Learning Through Duke: How Texas A&M Helped One Family Understand And Manage Canine Diabetes

January 28, 2026

When Duke joined Ruby and Kenneth Engelke’s family, he arrived as a small, scruffy stray in desperate need of help. 

The Engelkes’ daughter had found the white Havanese mix at a nearby park — weak, underweight, and infested with internal parasites commonly found in neglected dogs. He was unlikely to have survived much longer on his own.

After getting the care he needed, Duke quickly settled into the Engelke household. He became the family’s loyal protector and formed a special bond with their other dog, Duchess. 

In the years to come, the Engelkes would face medical challenges with both dogs, but with help from Texas A&M’s Small Animal Teaching Hospital (SATH), they found the support, guidance, and expertise they needed to overcome each hurdle. As his journey unfolded, Duke even became part of a clinical trial, giving him the chance to help other dogs just as the Engelkes had helped him. 

A Familiar Diagnosis 

Soon after Duke’s arrival, Duchess was diagnosed with diabetes, introducing the Engelkes to a demanding new routine — consistent scheduling of twice-daily insulin injections and meals along with regular exercise and careful monitoring of blood glucose levels. 

Duchess lived with the condition for three years, and, during that time, Duke never left her side. 

Eventually, though, Duchess’ condition took a sharp turn. She began vomiting excessively, stopped eating, and grew shaky and weak. After multiple visits to different clinics with no help, the Engelkes brought her to the SATH, where she finally stabilized. 

“They saved her, but they also found that she had masses on her spleen,” Ruby said. “After we brought her home, she declined again.” 

Despite every effort, Duchess’ complications were too severe, and she passed away in March of 2024. 

Then, just months after, the Engelkes noticed that Duke was drinking and urinating excessively. Immediately recognizing the signs of diabetes, the Engelkes knew where they wanted to turn. 

At the SATH, their fears were confirmed — Duke also had diabetes. And worse, he also had a life-threatening complication known as diabetic ketoacidosis. This occurs when the body, lacking insulin, starts burning fat for energy, which creates acidic byproducts (ketones) that build up in the blood. 

Exploring Potential Innovations In Diabetes Care 

While stabilizing Duke, the SATH Internal Medicine team introduced the Engelkes to a clinical trial exploring a new approach to treating diabetes in dogs.

“The trial was developed to explore new therapies that might allow us to move away from twice-daily insulin injections and toward a less frequent treatment,” said Dr. Andrew Bugbee, a clinical associate professor who led the study. 

“We were testing a drug that looks to help the body increase its own insulin production,” Bugbee said. “This would hopefully help the dog not require injections to control its glucose anymore.” 

For the Engelkes — who had spent years wishing for new options during Duchess’ illness — the decision to join the study was clear, and Duke soon became the first participant enrolled in the study’s dose-determination phase. 

“Duke was injected with the study drug with the goal of determining what dose would work for most animals,” Bugbee said. “The patients who enroll in the future will receive an updated dose based on the information we gained from Duke.” 

The Engelkes hoped the trial might improve Duke’s quality of life but knew that even if it didn’t, what doctors learned from Duke could help other dogs and owners in the future.

“I truly appreciate their commitment and investment, not only in Duke and his care, but also in the research process and trying to help other animals,” Bugbee said. 

Enrollment in the study required frequent checkups over the span of six months, first every two weeks and then monthly. These visits became invaluable, offering the Engelkes ongoing guidance on Duke’s diabetes management and allowing clinicians to identify and address issues as they emerged. 

After Duke’s diabetic ketoacidosis was fully managed, he came back for a full health evaluation to ensure that he was stable and had no other underlying issues. During this initial evaluation, clinicians noticed a small mass in Duke’s neck. 

“At first, we thought it was related to the catheter we had placed in his neck or his diabetic ketoacidosis management,” Bugbee said. “But it was still present when he came back again, and that shouldn’t have been the case.”

Testing confirmed that Duke had thyroid cancer, but, luckily, it was caught early and surgeons were able to remove the mass completely, with no signs of recurrence or spread. 

Unexpected Discoveries, Invaluable Takeaways 

Although the clinical trial didn’t lead to a new treatment option for Duke, it gave the Engelkes something even more important — the knowledge they needed to confidently manage Duke’s diabetes moving forward. For example, while they had previously cared for a diabetic dog, the study helped them realize how much they hadn’t known about the condition. 

“We had no insight on how insulin needs can change,” Ruby said. “If we had not had him in the trial, we wouldn’t have known that he needed to increase his units.” 

They also learned how infections and certain medications can affect insulin and glucose regulation.

“We learned that if the body has any sort of infection, it will fight against the insulin,” Ruby said. “Duke got a skin infection that needed to be treated with steroids. We also learned that steroids will mess with sugar levels. I had no idea — we had even used a steroid cream for a skin infection on Duchess. 

“So, while we didn’t get the results we were hoping for, the study was a blessing for us in so many ways and we’d still choose to do it again,” Ruby said. “The education alone made it worth it. If given the opportunity, I would encourage other people, especially if it’s their first diabetic dog, to definitely get on board with opportunities like this.” 

For Bugbee, watching the Engelkes grow in their understanding was just as meaningful. 

“It’s been nice getting to work with the Engelkes,” Bugbee said. “I think this experience has allowed them to feel empowered and comfortable with managing their dog’s disease.”

Beyond the learning experience, the support from the SATH team made a profound impact on the family. 

“People at A&M truly make all the difference — they went well beyond their responsibilities to help us,” Ruby said. “We had a specialist on call throughout the process. There was never a time when we reached out and didn’t get a quick and immediate response, no matter when or what it was.

“The hospital also covered half the cost of Duke’s thyroid carcinoma surgery,” she said. “We had no idea they were going to do that — it was a major relief and we’re so grateful.”

Moving Forward 

Duke has weathered more than most dogs ever will, yet through every stage, two constants have carried him forward — the Engelkes’ support and the Texas A&M team that stood beside them. 

While the study didn’t change his treatment plan, it changed his future. The experience strengthened his family’s ability to manage diabetes, uncovered cancer early, and gave him every chance to stay healthy in the years ahead. 

“We are beyond grateful for all we’ve learned and for the team bringing to light all of Duke’s issues,” Ruby said. “Because of that, we were able to go home with a better peace of mind that everything is going to be OK.”

###

For more information about the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, please visit our website at vetmed.tamu.edu or join us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

Contact Information: Jennifer Gauntt, Director of VMBS Communications, Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, jgauntt@cvm.tamu.edu, 979-862-4216

Print