Help Delmer Recover from a Diabetic Crisis

Hi friends,

My dog Delmer has been my ride-or-die since 2021. I adopted him through Save One Soul Animal Rescue League after he and his brother were found as stray puppies on a dairy farm in rural Arkansas. I met him when he was being fostered down the road from me, and the second he flopped over for a belly rub, I told him I’d find a way to take him home. And I did.

Delmer is a Plott Hound/Mountain Cur mix (we think!) with the soul of an old man and the heart of a rascal. He’s a local celebrity—coming with me to work every day, charming everyone he meets, and joining me on countless adventures: road trips, beach days, hikes, camping. He’s goofy, stoic, endlessly sweet, and truly one of the great loves of my life.

His Health Journey

Six months after I adopted Delmer, he was diagnosed with heartworm. We treated it immediately, but the steroid used during his recovery (prednisone) likely triggered a more devastating condition: diabetes.

Since then, diabetes has shaped both of our lives. Despite years of managing his insulin, changing food, doing blood-glucose curves, and making constant adjustments, we’ve kept him happy and healthy. But diabetes, especially in dogs, is relentless and unpredictable.

He had his first severe Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) episode shortly after diagnosis, a dangerous and life-threatening complication that happens when insulin levels drop too low and the body starts producing toxic ketones. It’s a medical emergency, and unfortunately, it struck again this past week.

Delmer started vomiting, had diarrhea, and refused food (VERY unlike him). I rushed him to the emergency vet, and it was confirmed: another DKA episode. He was hospitalized for two days, stabilized with fluids and meds, and thankfully, he made it through.

But we still don’t know why this crisis happened. We tested for urinary tract infections, pancreatitis, tick-borne illnesses like Lyme—everything came back negative. His insulin resistance remains a mystery. For now, we’re grateful he’s home, back on insulin, and slowly recovering. But this came with a steep cost I can’t cover on my own.

What I’m Asking For

Plus, we’ve fallen behind on regular care:

+I still need to keep stock of his insulin, roughly $25 a month (which isn't bad, thanks Walmart)

I’m asking for $4,000 to help cover this crisis and get us back on track. Every dollar will go toward his care. If anything extra is raised, I'm putting it in a "Delmer Emergency Fund" that my sister can manage since I've never been the best at saving.

I’ve never asked for help like this before, but the reality is— Delmer and I can’t do this alone.

Why It Matters

I enrolled Delmer in pet insurance too late, because he was already diagnosed with diabetes, and none of it is covered. Luckily for non-diabetic related issues, the insurance is great, but you still have to have the initial money upfront, and then they reimburse you. I work hard, live modestly, and have always prioritized his health, but this emergency pushed me beyond my financial limits.

When Delmer was first diagnosed, I was told two things: he’d lose his vision (he did), and he’d likely have a shorter life. And yet—he continues to live joyfully, fully, and stubbornly, with that same belly-up, let’s-go attitude I fell in love with. I promised him then, and I promise him now: as long as he’s here, I’ll try to give him the best, most love-filled life I can.

Thank you for reading. Thank you for caring. Thank you for helping me give Delmer a few more years of sun naps, road trips, and being the sweet little weirdo he was born to be!