Jimmy seems to be doing well on his insulin - keeping a steady (and trim) weight. Seems happy and playful - actually LIKES to get his twice-daily shots. But for the last few days, he's been growling at his water dish (?!). It's not an aggressive growl - it's the same gurgly-growl he does to me to tell me he wants/needs something. It seems to be a Jimmy-equivalent of "ahem". It would typically be something he would do if the water dish was empty - to alert me that it needs to be refilledWe've been in FL for over a month, and I'll admit that the water has a high chlorine content (it's like drinking from a swimming pool, IMO - we have well water back in Michigan) - but he's been drinking this same water over a couple of winters now. I have scrubbed the bowls, given fresh water repeatedly, switched to a different location; "on the placemat" and "off the placemat" and today, bought a new bowl that is hard plastic so his tags don't *clink*. I thought that would do the trick (the new bowl) - until he walked over and growled at it a while ago. He WILL drink when he's good and thirsty; but his whole body language is "wary".I have ruled out just about everything/anything I can think of, short of installing a compressed-carbon water filter. And Jimmy is my bullet-proof dog - NOTHING (normally) fazes him. He's fearless in the face of thunder/fireworks/vacuum cleaners/loud tools. I can't fathom why the water dish is so spooky?Has anyone else had their dog balk at drinking chlorinated water; or does diabetes promote "weirdness"?And Happy New Years, everyone!

I wonder if you bought some bottled water if his behavior would change? It might be worth an experiment.

Do you live near Flint in MI, perhaps he LIKES lead in his water. Sorry, just had to. There are places we visit in the RV and the chlorine content is offensive to me.I too was thinking to try the bottled water. Their sense of smell is so acute, I'm sure there is something in there that bothers him. If that works, maybe try a PUR filter or similar product.

We have heavily chlorinated water and put it through a Britain pitcher. Problem solved!

We don't drink chlorinated water and don't give it to the dogs either. Jimmy needs all the help he can get to fight the diabetes. I don't know if Chlorine interferes with the immune system but why chance it. We wish you all the best for Jimmy's battle. Jon and Loretta

I believe I would try and see if he likes the bottled water, We use well water and when we go camping our three chihuahuas do not like the treated water that most places have event tho. I use a filter, but they lap up the bottled water, we usually take some water from home for them for short trips.

Diabetic "Weirdness"? | Good Sam Community

Deb_and_Ed_M
Explorer II
Feb 07, 2017
dturm wrote:
Animals can get a diabetic neuropathy as many people do. I see it much more frequently in cats, and it can be quite a challenge to diagnose. The animals can't tell you they have a tingling in their extremities. With cats we notice a different gait, kind of a dropped rear end. It's possible that you are dealing with some sort of sensory change secondary to the diabetes... It's a mystery.

Oh wow - that never dawned on me (smack forehead) because I've often felt like he thinks the bowl has become "electrified" and even Mark had wondered if he was getting a static shock from it. Makes me wonder if the hard floor makes the sensation worse? (Hence the bogeyman in the kitchen) And for the moment, he's walking on a nice thick bath rug to get to his dish.... so he's a happy boy....

I'll do some reading on it - because if he DOES have it - it doesn't affect his gait or galloping around with Ben or our daily walks. But that could also simply be the desire to have fun overcoming the tingly sensation....

Thank you SO MUCH for that insight!!!
dturm
Moderator
Feb 05, 2017
Animals can get a diabetic neuropathy as many people do. I see it much more frequently in cats, and it can be quite a challenge to diagnose. The animals can't tell you they have a tingling in their extremities. With cats we notice a different gait, kind of a dropped rear end. It's possible that you are dealing with some sort of sensory change secondary to the diabetes... It's a mystery.
Deb_and_Ed_M
Explorer II
Feb 05, 2017
Scottiemom wrote:
You might try testing his blood sugar during this period of "weirdness" and see if you equate a high blood sugar with these events.

