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.