With Trixie, we have learned over the years quite a lot of do's and don'ts. Especially with health concerns, and having the most accident prone pup around!

I do not profess to be an expert in any way shape or form. Theses tips are what we found to be the right choices for Trixie through all the years we have had her and are just guidelines. Speak with your veterinarian first before you try anything and go with your instincts.

My first recommendation is to get pet health insurance when you first acquire your new addition to your family. As they age, as with humans too, things start happening and it helps when you have insurance to help pay for those bills that will crop up. We unfortunately did not have it and now wish we had investigated a little more on it instead of ignoring it. Insurers won't cover pre-existing health issues so we are unable to qualify. Ask your vet which insurance they accept and go from there, most insurances for pets start out at about $20.00 a month. Now when you face either a health concern or accident, a vet visit can run hundreds to thousands of dollars. $20.00 doesn't seem like very much now does it? Especially when just a typical visit alone runs $30-40.

Also be sure to invest in a Diabetic pet medical tag with your veterinarians phone number on it and yours. On Trixie's tag, I had put the type of insulin down and that she receives two shots twice daily, one at 8am and 8pm along with emergency contact information. If anything should happen to your beloved pet, at least you know help will be available. It could just mean the difference between life and death for your pet.

Especially for a diabetic, it is mandatory to get a journal to write down dosages given, but I would also recommend a journal for even a healthy dog to have on hand for any other prescriptions or notes to be written down, (even jot down this information on the calendar) for instance on a certain day your dog threw up, or fell, or had an accident, all this information is very helpful when you do need to take your dog to a vet, it does help eliminate a lot of needless guessing and frustrations for yourself and your veterinarian.

Do your homework on the health ailments of your breed of dog. Some are well known for certain ailments, and if you are aware of what they are, there is a good chance you might be able to prevent any major problems before they happen. Miniature Schnauzers are susceptible to diabetes, skin, eye, and ear problems, for example.

If you know the signs, your pet will tell you what is going on by using body language.
Trixie's ears going flat is a good indication that she is not feeling well and there is a high chance she will vomit.
Even being lethargic could mean either her sugar levels are too high, or too low. It could also possible mean that she is extremely sore and just doesn't want to go for a walk.

If you are tuned into your dog's body language, and habits, it does help when something goes amiss and you might just be able to fix any health problems before they get too bad and are not reversible or before things get too expensive too. It can be the simplest things as they are not as alert one day as they were the previous or seem aloof where they are normally cuddly, shading or wincing their eyes are a good indication something is amiss. Little signs make a big difference.
Trixie never would whimper, growl or bite when she is in pain, so we have had to rely on body language to determine that something was amiss with her.







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Trixie weighs between 15-16 pounds and this is what was suggested to us by our veterinarian:

Aches and Pains- Baby aspirin contains sugar, so if for some reason you had to give your dog a baby aspirin and they are diabetic, well needless to say, sugar levels go way up. Most veterinarians do not recommend aspirin in any form, but on rare occasions ours told us it was okay. As long as it is not given all the time. I've given her 1/4 of an adult aspirin on those occasions that she needed it. Aspirin also seemed to help when her eyes would swell from her glaucoma. Consult your veterinarian before you consider trying this.

Acid reducing- 1/4 tablet of crushed Cimetidine also known as Tagamet acid reducer, will help with any acid in the stomach. On most occasions, I usually mix this with her food, instead of sticking the tablet down her throat.

For allergies- we give her 1 Benedryl capsule, tablets take too long to dissolve, especially if she has gotten hives.

**For signs of allergies, excessive licking of the paws, or rubbing the eyes. Check the stomach for hives, don't hesitate to take your dog to the vet if there is hives. We almost lost Trixie on several occasions when she got stung by a bee and she had horrible hives. We also found out with hives she was allergic to peanuts and rye. Unfortunately, most over the counter food or treats have these ingredients! Benedryl will make a small dog sleepy.
Cleaning- We use Baby wipes to cleanse when a bath can't be done (specifically when she had been sick or had to stay overnight in the pet hospital), or you can find a no-rinse wash for pets at the pet store or even Walmart in their pet section.

