Mickey's Gold Bead Adventure - Treating Wobbler Syndrome and Spondylosis

Sending a shot out...

2008-02-25T18:19:00.004-06:00

A big HELLO to everyone, hope your 2008 is going well!

Mickey is still plugging along, can you believe it's been almost 2 years since he had it's gold beads done???? He is still doing so well, I can't say there there's been a noticeable improvement in the last year, but more importantly he is stable and can get around quite well.

Here's a pic of Mickey with his big brother Java, taken just this winter...

Thanks to all who have kept up with Mickey's progress! As always, please drop me a line and let me know how your babies are doing.

A special shot out to my friend Anthony. ;)

'til later!

Tribute to Tenchi....

2007-07-31T21:15:00.000-05:00

It's almost July!

2007-06-29T09:53:00.000-05:00

Where is the year going??? It's almost July already, geesh.....

Mickey is doing GREAT, allergies have been acting up a bit, but some days you can literally see the pollen and stuff floating through the air. It's been hot as hades here in Chicagoland, but finally the temp is starting to go down to a reasonable level. Today's going to be 78, now that's beautiful. The gold beads continue to do their magic, and I would have to say that Mickey moves better now than he has since he was a year old.

I'd like to send good thoughts out to Christina and Fenway, Fenway is going on Monday to get gold beads for his spondylosis. Let us know how it goes Christina!

The whole family is packing up next weekend for a trip to North Carolina, and on the way we're going to stop to see our friends Sherri, Taz, Cruiser, Spirit and Gus!!!! (Oh yeah, and Kevin, can't forget him :) ) Sherri and I have been friends for years now, but have never actually met in person, so this is really exciting for me! Turns out her house is about 1/2 way to our final destination, so we're going to stay overnite in her area. The drive is really too long to do in one day, the dogs would go crazy.

The cabin/house we're staying at is in the Blue Ridge mountains in the northwestern part of the state. It's on a Christmas Tree farm, it looks like there will be tons of land to wander about. We also plan to do a lot of geocaching, and spend some time combing the local mines for interesting gems and rocks.

I'm sure there will be LOTS of pics for me to post when we get back!

That's all for now, I'd love to hear from some of my regular readers, drop me a note or leave a comment!

Oh yeah, and I put links to Mickey and Java's Dogster pages at the bottom of the sidebar for anyone who is interested.

Now, some pics:

Mickey and my good friend Kristi, Mickey's hoping for a bite of her yummy pizza:

Java sitting in his favorite chair:

Sadness

2007-04-28T22:05:00.000-05:00

Please everyone send good thoughts out to my friend Sherri who had to let her sweet Bella cross the bridge on Friday. Bella just had the Gold Bead procedure done by Dr. Durkes a few weeks ago, and the beads at first really seemed to be helping her. What they didn't know, was that Bella had another much more serious health condition, one that would a much greater effect on her well-being.

Bella took a turn for the worse a week or so after the procedure, and her Mom and Dad took her to see Dr. Durkes on Friday to see what he could do to help. The weight Bella had lost the past few weeks alarmed everyone, and when the neck brace came off they realized there was a much more serious issue. Bella seemed to have a form of Muscular Dystrophy that had reduced her muscle mass and was obviously causing Bella's distress.

Sherri and Troy then made the loving and courageous decision to ease Bella's suffering and send her over the bridge where she would feel no more sickness. She is SO blessed to have parents that were willing to follow through on her care, but more importantly know when it was time to let go.

My heart goes out to you and your family Sherri, your grace in handling this situation has been a great example for me.

Weird stuff...

2007-04-19T12:50:00.000-05:00

I don't know why it seems the change in seasons can be so weird on dogs. A couple of weeks ago Mickey pooped ONCE in a week and a half!!! Don't worry, we went to the vet, did full blood panel and physical exam. The vet wasn't concerned because he was still eating, drinking and not vomiting. Well, all of a sudden he pooped like six times in 48 hours, hallelujah!

Mick's also been unusually unstable on his feet the last few days. I can't think of any obvious reason for this change, but my suspicion is that it is somehow allergy related. He's been itchier than normal too, and allergies are basically inflammation. Inflammation is bad for arthritis and wobblers. Are you following me? :) So I'll just give him a small dose of prednisone every few days and keep my fingers crossed that this will pass.

