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

Goodbye to Figment

2009-10-12T17:00:00.004-05:00

It is with a sad and heavy heart that I say goodbye to Mickey's little sister Figment. Most of you will remember her from this picture here:

Figgy was such a special girl, dainty compared to her oaf brother, but sure could give him a run for his money. She could rassle with the crazy boys, run rings around 'em.

According to her dad, Figgy was having cluster seizures that were causing brain, heart and liver damage.

My condolences to Figgy's family, her Mom, Dad, little brother, and soon to be sister. Please know that our thoughts are with you guys, I know Figment was blessed to have you as her family, and she blessed you all in return.

XOXO

Dr. Jean Dodds recommended vaccine protocol

2009-06-10T10:44:00.004-05:00

Dr. W. Jean Dodds Latest Vaccination Schedule

Here is Dr. W. Jean Dodds' Latest Recommendation Vaccination Schedule for those of you who are interested.

http://www.weim.net/emberweims/Vaccine.html

Dr. Jean Dodds' Recommended Vaccination Schedule

Distemper (MLV)
Initial (e.g. Intervet Progard Puppy) 9 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 - 20 weeks
1st Annual Booster At 1 year MLV Distemper/ Parvovirus only
Re-Administration Interval None needed.
Duration of immunity 7.5 / 15 years by studies. Probably lifetime. Longer studies pending.
Comments Can have numerous side effects if given too young (<>Parvovirus (MLV)
Initial (e.g. Intervet Progard Puppy) 9 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 - 20 weeks
1st Annual BoosterAt 1 year MLV Distemper/ Parvovirus only
Re-Administration Interval None needed.
Duration of immunity 7.5 years by studies. Probably lifetime. Longer studies pending.
Comments At 6 weeks of age, only 30% of puppies are protected but 100% are exposed to the virus at the vet clinic.

Rabies (killed)
Initial 24 weeks or older
1st Annual BoosterAt 1 year (give 3-4 weeks apart from Dist/Parvo booster) Killed 3 year rabies vaccine
Re-Administration Interval 3 yr. vaccine given as required by law in California (follow your state/provincial requirements) [It's the same in WI]
Comments rabid animals may infect dogs.

Vaccines Not Recommended For Dogs

Distemper & Parvo @ 6 weeks or younger
Not recommended.
At this age, maternal antibodies form the mothers milk (colostrum) will neutralize the vaccine and only 30% for puppies will be protected. 100% will be exposed to the virus at the vet clinic.

Corona
Not recommended.
1.) Disease only affects dogs <6>Leptospirosis
Not recommended
1) There are an average of 12 cases reported annually in California.
2) Side effects common.
3) Most commonly used vaccine contains the wrong serovars. (There is no cross-protection of serovars) There is a new vaccine with 2 new serovars. Two vaccinations twice per year would be required for protection.).
4) Risk outweighs benefits.

Lyme
Not recommended
1) Low risk in California.
2) 85% of cases are in 9 New England states and Wisconsin. [I still won't use this vaccine even though I live in WI]
3) Possible side effect of polyarthritis from whole cell bacterin.

Bordetella
(Intranasal)
(killed) Only recommended 3 days prior to boarding when required.
Protects against 2 of the possible 8 causes of kennel cough.
Duration of immunity 6 months.

Giardia
Not recommended
Efficacy of vaccine unsubstantiated by independent studies

There are two types of vaccines currently available to veterinarians: modified-live vaccines and inactivated ("killed") vaccines.

Immunization Schedules

There is a great deal of controversy and confusion surrounding the appropriate immunization schedule, especially with the availability of modified-live vaccines and breeders who have experienced postvaccinal problems when using some of these vaccines. It is also important to not begin a vaccination program while maternal antibodies are still active and present in the puppy from the mother's colostrum. The maternal antibodies identify the vaccines as infectious organisms and destroy them before they can stimulate an immune response.

Many breeders and owners have sought a safer immunization program.

Modified Live Vaccines (MLV)

Modified-live vaccines contain a weakened strain of the disease causing agent. Weakening of the agent is typically accomplished by chemical means or by genetic engineering. These vaccines replicate within the host, thus increasing the amount of material available for provoking an immune response without inducing clinical illness. This provocation primes the immune system to mount a vigorous response if the disease causing agent is ever introduced to the animal. Further, the immunity provided by a modified-live vaccine develops rather swiftly and since they mimic infection with the actual disease agent, it provides the best immune response.

