I wanted to share another note I received from a diabetic pet owner: Dear Dr. Carol, You are so kind and dedicated to your field to even email me as a total stranger. I congratulate you for this- you are obviously one of the few whom are truly dedicated to your practice.
I am an emergency room, registered nurse of 27 years. It has been extremely hard on me and my husband this past year with Winston. When you are used to treating and healing others, it truly is hard when your own are sick and your hands are tied and you want to help. I never was comfortable with Vetsulin and wondered why not the other insulin. Felt like I could get a human’s insulin under control within hours, why can’t I get Winston’s better controlled? If only we were informed as soon as this FDA warning came out 11/2/09, this possibly could have been prevented. Whose responsibility is this? I think it is the manufacturer and the prescribing veterinarian and dispensing facility, whether the pharmacy or the vet’s office.
There is no rush for the surgery, I told my husband this. When we have the sugars stabilized and all the labs- renal and liver and cardiac are OK we will proceed. With his liver values for alkaline phosphatase being elevated in the 3000’s just in 7/09 we are fully aware of risks and will not proceed with cataract surgery till all is cleared. (I also see Ketamine is recalled.) Winston has a beef allergy so proprofol is contraindicated for sedation. Januay 18, 2010 is a penciled in date. We will not rush into this like they would like, it’s a shame it sometimes seems like all dollar signs. Besides putting down our Chocolate Lab, Hunter for HSA on 4/09, we have about $11,000 for Winston for Rat Bite Fever and more this past year.
I sent an email to our vet today of why did he sell us the Vetsulin on 12/9/09 and not tell us of this warning until we had a problem? I also challenged him of why he prescribed a 3 year Rabies vaccine and a 2 year distemper/parvo-virus vaccine to a 10 year old lab on prednisone 5 months ago? He was immune compromised and should not have been given vaccinations, let alone a extended one. Unfortunately I was not with them, my husband was and like most you trust what the vet tells you. Winston would not have steroid induced Cushings disease if he didn’t have this vaccination.
I am a bit nervous the vet will walk away from this as most do. The only hope I have is he has a history of kidney stones and I work in the local emergency room, as well as I got his son a volunteer job in our emergency room.
Thank you for your concern and advice, we will keep you posted.
Laurel C.