Dale

That crossed my mind, but he was being weird, pretty much all day long...>LOL!

Now that the water bowl is in the bathroom, with a rug and non-slip mat - he seems pretty happy with it. Just now, he walked to the bathroom doorway, stopped to survey the scene for a moment ("no bogeyman"), then walked in calmly and drank. And he's been fairly sensible about the slippery kitchen floor since he's been drinking regularly. So I still can't figure out what sets him off - but for several days, he's been his normal sensible self :-)
Scottiemom
Nomad
Feb 04, 2017
You might try testing his blood sugar during this period of "weirdness" and see if you equate a high blood sugar with these events.

Dale
Deb_and_Ed_M
Explorer II
Feb 01, 2017
LJAZ wrote:
High blood sugar can cause confusion. And it's not that the insulin doesn't work well if he's dehydrated, rather the dehydration is an indication that his glucose is too high and the normal dose of insulin likely isn't enough to bring it down to normal.

OK - it's good to know that high blood sugar can aggravate the "mental state". But for the moment (fingers crossed) - the water bowl in the (safe) bathroom (?) seems to be acceptable and he's drinking and acting "normally". At least he didn't wake me at 4 AM to tell me he was thirsty..... (roll eyes)
doxiemom11
Explorer II
Jan 31, 2017
Our dog does not like the shiny water bowls, the chrome looking ones that will keep the water cold longer. She now uses a plastic bowl. She also does not like to eat out of plates/bowls, so eats off a paper plate.

Maybe you could try refrigerating some of the water so it's nice and cold for your dog. Easy to keep a pitcher full in the frig.
LJAZ
Explorer
Jan 31, 2017
If he's dehydrated it's likely his blood sugar is too high, not because he's not drinking. High blood sugar can cause confusion. And it's not that the insulin doesn't work well if he's dehydrated, rather the dehydration is an indication that his glucose is too high and the normal dose of insulin likely isn't enough to bring it down to normal.
Deb_and_Ed_M
Explorer II
Jan 31, 2017
The weirdness is ongoing.....sigh. Now the kitchen floor is "too slippery" at times - he'll be standing there just fine, then all of a sudden he'll scramble; and the food bowl still springs up a bogeyman from time to time. New bowls, filtered water, special non-skid mats under the water bowl, trimmed nails and long fur trimmed from bottoms of paws. Nothing seems to make much difference.

Jimmy woke me at 4 AM because he was *thirsty* - wanted me to let him into the shower in case there were some water droplets to lap up. His water dish is full. (Bang head on desk)

Finally, I put his water bowl in the guest bath; and laid a path to it with rugs. He emptied it and drank half of the next bowlful.....

Is he creating additional self-confusion by being dehydrated because he won't drink? Does his insulin not work as well if he's dehydrated?? After he tanked up on the water, he came trotting (!) into the kitchen like he didn't have a care in the world, to get his insulin shot. 5 hours prior, the kitchen was the Land Of Terrors. He's lucky he's absolutely sweet and adorable......
Deb_and_Ed_M
Explorer II
Jan 07, 2017
fred42 wrote:
When I posted above about our dog having fear issues with the water bowl, I didn't mention it as it seemed irrelevant. However, she has fear of the deadly food bowl as well. We just gave up and feed her on a paper towel which she has no problem with.

LOL! So far, when Jimmy walks away from his food bowl, I can pick it up, which seems to magically make the bogeyman go away and he finishes the food. So far...

I wonder if the combo of two somewhat "alert" breeds (poodle and aussie) and then add high blood sugar because the insulin has worn off - is just a recipe for "weirdness"? Everything seems a bit "over the top" with him until the insulin kicks in :-)
fred42
Explorer
Jan 07, 2017
When I posted above about our dog having fear issues with the water bowl, I didn't mention it as it seemed irrelevant. However, she has fear of the deadly food bowl as well. We just gave up and feed her on a paper towel which she has no problem with.

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