Despite developing a serious but common condition, Dachshund Roma is now stable, thanks to the vigilance and care of her owner and vet. Joanne Bednall reports.
When his beloved Miniature Smooth- Haired Dachshund Roma started drinking a lot and losing weight rapidly, Sonny White wasted no time in booking a vet’s appointment.
The 66-year-old from Worthing, West Sussex, had a suspicion that his seven-year-old chocolate-coloured dog might be suffering from diabetes – but he couldn’t understand why.
“She had all the signs of the condition,” explained Sonny, who’s previously owned German Shepherds, a mongrel and Bulldog, and describes Roma as his best friend. “But neither Roma’s mother, Gypsy, who we also own, nor her father, have diabetes. My wife and I feed all three of our dogs a healthy diet, and religiously weigh them every week to ensure they stay trim, so it didn’t make any sense.”
The retired HGV driver, who had to give up the job he loved six years ago after suffering a stroke on his way to work, became concerned when Roma started drinking a lot and lost 2kg in weight within a short space of time.
“No matter how much water she consumed, it just didn’t seem to satisfy her thirst – she drank more at night and even weed on the kitchen floor, which she’d never done before,” continued Sonny, who took Roma to Brighton PDSA Pet Hospital in Preston Park.
There, the veterinary team took urine and blood samples, which confirmed the Dachshund was indeed suffering from diabetes, a condition that develops when a dog can’t produce enough insulin to control their blood sugar level, causing it to become dangerously high. Vet Tamara Drewett explained to Sonny how serious diabetes is, and that it can prove fatal without treatment. The pensioner was shocked to hear that his little dog would need lifelong medication to manage her condition, which is usually caused when a dog’s body attacks and destroys its own insulin-producing cells, having mistaken them for something else.
“The vet told me that caring for Roma would mean a big commitment on my part as I would have to inject her with insulin twice a day and closely monitor her diet,” explained Sonny.
“Gypsy, Roma and her son Jacks are fed a set amount of good-quality food twice daily with no treats. I would live on beans on toast if it meant they could have the best food.”
Sonny admitted that initially, he was nervous of injecting insulin into Roma’s nec