Diabetes- To test for Trixie's sugar levels, I test her urine with Diastix© Glucose Urine Strips. The strips turn color with the amount of sugar in her urine. For this you will need a stop watch. You match the urine covered stick to the bottle after 30 seconds and that will tell you approximately what her glucose reading is. It will be awkward at first, but if you really love your pet, you will go to great lengths to know what is going on. I found it easier to achieve the urine by placing a flat plastic storage container, no bigger then 4 inches by 4 inches and no higher than 1 ½ in height under her rear end and then putting the stick in the urine. It is tricky and Trixie is sneaky enough she will try anything to avoid having me achieve any readings. Male dogs, will be trickier yet! Also have your veterinarian test their blood for sugar levels periodically. Each vet is different and some swear by the strips, while others say they are not accurate. I use them to get a rough idea on what is going on with her health.

Many things can happen on any given day, there are a few of those occasions that when I have given her insulin shot it has either gone on through the other side and squirted out, or I accidently got a "bad spot", which is one that has either a fatty tumor or scarring from the years of diabetes and the insulin just did not get absorbed like it was supposed to and she will read higher. Do not give another injection if you are uncertain as to what dosage was given! Just wait till the next scheduled time and be more careful.

Always double check the dosage on the syringe before you give the injection, an overdose will likely harm and even kill your pet, while too little will make their glucose levels skyrocket.

With Trixie, I had left her fur slightly longer around her injection sites, for better control on where the shot goes, meaning I grip the fur gently and look for a good spot. This does take practice, so consult your veterinarian on the best practices for your pet. As time goes by it Does get easier.

Make sure your pet eats their food when the injection is due. Standard rule of thumb with diabetics is: No food, No insulin. The insulin works in conjunction with the food so it is necessary that they are given at the same time.

Syringes- I personally found out that some syringe brands have better suction to remove the bubbles then others. Over the years, you will find that out too.

A great link I found when Trixie was first diagnosed with diabetes is: www.petdiabetes.com
or www.caninediabetes.org/pdorg/

There are many sites out there to help with this scary situation. And I can not profess enough to talk with your vet or other owners out there to answer any questions.

There is a lot of information out there on diabetes and pets nowadays, so please do your homework first, and consult your veterinarian and don't be afraid to talk to your vet, ask as many questions as you can and write down the answers so you don't forget on the way home and second guess yourself.




Diarrhea and/or vomiting- Pepto Bismol tablet is good for vomiting, and diarrhea. But will darken and harden stools and might keep them "backed up" for a day. A new study came out that this was not recommended for use on dogs. Ask your veterinarian first before you try anything!

We use potatoes with no skin or rice as a mild substitute when she has been really vomiting as a mild food to soak up the acid or even homemade broth will do. Canned broth usually contains sugar and other additives and is not advisable.

Dry eyes-Diabetics, are prone to dry eyes. I keep eye ointment in her eyes constantly especially if she goes outside in the wind, and at night before bed. I use "Puralube" ointment (bought at Walmarts) Petrolatum Ophthalmic ointment, sterile ocular lubricant which contains light mineral oil USP (150mg) and white Petrolatum USP (850 mg). Both are lubricants. And I even use throughout the day, artificial tears by Equate (also from Walmarts). It seems to help with any dryness and to help clean out any fur or fuzzies that might have gotten in her eyes.
***Do not use any redness reducing products in their eyes! If you try eye drops, just use the artificial tears, soothing relief drops.

I also will clean around her eyes with the round cotton swabs you can find in the cosmetic section in the store with water, to clean away any crustiness, or oily stuff from the ointment that will accumulate in her eyebrows. Trixie really enjoys on those days that her eyes bother her, a cotton round soaked in water and just held over her eyes (make sure eye is closed!), for as long as she will sit still. She has always been very good about me working with her eyes, but beware not all pets will allow this and you need to be careful not to poke them in the eyes if you try this!

Ears- Trixie never had her ears cropped like a lot of schnauzers do, so they flap over, and she does tend to sweat, which causes bacteria and ear infections. I usually try to keep the ear flap pretty trimmed, which is two-fold because the fur won't go in her eyes and it helps the air circulate so there is a good chance bacteria won't have a chance to make a home. I also have my mother help with holding Trixie while I take tweezers and pull the long hairs out to also help keep the ear dry. If you do try this, Please be extremely careful!! For one, the ear drum can be damaged if you put the tweezers in to far, and two, most dogs won't allow things in their ears and might move the wrong way and will pull away from you and you might just poke them in the eye.