Poor Java has come up with some weird spasm in his right neck/shoulder/arm area. I'm HOPING it's not seizures, but just a minor irritation of the nerves. So now I have to take him for x-rays, and he's never been under anestesia, so I need to find a place with the patience to try without that. :( I'm going to try the Veterinary Specialty Center, they somehow managed to do films of Mickey's spine without sedating him.

So that's all for now, happy spring everyone!

Something to warm your heart!

2007-04-16T23:25:00.000-05:00

I am so incredibly lucky to have two boys that simply adore each other 98% of the time (everyone has a bad day once in a while!). Last Saturday I snapped this picture of Mickey and Java sharing the same patch of sun in our 3-season room.

Sounding off about the pet food recall.... (Long, but worth the read)

2007-04-16T09:34:00.000-05:00

When Mickey started getting sick as a puppy, I did research trying to figure out WHAT in his environment I could change to improve his overall health. There were two factors that really stood out, vaccinations and diet. I will post more on the subject of vaccines later, what I would like to concentrate on today is diet.

I have been closely following the recent pet food debacle that has resulted in the chronic illness and death of many beloved furry family members. This whole thing just breaks my heart, I am thankful that I switched Java and Mickey to a raw meat diet years ago. After researching canine diet and dog food ingredients, I decided that there was really no way to control exactly what was going into my dog's body by feeding kibble. I didn't want him eating grains, many experts suspect that grains cause inflammation and contribute to the propensity for cancer. Obviously I wasn't interested in his eating chemicals. Even the supplements added to kibble are only there because cooking the meat has changed the composition of the meat, such that the ingredients beneficial to your dog must be added back in.

I am not naive enough to think that most pet owners even bother to read the ingredient list on the food they buy, if they did brands like Alpo and Science Diet wouldn't even exist.

Please read the below rebuttal to the pet food industry's response in the senate hearings regarding the recall:

Rebuttal to Pet Food Industry Response to Hearings Held April 12, 2007
Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins DVM
All About Cats Clinic
Yorba Linda, California

Today, April 13, 2007, the pet food industry has issued a broadly published statement and Q & A to counter testimony and questioning that occurred yesterday in Washington DC before the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee investigating the recent pet food contamination recalls. Much of what has been published is incorrect and the industry’s way of trying to do damage control. The following is the text of the industry’s message and my rebuttals to that message: (pet food statements are in italics, my rebuttal in bold):

The pet food industry remains a partner in the investigation with the FDA and has cooperated with state and federal regulators since evidence leading to the recall first surfaced. The industry will continue cooperate fully with any other official investigations relating to this incident.

The FDA’s investigation is ongoing and has not reached any conclusions about how any foreign substances entered the process. I think it’s presumptuous to additional regulatory measures at this time. Only when we have this information can we make an accurate and informed decision.

The industry representative insisted that the industry is cooperating fully in this investigation, yet when asked how long it had taken Menu Foods to report to the FDA about the toxins in their food, he admitted that he did not know. The time to report, which is well documented at 3 weeks, would have been something he would have known had the industry been fully involved and cooperating with this investigation. The industry wants this to go away, not be fully investigated so that better quality control measures can be implemented.

How Pet Foods Are Regulated
Pet foods are one of the most highly regulated food products. They are required by law to provide on their labels more information than most human foods. State departments of agriculture provide standards and enforcement policies for regulation of manufacture of pet foods resulting in safe foods. Ingredients in pet food must be acceptable to state authorities. In the March 23 press conference Sundlof also stated that regulation of pet foods is the same as human foods.

Pet foods are far from regulated as human foods are. 4D meat (meat from dead, dying, diseased or disabled animals) CANNOT be used for human food, but it CAN be used in pet foods and is used routinely by at least some manufacturers. Other ingredients that would not be allowed in human foods, such as rendered tissues, are allowed in pet foods. Further, human food health claims are very difficult for human food makers to get. Virtually ALL pet foods contain unsubstantiated claims for safety, completeness and balance that NO HUMAN FOOD in the world would ever be able to get.

While some pet foods are likely to be adequate food for pets, many are not, yet there is no testing done to differentiate the good from the bad in this self-regulated industry. FDA has delegated the responsibility of pet food regulation to an association known as AAFCO. AAFCO itself ADMITS it has NO regulatory AUTHORITY or enforcement capabilities, so although there are several layers of APPARENT regulation, there is actually no regulation of pet foods today.