Inactivated Vaccines (Killed)

Inactivated vaccines contain killed disease causing agents. Since the agent is killed, it is much more stable and has a longer shelf life, there is no possibility that they will revert to a virulent form, and they never spread from the vaccinated host to other animals. They are also safe for use in pregnant animals (a developing fetus may be susceptible to damage by some of the disease agents, even though attenuated, present in modified-live vaccines). Although more than a single dose of vaccine is always required and the duration of immunity is generally shorter, inactivated vaccines are regaining importance in this age of retrovirus and herpesvirus infections and concern about the safety of genetically modified microorganisms. Inactivated vaccines available for use in dogs include rabies, canine parvovirus, canine coronavirus, etc.

W. Jean Dodds, DVM
HEMOPET
938 Stanford Street
Santa Monica, CA 90403
310/ 828-4804
fax: 310/ 828-8251

Note: This schedule is the one I recommend and should not be interpreted to mean that other protocols recommended by a veterinarian would be less satisfactory. It's a matter of professional judgment and choice. For breeds or families of dogs susceptible to or affected with immune dysfunction, immune-mediated disease, immune-reactions associated with vaccinations, or autoimmune endocrine disease (e.g., thyroiditis, Addison's or Cushing's disease, diabetes, etc.) the above protocol is recommended.

After 1 year, annually measure serum antibody titers against specific canine infectious agents such as distemper and parvovirus. This is especially recommended for animals previously experiencing adverse vaccine reactions or breeds at higher risk for such reactions (e.g., Weimaraner, Akita, American Eskimo, Great Dane).

Another alternative to booster vaccinations is homeopathic nosodes. This option is considered an unconventional treatment that has not been scientifically proven to be efficacious. One controlled parvovirus nosode study did not adequately protect puppies under challenged conditions. However, data from Europe and clinical experience in North America support its use. If veterinarians choose to use homeopathic nosodes, their clients should be provided with an appropriate disclaimer and written informed consent should be obtained.

I use only killed 3 year rabies vaccine for adults and give it separated from other vaccines by 3-4 weeks. In some states, they may be able to give titer test result in lieu of booster.

I do NOT use Bordetella, corona virus, leptospirosis or Lyme vaccines unless these diseases are endemic in the local area pr specific kennel. Furthermore, the currently licensed leptospira bacterins do not contain the serovars causing the majority of clinical leptospirosis today.

I do NOT recommend vaccinating bitches during estrus, pregnancy or lactation.

W. Jean Dodds, DVM
HEMOPET

Happy Birthday Mickey!!!

2008-11-12T11:14:00.003-06:00

Can you all believe that our little Mickey turns 5 years old today?? 5 YEARS OLD!

When we began all of this, I never thought he would still be here with me at 5, let alone still doing so well. I have met so many dog owners through this blog, and I am thankful every day that I was able to help so many of them. Unfortunately there have been some that lost the battle and that tears at my heart every time I look at my little boy. I know we are lucky.

What makes me most happy is that Mick is living proof that Wobblers and Spondylosis CAN be managed, your dog CAN live a relatively full life. Mickey runs, he jumps, he plays, he does long walks in the forest preserve. Of course he gets tired more quickly than his brother, but he's a trooper, and you can really tell he enjoys the hikes!

Medically, I am not doing any supplements or pain meds right now. He VERY OCCASIONALLY gets 5 mg of Prednisone only when he's really wobbly. This seems to happen most during the summer and when his allergies are flaring up. He is still eating a raw diet, though now it is ground low-fat meats only due to his Pancreatitis. He also gets greens and starches mixed in to provide necessary fiber, that helps keep the Pancreatitis from flaring up. I massage his limbs and joints quite often, and we do stretches to keep everything limber. Mickey really enjoys this time together and will often bark from the "dog room" to let me know he's ready to be rubbed. :)

Thanks to all who have followed us almost the last 3 years, and to all of you who pass on Mickey's story to others who are struggling with how to treat their dogs' wobblers.

Enjoy the holidays!

Sending a shot out...

2008-02-25T18:19:00.005-06:00

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....

2007-07-31T21:15:00.001-05:00

It's almost July!

