Rolling Dog Farm Blog

Our vet in Helena, Dr. Brenda Culver, called today to say Sammy could finally come home after two weeks in the hospital.  It had taken this long to get his diabetes under control, with repeated glucose curve tests, changes in dosage, changes in insulin types, and constant monitoring.  So Alayne made the 70-mile trip to Helena this afternoon to pick up the little scamp.  Sammy was so excited to see Alayne at the clinic — he was beside himself!  He kept jumping into her arms and licking her face.

I took this photo a few minutes after they got back to the ranch late this evening.  Sammy, of course, had all this pent-up Jack Russell/Fox Terrier energy that was ready to burst after two weeks confined to a hospital cage.  Once we turned him loose, he raced around the yard, leaping and barking and just having a blast.

So what treatment did Sammy finally start responding to?  Cat insulin!  No kidding.  The insulin bottle even has the outline of a cat on it.  Go figure.  Naturally, this isn’t your usual generic run-of-the-mill insulin but an expensive type:  $110 a bottle.  However, based on his dosage (6 units once a day), one bottle should last about two months.  In any case, we’re just delighted our vets may have found the answer for Sammy!

(Click on photo for larger image.)