Pet food manufacturers are responsible for producing safe products. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and state governments provide the rules, guidance and oversight under which safe pet food is produced. FDA requires pet food to be wholesome, contain no harmful or deleterious substances, and to be truthfully labeled.

Yes, pet food companies are responsible for producing safe products, and they have failed many times in the past, at least 3 times in the past 18 months. To say they are responsible for doing something is quite different from saying they are ACTUALLY doing it. The facts speak for themselves on this point. The pet food industry has breached the FDA’s mandate of them because they are self-regulated!

How Ingredients and Finished Pet Foods Are Tested
Pet food ingredients undergo significant testing for safety and quality assurance including screening for mycotoxins (including aflatoxin), bacteria (including Salmonella and E.Coli) and nutrient content. Furthermore the finished product is analyzed to ensure appropriate nutrient levels, evaluating protein (including 11 amino acids), fat, fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

This is an untruth. Many if not most pet food ingredients undergo no testing whatsoever. If this statement were true, we would not have repeated pet food aflatoxin toxicity problems as we do. We also would not have had a recent and very serious toxicity problem in a major pet food from excess Vitamin D supplementation. This statement merely describes what is SUPPOSED to happen, not what really DOES happen. The facts speak for themselves.

A Consumer's Guide to Pet Food: Valuable Information for Pet Owners
Veterinarians agree that pets are living longer, healthier lives since the use of commercially prepared pet foods became widespread. Decades of research have gone into the development of pet food to make sure the special nutrition needs of pet dogs and cats are met.

Veterinarians DO NOT agree about this, they can’t, it is totally unproven. Evidence about changes in the life span of pets over the past several decades is sparse, and no scientist would dare draw the conclusion that pets today live longer on average than pets 30-40 years ago because of commercial pet foods, for example. What does seem clear is that today’s indoor pets live much longer than those that live outdoors. The evidence for this conclusion is strong.

Those who would give commercial pet food even partial credit for this increase in life expectancy in the indoor pet, however, have absolutely no evidence to back up this conclusion. There are many factors that affect the life span of pet animals under indoor and outdoor circumstances. Indoor pets are more protected from death due to automobiles and predators, they are more protected from exposure to infectious disease and often receive more medial care than outdoor pets, to name just a few of the important differences between these two groups. It is easy to sweep commercial food consumption right along with all of these other factors as contributing to longer life in today’s pets. Unfortunately for this particular factor, there is no reason to believe it has anything to do with the longer life of house pets. Let’s look at an analogy to understand how this might be so.

Humans in the US enjoy longer life expectancy today than they did fifty years ago. During those decades of improving average life span, those same people have consumed ever-increasing amounts of fat-laden, sugary, carbohydrate-rich “fast” food and other types of over-processed “convenience” foods. We are far more obese today than in decades past, and human nutritionists nag us endlessly about changing our diets to include better quality, fresh whole foods.

Imagine anyone believing that this increasing consumption of highly processed “fast” foods and increasing obesity is the reason, or even makes a positive contribution to our increasing life spans! We are living longer in spite of our diets, not because of them. Many other factors, such as less tobacco smoking, the use of seatbelts, better prenatal and postnatal care, and astonishing high-tech medical advancements for defeating disease and injury account for our increasing life spans. Our convenience-oriented diets are actually working against longer life, but cannot defeat all of these other strong protective factors in our lives.

So it is with our pets. When they live indoors, they live longer than if they lived outdoors, but commercial foods likely have no part in adding those extra years. Like our own “overprocessed” diets, they may even be depriving our pets of even greater health and longevity. If you hear anyone make the flat statement that pets are living longer BECAUSE of commercial foods, demand to see the scientific data for that statement!

Question
What does "complete and balanced" mean?

Answer
Unlike most foods for people, many pet food products are designed to be the sole source of nutrition for a pet dog or cat. Products that are labeled "complete and balanced," as defined by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), have been tested to make sure they meet the complex nutritional requirements of a healthy dog or cat.

No, they have NOT been tested to make sure they meet the requirements of healthy pets! Only a very few “sample” diets have even been tested on any animals for even 6 months. Considering that cats have a natural lifespan of 20 years or more, and dogs can live 10-20 years depending on breed, 6 months is NOT long enough and 6 animals is not anywhere close to a statistically valid number to even prove a 6 month claim. This is one of the most serious and most misleading of the untruths that pet food companies make about their foods.

