I couldn't help but start a new thread, because Ladywolf on insulin is a different kind of animal! She is alert and awake and perky and fresh and mischievous and smart and eating well, and just generally acting like a new Wolf, leg tumors notwithstanding! She's moving all over the place and acting like she is re-born...

I know that this may be temporary, but I needed to start a thread with a new title, as befits the new wolf!

Hugs, Margi, Wonderwolf and Sweet Pea

Hi Margi
That is wonderful news!!!!!!!!! So glad to here she is doing so well. You sound so up beat I am very happy for you and Ladywolf. I hope that she is around for a long time to come. Everyone here has really come to know her. Give her a big hug.

Hugs to you also
Anna
xoxoxo

Great news Margi and it was a good idea to start a 'new' thread for Ladywolf. If you want to post an 'awake' photo to me at my e-mail, I'll upload it onto this new thread. If not I can upload the beautiful Sleeping Wonderwolf on here. Just let me know.
I'm so glad that insulin is working so well and so quickly. Thank goodness that she got tested and diagnosed , thanks to the generosity of the kind LS Donor. How is the following round with the peepot going? Whatever you're doing it seems to be working so it looks like her 'insulin' dosage is at the right level. Just make sure you do check though as the sugar level can sometimes really fluctuate. Don't panic though as it can be brought back by adjusting the amount you give gradually unit by unit up or down.

We had good news yesterday too as our darling baby grandson (4 months) was allowed to come home from hospital. He has been very poorly this last week, but hopefully he is on the road to recovery now.

Thinking of you.
Big HUG for the Wonderwolf and Sweetpea, and to you .
Love Jan and my Angels and Pixie x

Margi,

I am so glad Ladywolf is doing so well. I am very happy for the both of you. I know how stressful it is when Ladywolf isn't acting herself and I know what a relief it must be to see her feeling so much better.

Take care
Karen

Margi,

That is great news! Maybe the two you can go hiking.

Rhapsedy

It would be wonderful if we could go hiking, Rhapsedy, but while her energy level may be higher now, her leg is still pretty compromised. But the tumors haven't grown much--the vet and I agree on that. So her diet has really helped, although I WAS giving her some things that weren't good for diabetes, like oil in her food at night to keep her coat shiny... Nix on the oil now, and any added fats at all.

The following her around with a Dixie cup is NOT working out at all. I haven't been able to catch her peeing a single time, though the test strips haven't come into the pharmacy yet either. I don't know what I'm going to do about that. We just lead such a chaotic, unscheduled, undisciplined life around here. (Although I am being very careful to give the insulin shots about 12 hours apart, half an hour after food. Which means that she gets an extra small meal sometimes.) If I could take her on walks, then she almost surely would pee along the way, but I can't. I just don't know WHEN she pees! Darn, I wish there was some way to blood test her, that wouldn't cost $200 a WEEK at the vet's! I simply can't afford to do that... That's for all day testing--but how dare they charge that much?!

So for now, it's just 11 units of insulin twice a day, and we're taking our chances that that's good enough and not too much. It's a relatively low dose, and her acetone breath HAS gone away completely, which is a very good sign.

I know diabetes is a very serious disease and I don't want to "mess it up," but I can only do what I can do. So is cancer a very serious disease, and we've been pretty lucky so far with that...

We're just doing the best we can, and that's a lot better than last week, so far!

Hugs from Margi, Wonderwolf, and Sweet Pea, who is healing very fast

Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment


Dear Margi,
The photo's are beautiful, she surely is a 'Wonderwolf 'and a 'Lady '
The units of insulin that you are giving are pretty much the 'norm' and if she is doing fine then I wouldn't worry too much about the urine testing. Try and do one when you can though as it will give you an indication as to if her 'sugar' levels are ok. If she seems to be alert and happy then I would think you are on the right level, but they can fluctuate quite quickly, so if you can catch a sample and test it , it would be good.


Big Hugs all round for the Wonderwolf and her WonderMum
Jan and my Angels and Pixie xx

Oh Margi this is great news, I'm so pleased for you both. Ladywolf is certainly giving her tumor a run for it's money, and I'm glad he insulin is making a difference. Long live the wolf!