I use a cotton ball with mineral oil to help cleanse her ear flaps, and do this several times a week, especially when it's hot and she sweats.

We also use 1 drop (using a eyedropper) of vinegar in an affected ear. We are careful to make sure she does not have a sore or scratch mark, as this can be extremely sensitive and painful. To ensure she doesn't move the wrong way and get a drop in her eyes, I usually have someone gently hold her head for me.

Extras- I made boots with non skid material on the bottom when we were in Hawaii and had Trixie wear these because the neighbors were dumping coolant and oil in the medium strip where she walked. After we moved to Montana and had hardwood floors, I made socks with non skid material so Trixie wouldn't slide and fall and aggravate her arthritis.

My dad has made Trixie a water/food dish holder out of wood, so she doesn't have to bend down to eat or drink and aggravate her arthritis. This does come in handy for older pets, who have a hard time bending their neck down to reach their bowls.





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Flax oil versus Fish oil-  For arthritis, I used to give Trixie fish oil daily mixed in her meals. Unfortunately with her diabetic condition, the fish oil raised her glucose levels. I then came across the great properties of flax oil. Flax is good for arthritis, lowering blood sugar, helps with the skin, and is an overall good supplement to even have in our own diet. I use the lowest milligram capsules I can find, puncture the capsule, then squeeze the oil out of the capsule and mix the oil in her food, once daily. Flax is to be kept refrigerated and can be found in any vitamin section of your store. You can buy the bottle of Flax oil also, but for us I found out it is easier (albeit messier!) to just puncture the capsule and not worry about spoilage versus measuring the correct doses with the bottle and measuring spoons. Also, some Flax oil companies have a strong odor in their oil, whilst some do not.
For more information on the health benefits of Flax oil, you can visit here: Flax oil benefits
or Flax oil
*Always ask your veterinarian or physician about correct dosages and if this is the right supplement for you or your pet.
When starting out with Flax oil, you must start out with smaller doses, whether you are taking it for yourself or giving it to your pet.
Flax oil will cause a gassy, and/or upset stomach, until your body gets used to taking it. Also, I read somewhere that if you are allergic to certain nuts (not the human kind!) you might have a reaction to the oil, since it belongs to the same family as nuts. Trixie is allergic to peanuts (amongst other things) but she has been lucky in not having any reactions to it so far and she has been on flax oil for over 2 years now.

Food and treats- We make Trixie's food at home with a combination of vegetables, and chicken. Equal parts fed twice daily. Honestly I can't figure out how she can get so excited over the same meal every time! But it does taste good, and we've had it for dinner too and it is very filling.

For Treats she gets Iams© Original Formula Small bisquits (in the green box). It helps with tarter on her teeth and does not contain any sugar. Most treats, or food contain sugar and if you have a diabetic it does take a lot of time to read the ingredients, but it is worth it if you do take the time to do this. It really makes a difference when you are trying to regulate her insulin. And I also give her Nutri-dent mini-chews, which help with her tartar on her teeth.

