Diesel, a black Labrador, is known as a miracle dog by his owners.
He was born in August 2010 and his owner Candy Kent picked Diesel up in Witbank a couple of months later.
“Excitement grew as we drove all the way to Witbank to fetch our new fluffy bundle of joy,” said Kent.
In June 2019, Diesel suddenly showed funny behaviour by drinking an excessive amount of water.
“We rushed him to the vet. We were told it could be diabetes or the dreaded C word. Never have we ever prayed so hard for the result to be diabetes.
“We were told his blood levels were sky high at 33, a normal or safe level is between 6 and 10. We tried to stabilise his levels but had no luck. We were told he had to go on a special diet, with the food found just down the road from us at the Glens Veterinary Hospital.
“This is where we met Dr MJ Hough, the godsend we had been waiting for, After trial and error of getting his insulin and food amounts right, Diesel started to level out, keeping in mind his levels and curves were never 100% correct or normal. During these past years, we have had to keep a constant check on his curve.”
Everything was going great and according to plan until a year and a half later when his sight started to deteriorate with him bumping into things, also resulting in Diesel falling into the swimming pool.
This turned Kent and her mom Glenda into helicopter parents.
“No matter how many times we called Hough and the lovely ladies at the front, Tessa and Cheryl, they were always so helpful.
“We were also worried when he needed to be castrated but Diesel passed the test with flying colours, shocking the vets on how incredible he healed.
“He also goes to see nurse Meghan regularly for his nails and he loves her very much.”
With lots of love and care from the staff at The Glen Vet and the support of his family, Diesel is now three years into his diabetic life and still going strong by beating the odds.
“Diesel has always been a calm and happy-go-lucky boy who loves to swim and go for his weekly rides with his dad in the BMW. His newest fun activity is his weekly 3km walk at Rietvlei with his new little sister Bella.”