2007-06-29T09:53:00.001-05:00

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!

2007-04-16T23:25:00.001-05:00

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!!!!

2006-11-27T10:38:00.001-06:00

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!

2006-11-13T10:46:00.001-06:00

Pictures!!!!

2006-11-13T10:28:00.001-06:00

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

2006-10-19T09:04:00.001-05:00

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???

2006-09-15T12:10:00.001-05:00

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.

Help me write an article...

2006-06-25T21:21:00.000-05:00

As many of you know, I am a moderator on Leans N Slobbers, yup, you guessed it, a Great Dane discussion board. The owner of this board is also putting together a comprehensive web site on our beloved breed, and though I am no writer, I volunteered to write an article on Wobblers. What was I thinking??? Just kidding K!

I know I have some regular readers out there, and I am seeking you out for input on this. Do you remember the first time you heard about Wobbler Syndrome? What did you want to know? When your dog was diagnosed with Wobblers, what questions came to mind?

My objective is to not just provide another technical description of Cervical Vertebral Instability, but to offer a clear picture to owners out there as terrified as I was when my boy Mickey was diagnosed.

I think I have spent so much time and energy looking forward, that I have difficulty looking back, and I am not sure I'm ready to force myself to relive what I had hoped to never worry about again. I know some of you will understand that. I want to believe that we are on the road to recovery, never again will I have to consider how few options there are for those of us faced with treating this disease.

So there has to be someone out there who can give me the kick in the ass I need to get this article started. Give me a starting point, something to spur on the genius writer I have hidden inside of me. (yea, right!)

Please send any suggestions to Mickeysgoldbeads @ gmail . com (take the spaces out)

What happens when Mommy leaves?

2006-06-24T08:43:00.000-05:00

These are good, the hubster took them one day after I had left the house.

Where's my Mom?

Boy, she's been gone a long time....

I'm soooooo tired, when is she gonna get home????

Video of the boys!

2006-06-22T21:28:00.000-05:00

This is fun, it's my first video, I promise the rest will get better.

The boys are a little camera shy! :)

Gold Beads are Amazing!

2006-06-21T09:20:00.000-05:00

Mickey is still doing wonderfully! I did give him 5 mg of pred after our walk last Saturday, he seemed a little "mushy" in his movements. An occasional 5 mg seems to make him more hungry (if that's possible!), but other than that I have seen no other adverse side effects.

Last night I was so excited, Mickey got up on the bed and walked in a circle twice around Java without falling over. We have one of those cushy pillow top beds, and normally Mick has a lot of trouble keeping his balance walking on it, but last night he moved around like a champ!

I remember before the implants Mick would have problems just getting up on the couch, his back end would give out before he could get it up there. He would fall all over the hard wood floors, and he'd be afraid to walk any expanse of tile without a throw rug down to keep his footing. It makes my heart soar to see him move around the house without the trepidation he once had, and to see him once again initiating play with his brother. His energy level has gone up, and I can see the puppyness in him returning. It has been so long since I have seen that!

I really was skeptical, even though my dogs are treated primarily holistically, I didn't think these tiny bead implants could help a 190+ lb dog overcome this horrible condition. Well, you can add me to the list of believers now, even if he doesn't get any better then he is today, I still feel like I was able to bring him back to a lifestyle close to what he should have been living in the first place.

The neck wrap is off.....

2006-06-04T20:22:00.000-05:00

Gosh, I can't believe it's been three weeks since my last update!

Getting right to business, Mickey is doing great! I took his neck wrap off a couple of weeks ago, I believe he had it on for over six weeks. I didn't see any immediate changes in his movement after removing it. After his last reaction to Pred now I only give him 5 mg if he is doing poorly instead of every day, and he seemes to handle that just fine.

I took Java and Mick up to Door county for a week, just a little get-away with my boys. It was the week before Memorial Day, so blessedly quiet up there. The weather was gorgeous, only two half-days of rain, sunny and in the 60's the rest of the time. Mick did exceptionally well, I think walking up and down hills and our long walks in the woods were perfect physical therapy for him.

The best news is, Mickey has not had any prednisone for almost two weeks now, and he is happy, moving well, and generally doing better than I have seen in a long time. I have been hesitant to post here about this, I think I am afraid of jinxing the whole thing. Logically I know that is silly, but my heart doesn't tend to follow logic very well.