Hives- Benedryl is good for this, but if they are too bad, she needs prednisone and a rush to the veterinarian. Regardless, contact the vets office and inform them that your pet has hives, it could just mean their life.
Idiopathic Vestibular Disease- Early in the month of May, 2008, Trixie was diagnosed with Idiopathic Vestibular Disease. It started with her constantly walking in circles, and being off balance, and her eyes were very erratic, then she vomited all day, a frothy yellow acidic stuff. That was a scary day for us, but with research and a talk with the vet (luckily he knew about this syndrome, since a lot of vets out there are not familiar with it) we were able to control it. It helps her keep her balance when we put her harness and leash on her too and we had used a neck brace to help keep her from twisting her neck around when she got really off balance.
We also found that if we wrapped a towel around her to swaddle her and just steadied her until she regained her balance, she was better off. The towel seemed to comfort her and she realized we were trying to help her. For a larger dog, I would suggest using your body to steady your pet until the dizziness subsides a little. We found out that it made matters worse if we picked her up to hold on to her. Evidently, ones who suffer through this, need all four feet planted firmly on the ground to regain balance. Sometimes it may take quite awhile for the dizziness to subside. For Trixie, it is hard to keep her down and at times she fights the dizziness by trying to move around constantly, and with her poor eyesight, it just makes things worse. But she seems to appreciate the attempt to help her through these types of troubles that crop up and it builds a stronger bond with her in the long run. The stronger the bond, the sooner you can catch little (or big) problems that come up, and fix them before they get to the point of not being able to be reversed.
She was prescribed Baytril antibiotic to control the yeast infection in her ear and Rimadyl to help with any inflammation. Being idiopathic, meaning nobody knows the cause, it was suspected that the yeast infection in her ear contributed to the condition, also it was mentioned that Trixie had a polyp in the affected ear also.
We do notice that at times her head will tilt more to the left on any given day, so we make sure her ears are trimmed on the inside, and we will add a drop or two of vinegar in the ear to fight off any infection she may be having in her ears. She sweats in her ears, so the bacteria can accumulate and cause problems for her. We try to wipe the inner part of the ears with mineral oil and a cotton ball to keep it clean, then add the drops of vinegar.
**If you try administering vinegar to the ears, please consult a veterinarian first!! We use an eye dropper to place the vinegar in her ears, and be careful not to get any vinegar in their eyes!! If it is possible, have someone hold onto the dog while you give the drops of vinegar, or trim around their ears. Don't hold onto the pet too tight, they will more than likely just fight you and it will just cause a more stressful situation. Any sudden movement could possibly cause irreversible damage, either to the eyes or ears!

**For more information on this go here: www.vetinfo.com/dencyclopedia/devestib.html

Seizures-yep, our girl had them too, and they were very scary when they occurred. Luckily, it only happened in her early years and we have been lucky she hasn't had anymore. Contact your veterinarian if any seizures are present.

Vaginal discharge- She developed a vaginal discharge several years ago, and until recently I couldn't find any information on it. This discharge would be clear, turning to yellow, then a greenish tint. Antibiotics didn't help and the vet had no idea what the problem was. Recently while researching this problem, I came across several articles relating to her issues. In Trixie's case, when she was younger, she had been spade and evidently the vet did not remove all of the tissue in her uterus and hence she gets a discharge every once in a while. Nowadays, you can find this sort of thing as being quite common!

*For vaginal discharge, 1/4 of a capsule of cranberry extract twice a day with food (again she is only 16 pounds), for about 2-3 days or until it clears up and it has worked for her so far. I try to find the smallest milligrams available on the market. Cranberry extract causes the urine to be more acidic and eliminates any bacteria to collect along the urinary tract. Too much acid is not good either, for it will cause crystals or bladder stones to develop, so please use caution and consult a vet before you try this, every pet is different. Dogs are like humans, they have allergies and weak stomachs too. Cranberry extract is acidic and might cause stomach irritation. I usually give Trixie 1/4 of a tablet crushed of Cimetidine (Tagmet) along with the cranberry extract in her food.

*We also fill a tiny spray bottle with equal parts white vinegar and water and spray on her urethra and wipe with a clean paper towel. This helps kill off any bacteria. This also helps with any crustiness that forms from her discharge.

Vitamins- Vitamin C is supposed to be a very good immune booster, but with Trixie she ended up vomiting for a whole day, and it took Tagamet (Cimetidine-acid reducer) 2 times a day for 2 days to relieve her acid in her stomach. I also had on hand a stomach tablet (Sucralfate) the veterinarian had prescribed for her long ago when she was very sick, and I crushed that up and gave that to her also. The only Vitamin C she gets, is through the small dosage of cranberry extract that I give her during her vaginal discharge problems and the vegetables in her food.
I don't give her any other supplements other than Flax oil, because most of the over the counter ones contain sugar, and the one's from the veterinarians office is very expensive. Our veterinarian told us that Trixie was getting what she needed from the diet my mother invented, so for Trix, any extra nutrients weren't really needed. That made us feel better!



Be it noted:

***All information presented here is intended for educational purposes only. It is not provided in order to diagnose, prescribe or treat any disease, illness or injured condition of the body or pets and the author, publisher, and contributors accept no responsibility for such use. Responsibility nor liability will be incurred to any person or entity with respect to any loss, damage, or injury caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the information contained above. Anyone suffering or their pets from any disease, illness or injury should consult with their physician or veterinarian.


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