Hi Jan and Foxysmummy--

Yes, she IS beautiful, isn't she?? Thanks for posting the pics for me, Jan, and for reassuring me that if I can't urine test twice a day, we're probably still okay. She's drinking less water than she was pre-insulin, too. It turns out that it IS possible to blood test by getting drops from the ear, and that may be the best thing for us to do occasionally.

Yes, Foxysmummy, she is giving that tumor a "run for its money"--that's a wonderful way to put it.

Long Live the Wonderwolf, indeed!!

Margi and WW

Margi, I'm so glad she is doing better. I hope this break will last a long time for you. It's good to hear good news.
-Donna

Hi, Margi, again, thank you so o o much for sharing with us the pictures of your beautiful Ladywolf. I would have thought there was a way to do blood tests using the test meters with the strips, and doing it by the ear sounds logical. By the way, how is that skin infection site doing? Is that clearing up? I bet with the insulin now that it is. Now that she is a diabetic sores and wounds will need extra special care, so - - just be prepared for that, okay?

Margi, I am so o o o glad you were able to have the resources available to you so that you could get Ladywolf's current health status properly assessed. And I hope and pray with all my heart that this is "new beginning" for both you and Ladywolf in your continued journey together.

Please know you and your beautiful girl are in my thoughts and prayers, Margi, and I will look forward to hearing how things are going.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Click to view attachment

LadyWonderWolf reading a very interesting article about 'The Gray Wolf'. ( I love it Margi )

Love Jan x

Margi, I'm so happy for you and Ladywolf (love the eyeglass pic...lol) Keep up the good work!

Hugs to you and the Wolf,
Brutus' Mom

What a great picture! Did you take this recently? Ladywolf looks very healthy.

Thanks everyone!

Yes, Rhapsedy, this is a recent picture. What the caption actually says is: "Experts to chart new path for gray wolf." Pretty apropos, I would say. The reading glasses weren't the right strength for her, so she kept trying to shake them off, LOL.

Yes, she LOOKS this healthy all the time! Thanks once again, Jan, for posting the pic for me.

Still doing well--

Margi and Wonderwolf

Margi

I'm so glad Ladywolf is doing better. Those are beautiful pictures of her. I will try to post a picture soon-right now I am having a hard time looking at them myself. I hope that she continues to do well and that you will have a great summer together.

Thanks, hon.

I know how it is, looking at pictures. I couldn't stand to do it for a long time after my other beloveds died, and still have a hard time with one set of pictures taken right before the passing of my dog Katy.... I should probably get rid of them and forget about them. Take your time--we'll enjoy seeing your pictures whenever you feel you can post them.

Lady vomited a little tonight. I went into a diabetic panic. What if?...did I?...or, if not...? Then I remembered that Lady used to sometimes vomit when she was three years old and totally healthy and not on antibiotics for the seventh day. We do get a little obsessive, don't we? Of course, if it continues, I will get professional attention for it, but for now, I'm not going to worry much.

She continues to amaze.

Gratefully,

Margi and the Wolf

I just gave Lady a pretty thorough physical exam, and found that one of her tumors has indeed grown larger...

This is making me think about how interesting and timely this whole diabetes thing is. I am being giving another new life with my wolf, before she finally declines. I am getting to experience this new burst of energy and aliveness, while the cancer is still slowly taking her over. She has sudden new energy, at a time when she "should" be declining. How paradoxical it all is! But, how joyful too!

Margi and Wolfsen

Hi, Margi, been getting caught up on your posts this morning. How is Ladywolf doing this morning? Yeah, I get obsessive, too, when my babies are having a "medical" episode. I have had to resume the Laxatone for Noah because he is getting furballs in his little tummy. Oh how he does give himself the spit and polish treatments!

