Diabetes (edit - Fanconi Syndrome)

You & me both!

Maybe. It's very rare though so wonder if she's not come across it either?

Anyway managed to have a good chat with my vet when he came to the office. He had a read through the Westie info I had printed out (thank you so much scallywag, this really has been a great help) and said it all sounded very sensible and was stuff he wasn't aware of. He said we can do the venous blood gas testing but didn't know where/who we get it done by - rang back to the surgery and told receptionist to ring AHT & Dick White Referrals to see if either of them did. Receptionist rang back few minutes later saying AHT did so vet said he would ring them to refer us.

Vet was very honest and said he felt very helpless as he had just never diagnosed it, and neither had the other two vets at the practice all with 30+ years experience and had taken the AHT's word that there was nothing that could be done. As absolutely incredible as they are,  I wonder if even the AHT have much experience with it given how rare it is?

Anyway only about ten minutes after he left, the AHT rang me to book an appointment so vet must have called them literally as soon as he got back in the car from the office. Spoke to a Mr Worland who said he was an European specialist in internal medicine and is very interested in Alfie's case as he had never seen Fanconi Syndrome in a dog that wasn't in a Basenji (they're genetically predisposed). We have an appointment for 10.30 next Tuesday and he will have the venous blood gas testing done then and talk about where we go from here. He said he is going to invite some colleagues to the appointment so really I think it will be quite thorough!

Disappointing that appointment isn't until a week away (I am so impatient and want answers NOW where Alfie is concerned) but if they're fully booked then they're fully booked, so next week it will have to be. I am just glad we have some kind of action plan in place, which is better than what we had this morning.

Thanks, yes it was the AHT that mentioned to my vet about the jerky treats yesterday.

Just feel out of my depth. Tuesday can't come soon enough, but scared in the mean time.

Things must be so frustrating for you at the moment barley. Keep your chin up hun, a week seems a long time right now, but just take it a day at a time and it'll soon be here.

Keep us posted on how Alfie is doing, and you too, we're here if you need to vent. {{HUGS}}

Good news on the BUN & CREA levels barley - you're right they are the main kidney issues indicators - although that can be affected by some other things (I learnt a lot with our Penny's kidney problems).

I think we all would be like you, wanting appointments sooner rather than later, but at least your vet has listened & referred you to AHT just a shame they are booked up. By the sound of it you should be charging them for an education opportunity or at least getting a reduction - somehow I don't think that'll happen though!!

Fingers crossed for you & Alfie on Tuesday. Try to relax (if you can) between now & then.

AHT tomorrow @ 11.30 - always worth an ask!

That's really good news barley, we'll all be keeping everything crossed for the pair of you.