Update

2006-05-15T20:02:00.000-05:00

Hello Mickey's friends, hope you all are doing well! I'm finally here to give an update, but there is no big news, let's stay positive and say YAY, there's no bad news!

I sent an e-mail update to Maddie's Mom Caylin, so I thought it would be easier just to post that here. Hugs out to Maddie, bit mooshes from Mick!

Hi Caylin!

I have been a lazy bump lately! LOL! Mickey is doing fine. I took him off the pred Tuesday last week, and finally gave him one Saturday AM because he was slipping and falling. Actually, I only gave him 5 mg. He handled that fine, and he's still doing very well today, so hopefully that's a good sign.

I'm going to call Dr. D tomorrow and see if I can take off the permanent neck wrap and do a temporary one during the day only. He desperately needs a bath and I know it has to itch under there! It's been six weeks, gosh, I can't believe it's been that long!

I'm just going to post this e-mail in the blog, thank you so much for keeping an eye on us!

I'm so glad to hear Maddie is doing well, isn't it nice to see them playing again??? You can also just stop at Target or the drug store and get some athletic wrap, that works nice because it's self-sticking.(FYI, Maddie's neck wrap is getting grungy looking...)

Keep in touch......

Hugs,
E

Bark in the Park!!!

2006-05-07T09:11:00.000-05:00

This post isn't related to Mickey's condition, but instead devoted to my beautiful boy Java and our fun at the Chicago HSUS Bark in the Park yesterday.

It was amazing to see thousands of doggies and their people out helping this great cause. Dawn, Loki and I hit the road at 7AM to head downtown. We checked in and I got a cozy fleece blanket as a prize for earning $610 dollars!

Our friends Louis and Figment (Mickey's 1/2 sister) joined us with their people Renee and Cyndi. We did the 5K walk and stopped mid-way to have a romp in Lake Michigan.

The weather could not have been more perfect, and all the dogs were so wonderful.

We also got to meet a lot of our online buddies, that was really cool!

Here are some pictures, enjoy!

Left to right are Renee and Louis, Cyndi and Figment, Dawn and Loki, Java and me.

Here are Java, Loki and Figment meeting a new friend in Lake Michigan

At the bottom of this one is our BPO buddy Sampson, we got to meet him and his mom Kristi. Sampson just had disc surgery on his lower back and is doing wonderfully, YAY Sampson!

Lastly, I thought this one was pretty with the buildings in the background.

Thanks to everyone that participated and donated to this much needed cause, we had a GREAT time!!!

Bad reaction to the Pred

2006-05-07T09:03:00.000-05:00

Mickey had a bad reaction to the Prednisone on Friday. He was breathing fast and heavy after I gave him his pill at dinnertime.

I called Dr. Durkes, he said it was either a reaction to the Pred or pneumonia. I was pretty sure it wasn't pneumonia because he was active otherwise, eating fine and didn't have a fever. Dr. D instructed me on how to loosen his neck wrap, and once I did that he was much more comfortable.

I held off on any more medication yesterday, and gave him 1/2 of a pill this AM. We'll see how he does with 10 mg and go from there. It's strange, he went the first round of Pred just fine, I don't know why this time he would have troubles.

Yesterday was a great day though, after Java and I got back from Bark in the Park we spent a lot of time in the backyard "helping" (hehe) their dad plant some trees. The boys had a fun time playing a game of keep -away with their Dad's roll of string, Mickey was running like he was not hurting or uncomfortable at all.

I will keep you posted on how he does today.

Back on the Pred......

2006-05-03T10:41:00.001-05:00

OK, I know it's been too many days, but I've been a little busy and a little down. Monday was my b-day. That's the good/busy stuff.

Now the bad stuff.

Mick's sliding down hill again, yesterday he seemed depressed and just wanted to go to bed, I know this mood all too well, he's definitely not feeling well. BUT, I also have concluded that he is allergic to chicken, which I just started feeding him again last week for the first time after the procedure.

I talked to Dr. Durkes today, and he agrees that the allergy flair-up could be aggravating the inflammation and causing him to backslide. So no more chicken for Mick. He will now be eating beef and pork.

We're going to do another week of Pred and see how he does after that. If he stays up, we can THEN think about taking off that darn neck wrap. Poor Mick, I can't imagine how much it must itch under there.

