Cleo, the March winner of our Brave Pet Award!

Cleo first came to see us because she had developed an increase in thirst, was urinating indoors and had lost a lot of weight over a couple of months, dropping from 11kg down to only 8kg. We investigated these symptoms by doing blood and urine tests, and Cleo was diagnosed with diabetes in November 2015.

Cleo was started on a new diet and we taught her “parents” to give her insulin injections on a daily basis. Cleo has been coming to see us almost weekly for blood glucose curves - a drop of blood is taken from her earflap every hour allowing us to measure her blood sugar levels. By recording her glucose levels throughout the day we were able to adjust Cleo’s insulin requirements and stabilise her diabetes, meaning a much happier, healthier Cleo.

Unfortunately, not long after been diagnosed as diabetic, Cleo developed cataracts in both eyes which led to her losing her sight completely. Sadly, this is a very common complication of diabetes in dogs. Despite being blind, Cleo has adapted really well. She uses her nose to navigate and she has astute hearing. She remains a very happy dog and doesn’t let this new obstacle hold her back.

She never fails to make us smile and always gives us a happy tail wag even though her glucose curves can’t be a very enjoyable experience.

Cleo really is the perfect patient and is loved by everyone who works in our Caerphilly team.

We would also like to thank Cleo’s “parents” for allowing us to submit a lot of information from Cleo’s care to a major veterinary pharmaceutical company. Cleo doesn’t know this, but she is helping develop a new treatment for diabetes that will hopefully benefit thousands of dogs in the future.

Well done, Cleo!!!!!