Question
What does it mean on a pet food label that a product has been tested using animal feeding trials?

Answer
There are two ways a pet food company can test the nutrition of its products. One method is the use of standardized animal feeding trials, designed by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), to make sure their products meet the complex nutritional requirements of dogs and cats. The animals in these tests are fed the food for six months and are closely monitored to make sure they stay healthy. A product using this test will have language similar to the following on the label - "Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that Nancy's Food for Dogs provides complete and balanced nutrition for all life stages."

This is almost a completely truthful answer, because it admits that this “study” only last six months. This answer omits two important factors: there are only a handful of animals tested, and only a few sample diets are even tested on those few animals for those few months.

Question
Are fillers used in pet food?

Answer
Every ingredient used in pet food is there for a reason. Decades of research have gone into making pet foods that meet the nutritional needs of dogs and cats. The makers of pet food do not put in anything that's not needed.

There is almost no research on any pet food anywhere that can be considered scientific by any genuine scientist. Whether reused vegetable oil and rendered animal scraps and wood cellulose is “needed” by any dog or cat is very highly questionable by intelligent and well trained experts. The cat has absolutely no need for carbohydrates, for example, yet all dry cat food has PLENTY of this cheap ingredient that is required for dry food processing. Further, the acids that pet food companies put into “urinary tract diets” can and do even cause other diseases, proving that those acidifiers are not only not needed, but are even harmful to many cats. Pet food companies absolutely DO put things in pet food that are not needed and that can even cause harm.

Question
What is ingredient "splitting?"

Answer
Some people incorrectly believe pet food makers split up ingredients to give the illusion that some ingredients are at higher concentrations than others. Pet food makers are required to carefully label their products according to stringent government regulations. Just as the case with food for people, pet foods must clearly state what ingredients are included in the product. Each ingredient in pet food is there for a reason and to serve a nutritional purpose.

The "stringent" ingredient regulations have been developed by the industry in concert with AAFCO. AAFCO has no real authority over the pet food companies, and goes along with the desires of an industry that, by the admission of the FDA, is a good way for by-products of American agriculture to “dispose” of those by-products of agriculture that are not fit for or undesirable for humans to eat. Many ingredients in pet food serve no nutritional purpose in our pets, but keep farmers and ranchers from having to throw them away.

An example of ingredients splitting: Pet food companies who wish to disguise the amount of cereals in their products will list several different cereals in stead of using just one (not top quality cereals either) so that what meat IS in their products will legally be listed as the one of the first ingredients. In many, if not most of these foods, cereal actually makes up the majority of the food, but consumers see “chicken” as one of the top 2-3 ingredients and think that chicken is a predominant component of the food. This is “smoke and mirrors.”

The regulations may demand that the ingredients be listed in order of predominance, but there is NO prohibition against the sleight of hand described in this example.

The pet food industry is an ineffectively regulated 15 billion dollar industry that produces everything your pet eats, day in day out. This should make you want to know a lot more about what is going into those cans and bags, and into your pet!

The only way to guarantee what goes into your dogs system is to feed it a species appropriate diet of raw meat, bones and organs. The approximate ratio is 80%, 10%, 10% respectively. It's easy, not very time consuming, and if you shop around, it shouldn't cost more than a premium pet food.

Anyone interested in feeding a raw diet can find an immense amount of information on the internet.

I would suggest starting with Tom Lonsdale's web page and the books he has authored. Tom is straight and to the point.

There are also many discussion boards out there for those looking for advice or a mentor. RawMeatyBones is a good one.

Template Troubles

2007-03-29T10:50:00.000-05:00

I know a lot of you have had troubles viewing Mickey's blog, so apparently just reloading the template has fixed the problem.

PLEASE, if anyone is seeing weird things, contact me at Mickeysgoldbeads @ gmail . com (take the spaces out).

It's been a year already!

2007-03-29T10:17:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it's already been a year since Mickey's Gold Bead procedure. The best part is, that through this whole experience I have been given the ability to help others who's danes are afflicted with Wobblers.

