Dot was on these medications for years. We occasionally had to tweak the meds. A couple of years ago, she was diagnosed with diabetes and we stopped the cortisol, but kept the thyroid meds. Shortly after we discovered her diabetes, Dot went blind as a complication of the diabetes. Dot is currently on insulin twice a day. Dot's blood sugars are mostly under control and I have a test kit and know how to check her levels, just like a human diabetic. Basically, I have a chronically ill dog.
Dot's chronic illness is part of her behavior problems because she's always had special treatment and given a lot of lee way because she's sick. And being a very bright and stubborn terrier, she used it to her advantage.
I don't know if Dot's diabetes was caused by the low dose of cortisol, or she just has bad genes. But I do know that Dot would not have made it to her first birthday because of her malabsorbtion problems. I don't really expect that Dot will live a long life (not uncommon for terriers to live into the mid teens), but as long as she has a good quality of life, we'll keep doing what we need to do.
Dot is really an amazing dog. She manages very well for a blind dog. We don't move the furniture around and she has managed to develop a "map" of her surroundings.
Dot's chronic illness is part of her behavior problems because she's always had special treatment and given a lot of lee way because she's sick. And being a very bright and stubborn terrier, she used it to her advantage.
I don't know if Dot's diabetes was caused by the low dose of cortisol, or she just has bad genes. But I do know that Dot would not have made it to her first birthday because of her malabsorbtion problems. I don't really expect that Dot will live a long life (not uncommon for terriers to live into the mid teens), but as long as she has a good quality of life, we'll keep doing what we need to do.
Dot is really an amazing dog. She manages very well for a blind dog. We don't move the furniture around and she has managed to develop a "map" of her surroundings.