Jake Dallas

Learning to adapt day by day.

[jakeybakeysjourney]

#PrayForJake

When I got the call from the doctor saying that Jake had diabetes, I was in utter disbelief. Although I was happy that we were making progress on Jake’s diagnosis, I knew this meant Jake would need insulin twice daily for the remainder of his lifetime. 

Not only did the doctor positively confirm that Jake was a diabetic, she was also very concerned because he was severely dehydrated and his urine consisted of some type of unknown bug. She was almost positive the “bug” was Cushing’s Disease. To positively and properly diagnose Jake with Cushing’s Disease, he would need a scheduled ultrasound, but the technician couldn’t come in for a few days. Mind you, the doctor would not be able to treat Jake’s Diabetes entirely because if he had Cushing’s Disease, the symptoms could explain the reasoning for Jake’s high glucose levels. The doctor urged that Jake needed to be seen right away to be hooked onto an IV to get him hydrated again and to start him on a low dose of insulin until his further testing was completed. Back to the doctor’s office we went; this time, Jake had to stay for 24 hours to be monitored. As I dropped Jake off at the vet’s office, the sadness and fear in his eyes may have been the hardest part of finding out all of the news. All I wanted to do was comfort him; instead, I had to leave him at an unfamiliar place as if he was in trouble.

Having a double diagnosed dog, would be manageable, challenging and mentally hard for both my family and on Jake, but I was determined to do anything and everything to help my baby.

The memory of 8 years ago, when my mom and I drove passed the sign “Lab Puppies For Sale” near my house repeated in my head. Never was there an urge or need to go home with a puppy that day, especially since my brother had just gotten a chocolate lab months prior, but there was an unspoken connection I felt when I held this puppy, AKA Jake. After a lot of convincing and crying, my mom finally bought him for me. Spoiled Sierra went home with the cutest, big-pawed, farting, freckled nose, blue-eyed dog and named him Jake. It was probably the best and most rewarding present I could ever receive. Jake has taught me discipline, patience, dedication, pure love and so much more.

I had reached out to social media because my heart was breaking piece by piece. With everything going on in my life right now, this diagnosis was beyond words. The feeling of not being able to help my dog was horrible. I wouldn’t be able to rest peacefully until I knew that Jake was positively diagnosed and he would receive the medication that he needed. It really goes to show how much animals are apart of your family. For every photo and tweet that used  #PrayForJake, they gave my family strength and hope. I am so glad we have the support of each and every one of you!

-Sierra

Details to follow.

[jakeybakeysjourney]

Dia- What-es?

No one can ever prepare you for a disease or illness especially when you’re an animal. 

Recently, I had been feeling under the weather and I was drinking gallons of water each hour, but I didn’t understand why or how to explain myself to my family. My bladder was completely full 24/7 and I felt bad because of the 9 human years I have been alive, I experienced my first accident in the house. By the way, you read that correctly; even as a puppy, I never had an accident. This was definitely a defining moment that my family knew I wasn’t feeling well.

Not only did I have a full bladder, I also had a complete loss of appetite for dog food for about a week or so; however, I always seemed to have room for fresh cooked chicken and cold fresh cut apples my family fed me. 

My sister brought me to our local vet and the doctor said I had to do some blood work and give a urine sample. Boy, was I thrilled. 

Due to of all of my symptoms, the doctor was convinced that I had diabetes, but the results would not be in for another 24 hours. 

That night, I was mentally and physically exhausted to the point that I didn’t even want to go for my favorite daily walk. My family was worried sick, but prayed that the results would show the reasons I wasn’t feeling good so they could help me and get the medication I needed. 

Hours of anticipation, my sister, Sierra, got the phone call the next day and was informed that I was positive for diabetes and needed further tests because I also had particles in my urine. 

In layman’s terms, normal glucose (sugar) levels in a dog should be around 125 and my levels were well over 600. 

If I was left untreated, I could drop dead at any point; which was not comforting  to my family at all. I was left with no choice, but to be treated. 

How do you tell your animal that they have an illness or prepare them for all of the pain they will encounter for the rest of their life? How do owners explain to their pets that they will be in and out of the hospital? 

Car rides are not known as going to the park anymore, but for simply going to the vet, getting poked with numerous amounts of needles and being confined to a cage daily and sometimes overnight. 

Details to follow on my recovery.