Just this morning, I received a call from an ecstatic dane owner who took their baby to see Dr. Durkes just last week. I believe Bella is about 5 years old, and was experiencing serious instability and restricted movement in her right hind leg. According to Bella's Mom, when they picked her up after the procedure, she already had increased movement in that leg.

There is no other way I would want to start my day than snooze while I snuggle with my boys, and get a phone call from yet another one of Dr. Durkes' success stories.

General Update

2007-02-19T09:36:00.000-06:00

Hi All!

Mickey is doing very well, it seems like even almost a year after the procedure he continues to improve.

I have some sad news, I just found out through Mickey's breeder that his brother Quinn was put down recently due to Wobblers. This makes me sad on so many levels, and while I could sit here and talk about the could've should've side of the story, what's done is done. RIP little guy.

I added a link to the right for a site called "DMOZ Open Directory Project". Mickey's site is listed there, and within the directory you will find links to just about any subject imaginable. Each site is reviewed for quality, content and legitimacy before it is listed, so you won't find a bunch of junk like if you did a google search for something. Check it out!

Lastly, I've been in touch with another Wobblers mom. Her name is Sunny, and she just had gold beads done on her 7-year old dane Kavi. Kavi was completely immobile, and had to be carried to go outside. The last time I spoke to Sunny, just one week after the procedure Kavi was already learning to stand on his own again. Mickey's site and my testimony were the catalysts for Sunny taking Kavi to Dr. Durkes, and it's stories like this that make this whole thing meaningful. I am so lucky to be able to help others out with my experiences!

Happy Holidays

2006-12-20T09:48:00.000-06:00

Mickey continues to do SO well. We are actually having problems with allergies more than anything this year, probably because it's been warmer than usual. When it snows and everything is thoroughly frozen he's definitely happiest.

It's been about 8 months since the Gold Bead procedure, can you believe it? I couldn't be happier with the results. It's funny, I still haven't stopped watching him like a hawk, waiting for that too-good-to-be-true moment and for him to regress back to where he was. I worry that something else will go out in his body, something I won't be able to fix. It's so crazy for me to think that way, but it's almost like I don't want to let my guard down for fear of being devastated again. There just isn't anything rational about loving these guys.

But it's the holidays, so I should be thinking happy thoughts. For one, I am forever grateful for those of you out there who have stuck by Mickey and me throughout this extremely difficult ordeal. It's such a cliche, but during these last few months it has become abundantly clear that I am blessed with some truly incredible friends. People whom I have never even met in person have offered their love and support, whether we needed it right then or not, and no matter how unpleasant or tough the situation has been, you were always right there.

To me, a person's ability to be so incredibly generous with their time a spirit is the ultimate measure of their integrity and humanity. It's so easy to withdraw, not that I look down on those who do. Standing tall for yourself is difficult enough, to do it for others is only for the truly strong. If I have learned anything this year, it's understanding even further the kind of person I want to be, and the kind of people I want to surround myself with. I am not an easy person to stick by, I know that. I can be thick-headed, insensitive, selfish and downright bitchy, but please don't ever doubt that I wouldn't be there for any of you in a heartbeat. It doesn't take much to get me to pull my head out of my ass, a gentle nudge will do. :)

So to all of you out there, have a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, and Cheers to those of you who celebrate other things. 2007 is going to be an incredible year, I can feel it!

The Boy's Aunt Kristi sent some presents to us, this is Mickey playing with his favorite of the bunch.

Mick LOVES his Auntie Mandi!!!!

2006-11-27T10:38:00.000-06:00

Mickey and Java finally got to meet my bff Mandi this weekend. I cannot believe how much Mick adored her!!!

Nothing like being pinned to the couch forced to endure Great Dane kisses! :)

More Pictures!

2006-11-13T10:46:00.000-06:00

Pictures!!!!

2006-11-13T10:28:00.000-06:00

Here are some pictures I took this weekend on our walk....

Happy Birthday Mickey!

2006-11-13T10:11:00.000-06:00

I'm a day late, but yesterday my baby boy turned three years old.

I am so proud of him for hanging in there, and making it this far.

Buddy, I know life has been tough for you, and I know there has been a lot of pain. But your dad and I love you more than anything, and we appreciate that you always had a tail wag and a kiss for us, no matter how bad you were feeling. I love you Mickerson, so much it makes my eyes tear and my heart swell. Thank you baby boy for hanging on, and trusting that I was doing the right thing. Now I see you running and jumping and doing all the things I never thought you'd be doing at three, and I thank my lucky stars that you are here with me.