Mickey continues to do well

2006-04-29T21:44:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to update everyone even though there is no big news here. It's been four weeks and two days since Mickey had the procedure done. He is still wearing his neck wrap, and I imagine he will wear it for a few more weeks now that he's done taking the Prednisone.

He continues to be more stable, of course this may be a side effect of the medication, but I hope not. He hasn't had any pred for two days now and he still looks good, no major setbacks so far.

His hair is still growing back, it seems like it grew really fast at first but now it's taking it's own sweet time.

Mickey's handsome brother Java

We had a nice walk...

2006-04-26T21:18:00.000-05:00

I took Java and Mickey for a walk after work today, it was an absolutely gorgeous afternoon!

Here's a pic of Mickey giving me the eye while I was trying to take his picture:

And one of Java and Mick having fun in a puddle:

Look at that BIG blue Midwestern sky!

Mickey is definitely getting stronger and has more endurance than before. He handled this walk really well and had plenty more energy to play when we got home. I don't know if this is a sign of him improving, or if he's just energetic today, but it is really nice to see! :)

Good Luck to Maddie!

2006-04-25T09:45:00.000-05:00

Mickey and I want to send good thoughts out to Maddie who is having her gold beads done tomorrow by Dr. Durkes.

Please everyone think good thoughts for them!!!

No news is good news

2006-04-24T20:40:00.000-05:00

All's stable here on the front, Mickey continues to do great on the Pred, but his appetite is still out of control. I had two pills left tonight, I think I will split each in half to taper him off a bit and finish up in the next four days.

He's still wearing his neck wrap, I'll ask Dr. Durkes how much longer when I call him after the pred is gone.

Other then that nothing new. Blogger has been up and down the last few days, so if this continues my posts may be spotty.

Have a GREAT week everyone!

Now he's hungry ALL the time!

2006-04-22T22:23:00.000-05:00

The Prednisone must be making Mickey hungry because he has literally been begging for food for HOURS! I feel so bad, but he needs to stay thin to keep the load on his spine as light as possible so I don't want to feed him too much. I did give him an extra meal of scrambled eggs tonight, I couldn't stand it anymore.

We only have a few days left of the medication, I hope the inflammation stays down on it's own after it wears off. I guess time will tell...

Prednisone update

2006-04-19T17:20:00.000-05:00

Mickey is still doing well on the Prednisone. He's not "all better", but he almost never knuckles over or falls anymore. He still drinks and pees a lot, but it's not as bad as the first few days.

I am concerned that when we take him off it will get worse again, but I try not to think too much about that since I really don't know what's going to happen. PATIENCE, PATIENCE, PATIENCE! I know my Dad is laughing right now because he knows that patience is NOT my best virtue. :)

Mickey's new harness

2006-04-19T17:04:00.000-05:00

Mickey got a new harness, it's made by Ruffwear. I'm impressed with the hefty construction, and dually impressed that it actually fits him.

The top has a handle that helps to steady him or hold him close to me. Since the halter also goes around his waist it's very strong and really gives him support. I highly recommend this halter for any dog!

I also put some athletic wrap over his neck wrap, the white was getting really dingy and gross looking. Also, at the bottom cotton was coming out everywhere. I used the Nexcare brand, bought it at Target, it's self sticking so no tape or pins.

You can see that his hair is growing back nicely, it's still pretty thin but at least he's not bald anymore. :)

Just another Monday

2006-04-17T08:59:00.000-05:00

Hi All, I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter Weekend! We managed to get some yard work done on Saturday, it certainly was gorgeous here in Chicagoland.

Mickey was a VERY good boy at his Grandparent's house Friday night, he got plenty of lovin's and lap time with his Grammy and Grampy!

He continues to improve from the Prednisone, even my Mom said he seemed much more stable on his feet. He still gets sloppy when he gets tired, but it's nowhere near where he was before the surgery.

I wish I had something exciting to share, but we're just going along status quo.

On a side note, through this blog I have been able to connect with other dogs owners dealing with Wobblers, and I have so enjoyed talking to each and every one of you. It's amazing the amount of knowledge I have gotten through comparing notes with others.

Everyone have a GREAT Monday!

Prednisone Day 2

2006-04-14T08:07:00.000-05:00

I tell you, it's a shame that this stuff has such bad side-effects, because it is really amazing to see the progress Mickey has made with just two doses.

