Diabetes?

[lizzie_71]

I seem to remember there was someone on here with a diabetic piggie? If so maybe they can give me some advice.

Back in June I lost Charlie, aged nearly 4, to diabetes. I didn't recognise the symptoms (excessive drinking, weight loss) and he eventually slipped into a coma and couldn't be revived. His deterioration was slow over some weeks/months and because he was still eating, drinking and moving around I didn't realise I should be concerned.

Now his brother Jack is beginning to drink more and is quite lethargic. He hasn't lost any weight and is eating fine, but I am worried he may go the same way.

I don't know if there is any point in taking him to the vet because when Charlie was ill they basically said there is nothing that can be done for diabetic pigs anyway, and as he still has a decent quality of life I don't want to get him put to sleep.

 

[katiepops]

Hello
Sorry to hear about Charlie and that Jack's not right.
I have a diabetic pig called Bob (the piggy in my avatar) and Glynis has a diabetic pig called Velvet.
It's very hard to do anything for diabetic pigs from what I have read. If they have type one diabeties (under 1 year) they can be given insulin. Type two, which is found in older pigs can't be treated in the same way as the body can kick in again at any point and you can't test their blood levels every day like you can for a human.
We avoid carrots, fruit and sweetcorn, basically food that's high in sugar. Bob's a very fussy veggie eater so we let him have what ever else he fancies just so he'll eat some veg. Thankfully he loves his hay and dried food.

There's no reason to have Jack pts. Diabetics often live shorter lives but it can be a relatively normal one. I think it may be worth getting the glucose levels in his urine tested. It's not too intrusive for him and it will give you a starting point and should rule out anything else. Weigh him weekly and if he starts loosing weight start weighing daily and suppliment with some critical care.
Bob's had a few tests, some show positive, some negative, as I said the body can kick in at any point.
It's worth noting that the colouring in some dried foods can show as a positive for diabeties in tests.
Good luck, wishing Jack well and keep us posted.

 

[Sheppey_GuineaPigs]

Hi

One bit of advice

If you are taking your piggy to the vets to have the dibetes confirmed

The piggy has to be on a controlled diet for some weeks before the test as some foods are high in sugars and can give a false possitive result.

A diabetic piggy can be treated with isuline without any problems.

Regards

SGP

 

[Wiebke]

Have you done a search on "diabetes" on the grren top bar? that will help you find other threads.