I am sorry that one of her tumors appears to be larger now, but I am ever so thankful that you are being able to help her with the diabetes. She deserves to be as healthy and physically comfortable as possible until it is time - - beyond any shadow of a doubt - - for her to join the angels. And I am so o o glad you now have the reassurance of a beautiful resting place for her precious body. This must bring great peace and comfort to your heart, Margi, and I am so very glad you have that.

Please know you and Ladywolf are in my thoughts and prayers, Margie, and please let us know how things are going. Hope Sweet Pea is doing well, too.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Margi, what fantastic news! I couldn't be more happy and thrilled for you and Ladywolf. I just adore the pictures too! So wonderful.

Margi, that's a great picture of your WonderWolf. Love the spectacles! I know those tumors are a constant reminder for you but I hope that you are able to enjoy this new resurgence of energy. It's so hard when your mind knows what's going on in their bodies but your eyes show something different. That's the way it is with Buck. You're thankful but apprehensive at the same time. Living on pins and needles. I feel like that's all I've done for the last year & 1/2. I know you must feel the same.
I hope you'll post more pictures.
-Donna

Thanks, Donna. Yes, it is strange--this sudden resurgence of energy in a being who is weighted down by cancer. The tumors are growing, but her energy level is through the roof now (not in a manic way, but in a comfortable way.) All would be right with the world if she didn't have one hind leg that is twice the size of the other...

I'm going to TRY to post another picture. I'm usually not very successful, but here goes...

Well, I did it twice, but twice is better than not at all!!

Margi and Wonderwolf

Margi, I'm so glad Ladywolf is showing signs of improvement. I'm sending lots of positive thoughts your way.

Umm shouldn't Ladywolf be reading from the new Ipad? Reading the regular way is so passe, lol.

Sorry, Ladywolf, but between the costs of the vet, the special new dry food, the chicken, the insulin, syringes, and blood testing equipment, we can't quite afford a new Ipad, even if you might like it better than a plain old newspaper...

We just took a walk together. A SHORT walk, I'll admit, but further than she had gone with me in weeks. We stopped to smell at every "bulletin board"--(every bush)--and she enjoyed herself, as did I!

I think I'm missing something at those bulletin boards--to me, they just smell like bushes, no big deal...But for her, they are like watching an All-Stars game!

Thanks for the nosey picture, Bue's mom!

Hugs from Margi and Wonderwolf

Margie,

We used to say Flossie was checking her "p"mail! They sure get a lot of information out of those bushes...... and stand firm when you try to lead them on down the sidewalk, road, trail or whatever you are traveling on.

So glad Ladywolf is doing better. I had a beautiful German Shepherd once that really resembled a wolf. Silver/black colors without the saddle markings lots of shepherds have. A wonderful dog that belonged to an ex that didn't deserve him. Come to think of it he didn't deserve me either!

Keep it up Lady........................

Hi Margi, I hope you know I was kidding about the Ipad. I just thought the pic with the glasses was so cute, along with reading the newspaper. My joke was with Ipad, there's no need for glasses because you can increase the font size. I'm glad you liked the dogs nuzzling their noses pics though.

Take Care

Hi Margi,

I'm so glad that you were able to take Ladywolf for a walk. I bet she LOVED that.

How did you get her picture under your screen name? I have been trying to figure that out for months.

Bue's Mommy--Oh, I knew you were kidding about the IPad! LOL. I was just explaining to Ladywolf why she couldn't HAVE one!!!

Rhapsedy. Go to your personal settings, and go to edit or change avatar. Then you can browse your own photos to pull up an avatar picture.

LOL, Flossie's mom. Most men DON'T deserve us!!!

Good Ladywolf day.

Hugs--Margi and Wolfster

Click to view attachment
Hi Margi
I seen this picture and thought of Lady Wolf Howling at the moon with her
new engery level. Give her a big kiss for me and know that I think of you both
often.

Hugs
Anna and My Angels
xo

Hi, Margi, finally got logged on and am just checking in to see how today has been for you and your precious Ladywolf, and Sweet Pea. I hope life is treating each of you kindly.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Hi Moon Beam--

Ladywolf is her usual spunky self. (Usual now that she's on insulin.)