This morning he got me up to potty, usually it takes a while for his limbs to start moving smoothly, but this morning he hopped right out of bed to go out. I noticed that on his way in while he was walking on the sidewalk he wasn't shuffling his feet or dragging on his nails. I cannot tell you the last time I actually saw him pick up his feet while walking!

He still has to pee all the time, and he drinks water like it's going out of style. I noticed that he pants a lot now too, but it's actually been in the 80's here so it could just be the weather.

Hopefully at the end of two weeks all of the inflammation will have gone down, and the beads will take over and do their thing, that's the theory anyway. Keep your fingers crossed, we really need this to work!

Prednisone

2006-04-13T08:04:00.000-05:00

Mickey got his first dose of Prednisone last night with dinner. He only got 20 mg, a fraction of what a full dose would be for a dog his size.

Last night he got me up TWICE to potty, Mickey is usually the one I am rousting out of bed to go potty in the morning, he does not like to get out of bed. So even that small of a dose has side effects. He also wants to drink water all the time now, I don't want him to be thirsty, but I also don't want him peeing all over while I am at work. DH said he would stay home as late as possible this morning and I will go home right after my 2:00 dentist appt., so hopefully he can hold it for 6 hours or so.

I haven't posted any pics in a while, so here's one of my favorites from when Mick was a puppy. It was his first trip to the dog park, if you look closely you can see he's sitting under his big brother Java for protection.

And here's one of Mickey rolling in the grass with his 1/2 sister Figment, I call this one "Giggles"....

Anti-inflammatory the natural way

2006-04-12T11:47:00.000-05:00

On one of my discussion boards there were rants and raves about the natural anti-inflammatory properties of a supplement called Serrapeptase.

I would love to hear if any of you have tried and/or heard of this supplement, and what effects it had on your pet.

Here are some links to information:
http://www.road-to-health.com/am/publish/article_163.shtml
http://evidenceofhealing.blogspot.com/2005/10/serrapeptase-relieve-pain-_114066685875513592.html
http://www.equilibra.uk.com/Serrapeptase.pdf
http://www.serrapeptase.info/
http://smart-drugs.net/serrapeptase-research.htm
http://www.vitasentials.com/serrazyme.htm
http://www.backtowork.co.uk/serra/html/studies.html

I have orderd some to try on Mickey, I'll start it after we are done with the prednisone to avoid any confusion over what effects each drug is having on him. I believe that improvements from Pred should be seen fairly quickly.

Day 12

2006-04-11T12:15:00.000-05:00

I talked to Dr. Durkes about Mickey's rear-end weakness worsening again, he thinks Mick might have jerked or bumped his neck and that caused some inflammation to come back.

We are going to put him on prednisone for two weeks to see if that helps, he'll only be getting 20 mg a day, so side effects should be minimal.

Here is some information on Prednisone:

Background
Prednisone is a synthetic corticosteroid used for many conditions in both human and veterinary medicine. Its anti-inflammatory activity is approximately four times that of hydrocortisone. Corticosteroids are extremely effective anti-inflammatory drugs because they affect the inflammatory process at so many different levels. Prednisone is rapidly converted to prednisolone in the liver and in most instances, these drugs are considered to be roughly equivalent. Corticosteroids have strong beneficial effects but a definite potential to cause negative side effects if abused. Prednisone may be given by injection, orally or topically.

Side Effects
• Systemic side effects to corticosteroids are generally dependent on dose and duration of treatment. Short-term use of prednisone is unlikely to cause adverse effects. Adverse effects are more common in animals on immunosuppressive doses.
• Side effects seen in dogs include polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, poor haircoat, GI disturbance, diarrhea, vomiting, weight gain, GI ulceration, pancreatitis, lipidemia, elevated liver enzymes, diabetes mellitus, muscle wasting, and possible behavioral changes.
• Polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia may be seen in dogs even on short-term therapy.
• Although cats are less likely to develop side effects than dogs, occasionally polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, weight gain, GI disturbances and behavioral changes occur.
• Corticosteroids can cause or worsen gastric ulcers.