Happy Birthday Mickey!!!!

Love,
Mom, Dad and Java

Warm Fuzzy

2006-11-07T09:13:00.001-06:00

FREE HUGS

October Update

2006-10-19T09:04:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone! Thank you all so much for your patience waiting for updates on Mickey, work has been horribly busy and in this case, no news is GREAT news! Mick is doing incredibly well, some days it blows my mind to watch him move. Here's a video of him going down the stairs, I swear 6 months ago he absolutely could NOT do this:

The first half is sideways, just tilt your head to the left. :) The second half of the video is Mick ignoring my attempts to get him to say "hello" to all of you...

I started Mickey on a new supplement called Dog-Gone Pain (DGP) four days ago, and I swear to you I am already seeing improvement in his movement! In addition to Wobblers, Mickey has severe Spondylosis (osteoarthritis) in his back, which I imagine causes him a lot of discomfort. DGP is a herbal supplement designed to reduce pain and support healthy joints. Here's a list of the ingredients:

Ingredients: 600mg per chewable is a proprietary blend of Feverfew, Celery Seed, Wheatgrass, Boswelia, Bromelain, Papain, Corydalis Root, Cayenne, Turmeric, Shark Cartilage and a Proprietary Blend of Native Australian Herbs.

Dog-Gone Pain contains the following:
Feverfew: Anti-inflammatory and pain reliever.
Celery Seed: All-around calmative and anti-inflammatory. Mild diuretic.
Boswellia: Strong anti-inflamatory and analgesic.
Bromelain & Papain: Digestive aids.
Corydalis: Tonic for the circulatory system.
Cayenne: For gastrointestinal health.
Wheatgrass: Rich in nutrients and minerals.
Turmeric: Potent anti-inflammatory and digestive aid.
Shark Cartilage: An excellent dietary source of chondroitin sulfate and other glycoaminoglycans that rebuild cartilage.
Other ingredients: Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Zinc and other bone building minerals; a Proprietary Blend of Native Australian Herbs.

Precautions and Warnings:
If your dog is already on medication, discuss using DGP with your vet before using. The enzymes it contains have the potential for altering the rate of absorption of medications, such as antibiotics, anticoagulants, and NSAIDs (Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs). Also several ingredients have anti-inflammatory properties that could possibly enhance the blood thinning properties of anticoagulant drugs. And keep out of reach of children.
DGP is produced under the strictest pharmaceutical guidelines at an Australian government-approved facility. Batch-to-batch bioassays guarantee consistency and effectiveness.

In the last few days, he has started fully stretching out his body while standing, whereas before he would stretch, but never this far. His overall demeanor has improved, he's normally a goofy boy, but he's definitely even more so now. And when he takes off to run, I used to see a pause where he seem to gather himself before moving, yesterday he took off after Java and there was no pause or hesitation.

It seems way too soon for me to be seeing this great of a benefit, but I hope and pray that what I am seeing sticks around. Whether it be the DGP, or the gold beads continuing to do their job, I don't know, but I don't plan to stop giving the DGP any time soon.

And lastly, here's one of my new favorite pictures of Mickey and Java:

How handsome is he???

2006-09-15T12:10:00.000-05:00

I took these pics this morning of Mickey and thought they were stunning, so I had to share!

I'm a bad BAD Blogger!!!

2006-09-08T11:23:00.000-05:00

Boy, it's been a looooooong time since I have posted any updates! It was brought to my attention that people don't want to ask about Mickey because they're afraid something bad has happened.

He's doing VERY well, I swear!

He's now doing the stairs every day, and not just sliding down them, but actually walking down them.

I will take some pictures soon and post them.

Back on Pred

2006-07-10T20:32:00.000-05:00

Mickey had a bit of a setback on Saturday, he got really wobbly after his weekend walk in the field and was slipping on the floors a bit. I gave him 5 mg of pred on Sat PM with dinner, another 5 mg Sunday AM, and then 5 mg tonight with dinner. He's doing great again!

I wish I could think of some event that may have caused this, but I can't. I'll probably finish out the week giving him pred every day and a half and see how he does next weekend. If he regresses again I'll put the neck wrap on for a week or two.

