When Stormie began spilling sugar, he also was intermittent. In the afternoon it showed up, that evening, it was slight, the next morning almost nothing - but he has Fanconi. Luckily I have found an incredible vet who scheduled the blood gas tests right away.
The good news out of all this is that you've caught it early! Kudos to you for strip testing!!!! And the earlier you catch it, the less damage is done and the better the outlook for the dog.
I agree with everyone so far, if your vet is unwilling to listen to you, find a new one who will…many (((((hugs)))) to you and your furkid!!!
Lorraine and Stormie -
I forgot to mention in my previous post - the blood gas tests themselves aren't very expensive. My vet clinic charges $45. Initially blood work will also be done to determine other values (ie: potassium etc.). That gets a little more pricey, but it's not done as often as blood gas tests are.
More ((((hugs))))) -
Tewwi22, I understand how scary and overwhelming this feels for you right now. I think I was in some stage of crying over Stormie's spilling sugar/diagnosis for a solid week. I promise you that it's not going to be as bad as you think it will - it changes your life much more than it changes your b's. I don't even think Stormie realizes he's "sick" - he just gets lots of treat pills everyday and trust me, that grubby guts is OK as long as there's food involved! grin. More hugs for you, because I know it sucks and it's scary, but it's managable - you and your furkid are going to be just fine. (((hugs)))
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i read the protocol and it does say "once a working diagnosis has been made on the baseis of a positive urineurine glucose in the absense of elveated blood glucose" then to run the venous blood gas panel - i am hoping that is why my vet says to run the other blood test first but i am going to insist on the test when i get there or to have him tell me where i can get it done because he can't do it there - will call some animal hospitals -
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i read the protocol and it does say "once a working diagnosis has been made on the baseis of a positive urineurine glucose in the absense of elveated blood glucose" then to run the venous blood gas panel - i am hoping that is why my vet says to run the other blood test first but i am going to insist on the test when i get there or to have him tell me where i can get it done because he can't do it there - will call some animal hospitals -
By the time he takes blood within a couple of hours he will have the results… chances of blood glucose being elevated is pretty slim, IMO... and you can still call and get an appointment set up. Does your Vet know about Fanconi and already have a copy of the protocol? And I would (if it were me) just start calling around to different larger clinics to see who has a blood gas machine.... and make an appointment. And Dr. Gonto will be more then happy to discuss the results and help develop the beginning treatment. Know however that you will most likely be doing blood gases every 6 months (I think that is correct) to see if the meds are correct.....
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ok will start calling today - do you know how the meds impact the dog? ie will he be back to normal or still constantly drinking and needing to go out?
Depends on the dog and the degree of Fanconi at any given point… is he doing that now? Typically when they first start spilling that is what you see the sugar in the urine... usually not much change in drinking or potty habits...
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vet says unlike fanconi his blood sugar is off the chart and that his will wait for the all the test results but that he is most likely diabetic - he said his blood sugar was 400 and should be below 120 - do you know anything about diabetic basenjis?
I do not, but I have heard of a few dogs that are diabetic…. And that would mean that you will have to give shots daily... if this is the case... It is not very often that you will find a Basenji that is diabetic.... be interesting to see what the rest of the blood work shows along with like his liver and kidney values.... Thanks for the update....
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We had a diabetic basenji some years ago. She had lost weight and then suddenly got very sick, spilled sugar, and had elevated blood glucose. We started out with one insulin shot everymorning, she protested at first but I got very quick and pretty soon she hardly noticed. Back then, my vet treated by symptoms…if she started drinking a lot, I increased the insulin. Periodically we would check her blood sugar every 2 hours throughout a day to see how efffective the insulin was. After a couple of years we went to 2 shots a day, still not a big issue. She was about 12 when we started, so I don't know how she might have done if she had been younger, but we got another couple of great years for her before she lost sight and then got a bit senile at about 15.
That was about 12 years ago, treatments may have improved a lot since then. And there are great 'low carb' foods like EVO that should help a lot! We have freinds whose Great Dane became diabetic, very nearly died, and she started feeding him cooked ground beef, no grains at all, and he improved and lived another couple of years, I think he was about 12 when he died and had been diabetic for several years. Diabetes treatment in humans has improved a lot over the years, I'm sure it is the same for dogs. I would get him on a low-carb food right away, and see if that helps.
Good luck, hopefully with good diet control and exercise, he will do very well.
Anne in Tampa
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Switch over gradually, it is very rich and mine took a couple of weeks of gradually adding more EVO and less regular food, otherwise….diarrhea! Actually mine (not diabetic) still eat 1/4 Innova mixed with 3/4 EVO to keep their tummies in good shape. And of course talk to your vet! I am a human nurse, not a CVT, but I know lowering the carbs will bring down the blood sugar a good bit in any species. That said, food changes should generally be gradual. Best of luck with your boy.
Anne
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Anne - thanks - i keep reading info on line and it is making me a bit more nervous re complicaitons - i am hoping i caught it early and that with good treatment he will be find - no blindness etc
And let us know what the final word from your Vet is on him….
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In the old days - before Gontos and before Marker the rule of thumb was if the strip turned - check the blood for sugar (diabetes) if protein in urine and not in blood - fanconis. We've come a long way since then - with blood gases etc. I guess I would compromise - I would check the blood, get a panel for BUN (liver values etc) and the blood gas. That way you cover fanconi, diabeties and Cushings.
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In the old days - before Gontos and before Marker the rule of thumb was if the strip turned - check the blood for sugar (diabetes) if protein in urine and not in blood - fanconis. We've come a long way since then - with blood gases etc. I guess I would compromise - I would check the blood, get a panel for BUN (liver values etc) and the blood gas. That way you cover fanconi, diabeties and Cushings.
Yes, I would to… just to be sure... it is worth the cost vs peace of mind....
Also wondering, did your Vet tell you what the blood work show for liver and kidney values? Up/down??
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i asked and they said all the other tests and there were plenty were in the normal range - i will ask again re the liver and kidney values - so since yesterday he is on 5 cc of insulin humulin N 5 cc and diet food - he seems okay - he sleeps just like my other healthy b and has his appetite and despite the very cold weather here in NJ he was happy to go for a walk and he usually HATES the cold - any thing else i should be asking about ? i also bought ketone strips to start testing him on that