Sweet Pea is having a hard time--they've had to stitch her up twice now because her rectum keeps prolapsing. She's not a very happy camper, but as I said in my p.m., she's young and resilient and will hopefully be okay. I do worry, as she's lost a lot of weight, and I don't see her much cause her owner, Dewey, is keeping her mostly indoors. But I can go visit her whenever Dewey's home.

Not a lot else to report. Thank God the Forum is back up and running!! How's everyone else doing?

Margi and the Wolfster

Hi, Margi, I'm so glad to know that your precious Ladywolf is continuing to do so very well. This truly makes my heart leap with joy for the both of you. I'm so sorry that Sweet Pea is having a difficult time. Several years ago I had rectal surgery for the Piles and I can tell you I really don't wish that type of surgery on anyone. So, I can empathize with what Sweet Pea has been going through, poor little girl. I truly do hope that she begins to heal and will be healthy for many years to come.

Hope life will treat you and Ladywolf kindly this weekend, and will bring Sweet Pea much improvement in her healing. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers, and will look forward to hearing how things are going.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Hi All--

Just found this and went wild!

Hi, Margi, what a beautiful gif!! Native art is so o o beautiful. I hope you, your precious Ladywolf, and Sweet Pea are doing well today. I hope that after this weekend you will see better prospects for employment. But until then treasure this special time that you have with your precious Ladywolf. It is time you will treasure later on.

Please know you and Ladywolf, and Sweet Pea, are close in my thoughts and prayers, Margi, and I will look forward to knowing how things are going for you.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Here are a couple more goofy pictures of Lady. I think she looks like a puppy in the first picture, and the second one was taken for my editorial website, ladywolfediting.com ! I'll be posting a larger Photoshopped version of the one of Lady writing after it's done. She has reading glasses on too--don't know if you can see that. I know how to post pictures now, but not how to adjust size for this site...

Or number of pictures, obviously! Margi

Hi Anna--

I just realized that I never thanked you for the wonderful Ladywolf image you sent to me. I am so sorry. I love it!

How are YOU doing these days?

Big Hugs--Margi and the Wolf

Hi, Margi, the pictures are so GREAT!!! Thanks so much for sharing them with us. Ladywolf is so o o o photogenic - - she "ought to be in pictures", as the song goes. Hope life is treating the both of you kindly today. Will look forward to knowing how things are going. Please know you, Ladywolf, and Sweet Pea are in my thoughts and prayers.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Ladywolf is having a very bad night. She's outside and won't come in, so I went outside with a sleeping bag to be near her, but she keeps moving around. So I was freezing my buns off and finally came in--she's just lying outside in the driveway and won't budge. I'm exhausted and am going back to sleep--indoors, this time.. She may spend the night outside.

She had some kind of blood sugar crisis today, which I don't thoroughly understand. And, of course, she still DOES have the tumors. I don't know what to make of it all...........

Margi and the Wolf

Hi Margi

Sorry to hear that Ladywolf isn't so good. You say she had a blood sugar crisis. Have you managed to get a urine sample to check her levels, or has the vet checked blood since diagnosis? Maybe her insulin needs adjusting . Wish I could help you more. I looked after my darling Tasha for 7 years with Diabetes and we had lots of ups and downs of sugar levels, so the insulin had to be adjusted up or down accordingly. If in any doubt call your vet or vet nurse. It is quite common for the levels to fluctuate.
I'm here if you need me. I'll keep checking back for messages or posts.
Thinking of you and Dear Ladywolf

Love Jan xx

Thanks, Jan. No, I haven't managed to do any urine testing--I can never catch her peeing. I've ordered a blood glucose meter which hasn't arrived, and learned lots of ways to blood-test dogs, but haven't had the chance to yet.

I can't afford to take her to the vet. Just one day of bloodtesting would cost over $200, and I don't even have the money for my June rent, or for food for Lady in a few days. I quite suddenly became unemployed in May. So I'll have to try to figure it out myself. The glucose meter should be here within a day or two, I think. I hate that I can't afford to get her proper care, but I can't afford proper care for myself, either...