I guess it's like anything else, there are good days and bad days.

Response to Teresa

2006-07-08T20:37:00.000-05:00

Teresa, I got your note and tried to respond, but it bounced back as undeliverable. :(

Here is my response, I hope it gets to you...

Hi Teresa! I'm so glad you found Mickey's blog, I had created it because I myself was so frustrated with the lack of "real life" information out there. :)

Now I have NO veterinary experience, so I am giving you advice based purely on my own research and observations.

From the information you gave me, I would guess your girl has either Wobblers or has had a minor stroke. It is unusual for a dane to get Wobblers so late in age, but certainly not unheard of.

The first thing I would do is contact Dr. Terry Durkes, he has probably seen more Wobblers dogs than any other vet. I can't find his e-mail, except for an outdated one on the web, but here is his phone #: (765) 664-0734

Dr. Durkes would be able to refer you to someone in your area who could help diagnose and treat your dane if indeed she does have Wobblers.

I will be thinking healing thoughts for your girl, please keep in touch and let me know if you get a hold of Dr. Durkes. He is a wonderful man, I think you will be quite pleased.

Best Wishes,
Ericka - Mickey's Mom

SO how's Mickey???

2006-07-01T19:51:00.000-05:00

I know, I know, the videos are cute and all...... but get to the point! HOW'S MICKEY???

He is doing GREAT!

We took a nice long walk last night, and he handled it like a champ. Toward the end he got tired and was dragging his feet, but there's certainly an improvement over the days where a walk around the block would literally weaken him to the point of falling. He no longer falls on the wood floors, and he maneuvers the stairs so much better too!

There's nothing I can attribute this improvement to other than the gold beads. I'm not sure I ever would have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes.

Anyone out there contemplating the Gold Bead procedure for their Wobblers dog, PLEASE waste no more time! Get the procedure done before there is permanent damage to the spinal chord.

Here's a pic of me snuggling with my handsome boy on the couch. I am SO lucky!

Deco and Java sing the blues! LOL!

2006-06-27T21:52:00.000-05:00

Here's a video of my friend Tiffany's dane, Deco, responding to Java's "Where's Mommy" video. If you listen closely, you can hear Java's voice in the background.....

Happy Burfday Dad!!!

2006-06-27T11:10:00.000-05:00

We Ruv You!!!!!!

THE FURMINATOR

2006-06-26T11:47:00.000-05:00

Bend over, close your eyes and brace yourself, it's monday morning.

I'm not one to endorse products, god knows we're bombarded enough in our e-mail luvin', TV watchin', internet surfin' lives. Have you noticed that now they even show commercials DURING shows? Last night I was watching a TIVO'd movie, and they kept showing some annoying little ads for a new show in the lower left-hand corner of the screen. WTF? I got TIVO so we didn't have to watch commercials, and well, they've certainly foiled THAT plan! Bastards!

Back to the point. For those of you who don't know, Danes do not have double coats. So unlike a labrador, you will not normally brush them and get handfuls of dead hair coming out. But there has to be an exception to every rule, and that is, of course, the crazy Harlequin. They shed, sometimes they shed a lot. I've heard this is because white hair has a shorter lifespan than pigmented hair, therefore it is constantly regenerating itself, but whatever, it is what it is.

So Mickey has started to shed all of a sudden, as evidenced by my white furry palm every time I pet him, and being a woman, there's no other reason for me to have a furry palm. Just recently I had invested in a special comb called the Furminator. Now aside from being the COOLEST name for a dog brush, it's supposed to be the KING of pulling out dead hair.

Folks, I can tell you this, it works!

This is a pile of hair I pulled off of Mickey's ass after just a few minutes of brushing. Now remember people, this is a Great Dane we're talking about, NOT a Husky.

I got the medium sized Furminator to more easily get around the neck and legs, and it is perfect.

So all of you doggie owners out there who are ready to shave their dogs clean, invest in the Furminator. If you're tired of shooing mini hair tumbleweeds under furniture when you have an unexpected guest, get the Furminator! And if you have annoying teenage kids who need to be punished, get a Furminator, borrow the neighbor's German Shepherd, and make your little darling de-shed that dog until not a hair falls loose from it's body. Not only will your heathen be busy for approximately 20 hours, but you'll be able to borrow beer from the neighbors guilt free.