Precautions
• Chronic or inappropriate use of corticosteroids, including prednisone, can cause life threatening hormonal and metabolic changes.
• Adverse effects due to corticosteroid treatment usually occur with long-term administration of the drug, especially when high doses are used. Alternate day therapy with short acting preparations is preferred. Animals who have received long-term therapy should be withdrawn slowly by tapering the dosage and prolonging the interval between doses.
• Corticosteroids suppress immune response. Animals receiving systemic corticosteroids may be more susceptible to bacterial or viral infections. Systemic corticosteroids can mask signs of infection, such as an elevated temperature.
• Systemic corticosteroids are contraindicated in patients with systemic fungal infections. (The treatment of Addison's disease may be considered an exception.)
• Prednisone must be converted to prednisolone in the liver. Animals in hepatic failure should receive prednisolone rather than prednisone.
• Corticosteroids should be avoided or used very carefully in young animals both because of immune suppression and the risk of GI ulcers.
• Corticosteroids should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation unless the benefits outweigh the risks. Large doses in early pregnancy may be teratogenic. Corticosteroids can induce labor in cattle and have been used to terminate pregnancy in bitches.

Drug Interactions
• When amphotericin B or diuretics such as furosemide are given with corticosteroids, there is an increased risk of electrolyte imbalances due to calcium and potassium losses.
• Digitalis and potassium levels should be closely monitored in animals taking prednisone.
• Corticosteroids may increase insulin requirements. Estrogen may potentiate the effects of corticosteroids.
• Drugs that may cause drug interactions with prednisone include salicylate, phenytoin, phenobarbital, rifampin, cyclosporin, erythromycin, mitotane and anticholinesterase drugs such as neostigmine and pyridostigmine.
• The immune response to vaccination may be reduced when corticosteroids are given at the same time.
• The risk of GI ulcers may be increased if corticosteroids and other drugs prone to causing ulcers such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are given at the same time.

Overdose
• Short-term administration of even large doses is unlikely to cause serious harmful systemic effects due to adrenal suppression. Problems associated with long-term administration of prednisone relate to suppression of normal adrenal function, iatrogenic Cushing's disease and metabolic crisis due to abrupt withdrawal.
Drug information compliments of http://www.wedgewoodpharmacy.com/monographs/prednisone.asp

Days 9-11

2006-04-10T09:32:00.000-05:00

Yikes, it's been a few days since I've updated you all on Mickey, sorry about that. Now that the weather is getting nice here we've been out working in the yard and going to the dog park. Well, Java got to go to the dog park, Mickey got to hang out with his dad at home.

I've been massaging Mick for 30-45 minutes a day to work out some of that soreness. It really seems to be helping and he's much more willing to let me do stretches with his legs than a few days ago.

He still seems weak in the rear though his muscle tone is better than ever. He's also been a little more stumbly the last few days, I'm going to give Dr. Durkes a call to see what he thinks about that. I know the key to this whole thing is being patient (right Anne?), but darn it I want to see my baby doing better!!!

His neck wrap is already starting to look gross, and it hasn't even been 2 weeks. I don't even want to think about what it will look like in a few more. I do have some pretty blue horse leg wraps that I can use to cover the white tape.

Oh, and I am the worst mommy in the world, Saturday I put their beds outside to enjoy the sun while I was working in the yard, and poor Mickey got a sun burn! Duh, his back is shaved and he has no pigment, sunscreen is a MUST now. I usually put it on his face when he's out in the summer anyway, so I don't know why it didn't occur to me that his poor naked back would need it too. So I've been giving him coat after coat of aloe to soothe the burn, and he really seems to enjoy that.

That's all I have for now, have a great Monday everyone!

Day 8 and more Q&A

2006-04-07T08:29:00.000-05:00

Sorry for being a day behind, but the boys and I were wiped and went to bed at 8:30 last night.

Let's see, yesterday I took Mickey to the chiropractor for stretching and adjustment. She couldn't do much with the neck area, but she found his back legs were extremely tight and sore. Here's my theory, with the back problems Mick would pull himself with his front legs everywhere, never really pushing off with his back legs. Now that he's had the gold beads, if he's using his back legs more for power, they probably feel like we do after a weight lifting session.

I will do stretches with him every day, our next appointment is a week from Saturday, hopefully she'll see some improvement.

Mick was feeling pretty good yesterday and wanted to run and play with Java. I feel so bad yelling at them to stop, but I know it's for Mick's own good. This is a critical healing time and I don't want to mess it up.

