Question:
Our 9 year old Belgian Shepherd went blind in August from cataracts. She was
diagnosed with diabetes, which caused the cataracts. She is now on insulin,
but her glucose level is not really coming down. The vet says some animals
don't respond well to insulin. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to
improve insulin effectiveness? Also, can cataracts be removed from dogs? How
expensive is it?
Answer:
Cataracts can be removed, but with diabetes being the cause,
there's no point to doing so until the diabetes is under control or the
cataracts will return.
As far as the insulin, it is possible your Belgian may have
non-insulin dependent diabetes. I.e., she may be making insulin but her
cells are not responding to it properly. Your vet may already have ruled
it out, but s/he may not have either, as this form of diabetes is
considered very rare in canines.
"At dawn we will face the greatest test of our resolve. But I
say this: though starving, hunger will not weaken us; though diseased,
illness will not cripple us, and though weary, exhaustion will not claim
us. We can fight knowing that all true Reiklanders will forevermore
honour our valiant gesture of defiance, even though our bodies be left to
feed the beasts of carrion.
