Case Studies

Hansel Eubanks, age 14
Domestic Short haired-tabby cat
Male neutered cat
Long time patient of Dr. Forsythe

Came into hospital 2-4-10 drinking and urinating excessively. Diagnosis: Diabetes mellitus.

Pet was kept in the hospital for a couple of nights and regulated on PZI insulin. Hansel's owners, Carole Eubanks and David Deigan, were taught how to give insulin by Kelly and Chris. Carole and David got to practice giving placebo injections into Dooney the house bulldog and to Emily the house cat until they were comfortable, and quickly got proficient and dosing their own pet twice a day with insulin.

Hansel had to come in a couple of weeks after his diagnosis for a blood glucose "curve" where we sampled his blood sugar level every two hours throughout the day, and this test helped us determine that he needed a slightly higher amount of insulin to keep his blood sugar levels even better regulated. Approximately 6 weeks after diagnosis, Hansel had a "fructosamine" test performed to see how well his diabetes has been controlled since his diagnosis.

He is eating a good quality diet made for diabetic cats and is maintaining an ideal weight and body condition, and his family reports that his energy level is much better and he is drinking and eliminating much more normally now.

He is feeling much better now and seems to be adjusting well to his new medical condition and coping well while enjoying a very high quality of life.

---

To Pet Lovers

This is quite a dog story.

We have recently moved to Sonoma on 4/1/2010. We brought our aging Australian Shepherd, Reggie, with us. He had been slipping for about three years. Worst of all he developed three HUGE non-malignant tumors, weighing 12 lbs, 3 lbs, and 3 lbs. They rendered him pretty much hopeless at the end.

I had to carry him, lay n ext to him at night and rub him when he would cry and scream in pain. We finally thought, “I guess this is it, for Reg.”. Then, we were referred to Altimira Veterinary Hospital and met Dr. Forsythe. Immediately, we knew Reg was going to be cared for one way or the other. Dr. Forsythe promised nothing. He did a work up on Reg and told us he thought he could help Reg with surgery. Well, if you believe in miracles, we now do, too.

Four weeks later, our family and neighbors are in shock. Reg went from barely walking to running again and jumping on our bed. It’s absolutely unbelievable. We are so grateful to Dr. Forsythe and his staff. It’s made our move from the San Francisco Bay Area to Sonoma, the best. I am happy to say at age 70, this is the best gift I ever received.

Gerry Hipps