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July-August 2001 Pet of the Month
Scooter
Scooter is an eleven year old miniature Schnauzer with a disease called diabetes mellitus. He was originally diagnosed at another clinic, but did not seem to be responding to his treatment and came to see us
for a second opinion. To determine if Scooter's current treatment was effective we needed to test blood samples every 2 hours during the day. The
testing showed that the insulin he was receiving was having no effect on his blood sugar level. After adjusting the amount of insulin, we repeated the testing, however, there still was no change in his blood
sugar level.After consulting with several specialists about Scooter's case, we did some further testing and tried different forms of insulin. The additional testing was important to ensure that there was
not another disorder which was interfering with Scooter's blood sugar level. We needed to try two different forms of insulin before finding one which Scooter responded to. Scooter's diabetes has made life
more challenging for both him and his owners. He lost his vision in both eyes due to cataract formation. Even though he can no longer see, it has not stopped him from enjoying life. Without the hard work and
dedication of Scooter's owners and our staff, he would not be doing as well as he is today. 
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Diabetes mellitus is a disorder of blood sugar (glucose) regulation. The disease occurs both in humans and animals, and results in a high blood
sugar level. Most owners will initially notice their pets drinking more water and having to go outside more frequently or possibly having accidents in the house. In addition to an increased thirst, owners
will also commonly notice an increased appetite, but their pet is losing weight. There are also a number of other changes that cha occur with diabetes. It is common for diabetic dogs to have a variety of
infections, particularly bladder infection. One of the most severe consequences of untreated diabetes is vision loss, which occurs secondary to changes to the lens in a dogs eyes.Diabetes can
require a large commitment on the part of an owner, but can also be a very rewarding disease to treat. Scooter is a wonderful example of what can be done with a lot of hard work and love for a special part
of the family. |
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