Hopefully, she will rebound from this incident. It's the first time that I saw signs of hypoglycemia, and put Karo syrup on her gums, as instructed. Now she is totally wiped out. I hate that the vets here are SO expensive! Is it true in the UK too?

Thanks--Margi and Ladywolf

It is true Margi ,but we have a wonderful organisation called the PDSA. The 'peoples dispensary for sick animals'. If people can't afford to take their pets to the 'Vet' they will help by offering a free vetinary service. It is a charitable concern so is obviously reliant on donations, raffles and fund raising events.
I'm pleased that you gave Lady the glucose as it sounds as if she went Hypo. Did you manage to get the keto diabur urine testing sticks or similar? You don't need much 'pee' just enough to cover the end of stick where you get the readings. How many units is she on at the moment? Our Vet told us to call any time night or day if we were worried about Tasha. They don't charge for advice over the phone here.
Is she moving yet or still lying outside? Is she eating ok? I do hope that she is feeling better today. Please let us know when you can.
xx

Oh Margi, I'm so sorry to hear about this turn of events for Lady. I know you must have had an awful night. I hope you were able to get some rest. I hope she is feeling better this morning. I'm at work so I don't have much time to write but I just wanted you to know that I'm here with you. I know so desperately how hard this is for you.
-Donna

Margi
I hope that Lady is doing better this morning. Sorry I am rushed at the moment but will check back later.

Margi,

I'm so sorry that Ladywolf had a bad night. Is she doing better today?

Rhapsedy

Thanks, everyone, for your kind thoughts. Lady is still outside, in fact, I had trouble finding her when I woke up--she was lying under a rosebush in a hole she had dug for herself to be cool. She's acting really lethargic and dopey and won't eat, and I think that that famous "light" has gone out of her eyes. I have no way of getting free advice, and don't know whether to give insulin this a.m., on top of no food, or not. She's getting 11 units twice a day, Jan, but I only gave her five last night because she didn't eat.

Now she's at least in the house, came in a couple of minutes ago. At least I can keep tabs on her now. She's breahting hard, and lying on the kitchen floor.
I don't know what to do. I'll try calling the vet to see if anyone will talk to me, off the time clock...

This could be the end, I suppose...

Margi and Wonderwolf

P.S. Sweet Pea may have to be put to sleep today too. She is not healing, and now has something in her lungs too...

Oh Margi. I wish I could be there with you. It's so hard to know what to do and you need the advice of your vet. I think you did the right thing by lowering the insulin last night, but I think you really do need professional vetinary help now. You will be doing your utmost for your precious Ladywolf, and it's good that she's got up and come inside now.
Poor Sweetpea as well, I feel so sorry for what you're going through and I send prayers and hugs
Love Jan and my Angels and Pixie xx

Oh Margi, this is the worst. I am so sorry about Lady and Sweetpea. I really hate that Sweetpea couldn't pull out of her situation.
Regarding, Lady, though, I don't understand why your vet wouldn't talk to you without a charge......Is that true? I know they can't know anything for sure without seeing her but they can at least make a summation based on your description. I do so hope you are able to get help. Maybe the cancer has progressed lately and that is what is bothering her. Her behavior sounds like she is retreating. I know how hard this is. I'm mentally holding your hand through this. We're all here together. If this is her last moments, know that you ARE the best mommy ever!
I pray for peace for both of you.
-Donna

Hi, Margi, I got home from work about an hour ago (Thursdays are my "short" day in the office) and I'm just being able to get caught up on your posts. I am so sorry that Ladywolf had a bad night last night, and I do so hope that you have been able to talk to your vet or vet tech about your observations. Margi, you are doing the best you can under the circumstances. I do so wish I could do more than just be an "armchair cheerleader." Please know I am right there with you, along with all the wonderful folks in this Forum, and am anxiously waiting to know how things are going today.

As for Sweet Pea, I am so sorry that she has not healed from her surgery. This is very heartbreaking for sure.

Margi, please know you and your precious Ladywolf, and Sweet Pea, are close in my thoughts and prayers.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam