Blu's Journey

Blu's journey with us ended a month or so ago. He took a swipe at my sons face, me & then got a hold of my daughter all within a weeks time.

The dr said she did not feel his Thyroid had anything to do with his behavior.

Moving him out was hard, mainly on the kids. They did not understand how he didnt have manners & why he couldnt come back once he learned them.

Blu is living with wonderful folks involved with rescue, and who are trainers. He has been given his fourth chance at life. We hope that there is a childless family out there who would be willing to take in a sickly dog who needs meds, a special diet, and for them to be in control.

Blu's journey continues & as it does, I will update his story here.

Otherwise, our short 45 day journey was one of the most rewarding, but gut wrenching ones ever.

Pet Insurance

We have Pets Best. I got it before Blu moved in, and as you know when he did he bloated. I spoke to the gal on the phone prior to signing up regarding Danes, Bloat, hips, knees, etc. Everything is covered except congenital. When he bloated I was happy I had insurance, but when it came time to submit my claim I became concerned. Everyone assumed bloat wasnt covered under any insurance and they let me know that.

I just got my check a total of 80% of total costs. For that they get an A+ They did not exclude anything our dr wrote up & submitted. I do not know if they would cancel his policy after a year, or not cover bloat again.

So my experience, Petsbest covers bloat.

Feeding Raw

Loads of links. These are links I've gotten from others, and a few I stumbled across myself. Raw has been really easy for us.

I feed fresh ground flax seed & Sunflower seed for Omega 3 & 6. I give them the Yeast fighter product that Ii previously bought. It includes enzymes & probiotics. I grind egg shells for calcium.

I occasionally give yogurt, cottage cheese, pumpkin for tummy when they have loose stools (which isnt very often), and Bel gets occasional veggies. Blu does not.

Links copied from a local Great Dane Breeder & member of DOL.com

Book by Sue Johnson "Switching to Raw" http://www.switchingtoraw.com/

Tom Lonsdales book 'Work Wonders, Feed your dog raw meaty bones '

Raw Feeding links
http://www.dogaware.com/menus.html
http://www.thehealthyhound.com/whyraw_shortstory.html
http://www.raw-connections.com/
http://www.greatdanelady.com/article...d_raw_diet.html
http://www.ilcockerrescue.org/feeding.html
http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/Spri.../chemicals.html
http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/Articles.asp?ID=122
http://www.newcastleboxers.com/diet.shtml
http://www.canadasguidetodogs.com/he...onarticle2.html
http://www.rawdogranch.com/feedingrawdiet.html
http://b-naturals.com/Jan2005.php
http://www.4loveofdog.com/menu.html
http://www.njboxers.com/faqs.htm#calcium
http://b-naturals.com/natural.php
http://www.rawmeatybones.com/
http://www.leerburg.com/diet2.html
http://www.rawlearning.com/
http://www.rawlearning.com/rawfaq.html
http://www.nudimensionsnutrition.com/Why_Feed_Raw.html
http://www.skylarzack.com/rawfeeding.html
http://www.rawfeddogs.net/index.phpl
http://www.rawfed.com/myths/index.html
http://www.k9rawdiet.com/how2.html
http://www.k9rawdiet.com/how2.html
http://www.eastwooddanes.com/SampleMenu.html
http://www.naturalrearing.com/coda/index.html
http://www.njboxers.com/faqs.htm#diarrhea
http://www.auntjeni.com/barf.html
http://www.charlesloopsdvm.com/dogdiet.html

How Much To Feed CALCULATOR
http://www.raw4dogs.com/calculate.html
http://www.barfproducts.com/feedingcalculator.html

DETOXIFICATION
http://www.siriusdog.com/detoxificat...d-holistic.html

There are raw/barf groups on Yahoo for danes
wholseomedane@yahoogroups.com
GreatDanesNaturally@yahoogroups.com

Other Links (note some links are very extreme - but gather info where you can)

Xcel Danes
Myths of Raw Feeding

Affordable meals
Mountain dog food

I hope this info helps you. The benefits for us are out of this world. Blu lost all his nasty dark wirey hair only for it to be replaced with shiny, soft, lustrous, steel blue hair. He has gained weight regularly. Stool is firm, small, & turns to dust within a few hours. His systemic yeast infection is gone. He no longer stinks, and has a bounce to his step. As I mentioned prior, he gets NO veggies. We chose this for him because the yeast feeds on the fruits & veggies. Perhaps when he is "normal" we will introduce them.

Also- we feed raw at less cost than it was for 5 star kibble. Now that's an incentive.

Portraits

Post Surgery check up 9-5-08

Dr. Williams - the operating vet who saved his life. Can you tell he's thankful?

Blu went in for staple removal & post surgery check up.

He gained 3lbs!!!!! He is now 106

NO YEAST MEDICATION! He hardly has a yeast infection now (I credit raw- I will have a post just for this subject.)

I need to start back up his ear treatments (that they had him on for 7 days) for 2 weeks because his ears were starting to goop up.

I can start the originally planned holistic yeast treatment.

We return in two weeks to follow up & test thyroid levels. He was tested for mites & external yeast infection - both negative. He has a reaction to the internal sutures so his surgery sight was pretty icky looking. The internal sutures wont go away for another 3 months so he will still have a reaction but he should be ok. (The following day I had to start him on Benedryl, warm compresses & a tee shirt so that the inflammation would lessen, which did within 3 days.)

At his second recheck, if his thyroid levels are good & his hair doesnt grow back in, he may have color dilute alopecia & will always be bald.

So that was our visit. We got out as many staples as she could see. Oh and the most important part? He can have a bath now!

Blu Update via video

I have lots to update with no organizational skills. I hope you enjoy this video in the meanwhile.

Happy 3rd Birthday!

We are so blessed to have you make it to your 3rd birthday. I hope you know how happy we are to have you with us, and we will continue to dedicate our time to help you heal.

Highest Highs/Lowest Lows

Monday August 20 @ 3:30p.m. we had Blu's vet appointment.

She was awesome. She agreed with my holistic approach to the yeast infection, and with my change in his diet. We will wait 3 weeks to have a full panel & to check his weight. If at that time the holistic approach hasn't helped he will need to be on medication for at least 4 weeks.

The vet said his hind quarter weakness is due to muscle atrophied.

He weighs... are you ready for this?

103 lbs

I nearly cried. We will weigh him weekly to be sure he doesnt lose too much weight. We will also do a fecal just in case. Overall- she was FABU & it was so nice to be able to talk to a dr who doesnt stifle your concerns or ideas.

4:45 We returned home from his appointment and within 15 minutes we noticed Blu had puffed up like a blow fish. Our worse nightmare was happening. Blu was in Gastric Dilation and Volvulus (GDV). Mike called the vet to prep for his arrival and I rushed him in. That was the longest two minutes of my life.

Upon arrival the vet who saw us met me at the door - she had tears in her eyes and told me it was the stress. They rushed him in, got him on fluids, released the gas from his stomach and got him into x-rays. They get their animals on the table within 15 minutes. Seemed like forever.

The surgery would take an hour to two hours depending. The operating vet wanted me to be sure that I was doing the right thing, after all we have a very sick dog. I informed her that if she saw he was riddled with cancer or eaten up inside to call me, otherwise save him. She agreed to call if she found anything.

9:45p.m. Dr. Williams, the operating vet, called to say that he did well & is coming out of anesthesia. His stomach was really well twisted, his spleen was viable, and his bowel was normal. She saw no visible signs of cancer. He was tacked.

I went to bed.

Blu day 3 of hospital stay.

Blu came home on Thursday August 21 @ 11:00 a.m. He was refusing to eat & we agreed that being home may help. He had removed his IV the night before so he was off fluids, and the entire time he was doing wonderfully for a dog who had just gone through what he had.

We spent many hours at the vet's visiting, and being consoled by our friends. Blu seems happier and oddly enough healthier than when he arrived. Its funny how he was only with us 3 days - to spend 4 in the hospital - and he returns here as if he has lived here forever.

Fundraiser funds went toward his emergency treatment. His total bill was $3200 and he is on 6 med's. He gets his staples removed in two weeks, and at that time we will start yeast medication. Due to his emergency situation we decided to treat him, and to follow up holistically.

We also took the plunge into RAW.


Valuable Bloat GDV articles, resources, etc:

DaDane GDV Article
DaDane Article
Dane Rescue
Understanding Bloat and Torsion
Risk Factors and Prevention of Bloat in Dogs

Blu home at last... Bel couldn't be happier

Satin Balls, Systemic Yeast Infections & Apple Cider Vinegar

In order to put some weigh on our little boy blu, we have chosen to feed him "Satin Balls"

This recipe is shared online, in emails, and through rescues. Its a whole diet and not a supplement, and has been said to put weight on a dog in days. Satin is the name of the creators dog who she made the recipe for.

SATIN BALLS

10lbs regular (not lean) hamburger
1 box Quaker Oatmeal (not instant)
10 eggs, including shells
1 ¼ cups unsulfured Molasses (regular 12oz jar)
2 large boxes regular TOTAL breakfast cereal
1 jar Kirshners Wheatgerm (regular, not 'flavored')
1 ¼ cup Peanut Oil
10 sm packages regular (plain) Knox gelatin
pinch salt (actually about ¼ teaspoon

Mix like a meat loaf. I use the entire kitchen sink….only thing I have that's big enough!
Make into about ½ cup patties (if you make them too big it takes too long to freeze/thaw); flatten with your hand and freeze flat on a waxed paper layers on a cookie sheet; when frozen can be separated and packaged in Freezer bags…won't stick together once they are frozen.
Thaw overnight in refrigerator.
Must be fed raw, but can be slightly warmed in the Microwave on 'defrost' or 'pastry' for a second or two to take the chill off and peak the aroma.

We will use 2x's a day, and hide his medication in it.

We also started Blu on a systemic yeast infection removal kit. We feel that many of his allergies, hair loss, and infections are caused by this. By all accounts his thyroid levels need to be corrected in order for it to work, and Blu's former owners put him on his meds again two weeks ago.

Yeast Article
Yest removal kit instructions
Purchase & More Yest Info

An additional plan of attack is to add Apple Cider Vinegar to his meals. Apple Cider helps correct the PH in the gut, is used to treat ear infections, soothe itchy skin & hotspots... the list goes on.

Apple Cider Cures
Article by Alicia McWatters, Ph.D., C.N.C

We will ALSO be giving him a bit of plain unsweetened yogurt, as well as canned pumpkin daily to help firm his stool along with Vitamin E, vitamin C, and vitamin B supplements.

Pumpkin
Building Blocks of canine fitness

I will let you know his progress & update when I have them. Monday is our appointment with the vet. Not sure how they will feel about my Yeast beliefs, but either way - I believe this is necessary. I know this wont cure him of all his ailments, nor account for his corn allergy- but its a start.

He has arived!

Blue and his family ended up leaving late last night, and staying in a hotel for the night. They arrived at noon as planned & everything went off without a hitch.

Blue is a bit sad, and didnt want to go in the crate, but we're resting now for second wind. They played for 2 hours straight.

Night Before

Blue emailed to say he is ready for his long trip tomorrow. They leave at 5 am in order to get here around noon-ish.

Have a safe trip love.

Tomorrow!

Omg Omg Omg, tomorrow is the day!

I think I need a pill.

Dane Room

Pretty sad that we have an entire room dedicated to Danes... okay so it isn't so sad.

I spent the day cleaning up the Dane room formerly known as the underused craft room/office. Now that I have it rearranged, the Danes have half all to themselves. Its not painted yet (ignore the sage green) thanks to a window that still needs to be installed, and we had a water leak so the pretty red wall is torn apart.

Otherwise we're truckin'! I set up the new crate & the kids thought it would be fun to take a photo.

Once the window is in, wall patched, painting completed, and decoration done I will show the masterpiece. I must say they are two lucky dogs.

PS. I decided against the crate pan (that or I totally forgot when placing my order) & will be making ANOTHER bed! This one will be crate sized & just enough so that he doesnt have to sit on wires.

PPS. I can not wait until Saturday :eek:

Fundraiser

Its small - but cute & cheap.

For $1.42 you can have a set (5) of these dog bracelets (size L)

ALL funds raised will go to additional testing not covered by insurance for Blue.

If you would like to contribute, please email mleventdesign at gmail.com

Current Total: $103 - Folks ROCK!

Emailing hellos

Todays accomplishments

I made a ton of calls today. Today I accomplished the following:

Called both vets and requested records
Obtain Pet insurance (for both danes)
Ordered Crate
Ordered toys & other supplies
Bought old comforters for bed I made
Created Blue's folder

I just made a dog bed!

I dont even know how to work my sewing machine but I got it to do the following:

sew in a straight line
sew with correct tension
not bunch up with miles of thread

And I didnt do the following:

break the thread
break the needle
break my spirits

W00H00

I think Im anxious for Blue's arrival. It's huge by the way.
And Bel proves there is room for two.

How our journey started

We got a call asking us if we were interested in opening our home to another Dane. With the idea bouncing about in our head we became anxious, jittery, nervous & excited. That Dane did not end up being placed with us, but made us realize that we really were ready for another Dane in our life.

What is meant to be will be.

Browsing Great Dane Rescue of Northern California website I saw his ad.

This three year old blue great dane needs a new home. Here is what his owners wrote about him:

"Our Dane suffers from chronic ear infections and is losing way too much hair. He is also underweight. We have seen numerous vets and spent thousands of dollars running a variety of tests on him to determine what, if anything, is wrong with him. The most we have been able to find is that his thyroid levels are too low. He has supplements for this.

Even though we love "Blue," we must find him a better home. Can you please help?"

I passed it by. For a second. Then went back. Have you ever had a feeling that you could help? A gut instinct that you could make a difference? I re read his info... and sent an email.

Within minutes I called the listed number. I couldn't wait for email. I needed info now.

And that is when I spoke to Blue's mom. We set it off wonderfully.

Blue will be coming to live with us August 16, 2008.

We will keep the name Blue, but add "Lenus." Lenus is the Celtic god of healing, depicted classically as a warrior with Corinthian helmet in a bronze statuette from the Martberg. I feel this perfectly depicts Blue in his fight to becoming healthy.

With that, may I introduce Lenus Blue.DOB: 8/23/05
Weight: 110
Altered: at 3 months
Breeder: BYB
Known Thyroid problem
Unknown other issues

I have a game plan for this boy, but I will outline that later.