I got some more Q&A that I'd like to share:

Q: Did you restrict Mickey from playing even with your other Great Dane once CVI was confirmed (in your case by x-rays)to the time you went to see Dr. Durkes?

A: No, I let Mickey do what he felt comfortable doing. We did cut down on actual walks on a leash, instead I opted to take him somewhere where he could run and sniff at his own pace.

Q: How much does Mickey weigh?

A: Last I checked Mickey was 186 lbs., but he's afraid of the scale so it's a chore to get him on there. :) If we hide it under a towel he'll sometimes lay on it, good tip for all you out there with "brave" danes like mine. ;)

Q: What do you feed Mickey?

A: I feed Mickey a diet of raw meat, bones and organs from various animals, usually whatever is on sale at the grocery store. :)

Q: If you do a natural diet, did you change anything prior to the GBIs or did you increase Vitamin C? Any other supplements?

A: I've never been big on supplements, normally Java and Mick both get Flexicose for joint health and that's it. Mickey's Acupuncture Vet did try putting him on LigaplexII to see if that would help improve the neurological performance, but I didn't see a big difference so he's not taking that anymore. I don't believe that giving dogs excess amounts of Vit C gives any benefit, dogs product their own Vit C, and since it is water soluable the excess just empties right out of their body.

Q: How long are you supposed to keep your two danes separate?

A: I only seperate them during the day when I am not home, though Java sleeps right on the other side of the gate from Mickey during the day. He does that even with free access to a king size bed in the other room, isn't that sweet? I think it would be more stressful to try to keep them seperate than just to let them do their normal thing, my boys are extremely attached and love each other's company. If you have a dog that is going to physically push the once with CVI, it is best to keep a close eye on them though. I wouldn't let any roughhousing go on until Dr. Durkes gave the OK.

Q: What activity restrictions does Mick have right now and for how long?

A: Dr. Durkes said to just keep him quiet. I don't believe that completely cutting off exercise is a good thing, it is very important that CVI dogs keep their muscle tone up. As I said before, I would be comfortable letting them run and explore on their own with no forced exercise. Once Mickey is less sore and a few weeks have gone by, I will discuss starting some physical therapy with Durkes. Walking stairs and going over ground poles will help him build up more muscle tone and keep the extra weight off.

Day 7

2006-04-05T15:08:00.000-05:00

We've made it a whole week! Last night was good, I gave Mick a couple buffered aspirin after we went to bed because I could tell he was uncomfortable. After that he slept the whole night through.

DH was sweet enough to set up a Mickey Cam for me to watch my baby during the day. How freakin' weird are we????? HA!

Here's a pic from the cam, the only time I've seen Mick lift his head all day.

It's not great quality, but it's just one of those cheapie cams you usually put on top of the monitor.

If you look through the gate you can see Java's back, they never like being very far apart.

Day 6 Part 2

2006-04-04T19:46:00.000-05:00

Mickey is in GREAT spirits tonight, he must be feeling much better and recovering from his infection nicely. He's trying to play with his brother again already, so I am going to have to keep a close eye on them.

I kept Java and Mick separated today, and I will until Mickey's wounds are all recovered. Java tries to be such a mommy and keeps licking Mick.

It's pretty cute, Mick is almost like a puppy again, he's wide awake and playing one minute, the next minute he's completely crashed out on the couch.

I took more pics of his back, his hair is growing back amazingly fast. He loves when I reach under his collar and scratch his neck, it must be really darn itchy under there! I'm grateful we had this done while it is still pretty cool outside, he'd be really miserable if it was summertime temps.

Mick is still moving much better than before the procedure. He still sways pretty dramatically in the rear, but his feet are much more planted and his turns are SO much more graceful than before. He's becoming more acclimated to the collar, it seems less tight too. I am going to make an appointment with the chiropractor soon and get her to adjust his rear end. I spoke to Dr. Durkes today and he said that nothing should be done with his neck. We are going to put him on an additional three days of antibiotics just to make sure the infection is completely kicked.

Here are the pics of his back, you can see the redness and bruising has gone down considerably:

Day 6

2006-04-04T10:47:00.000-05:00

Mickey's face looked so much brighter today, I can tell he's feeling better.

I'm actually back at work :( , it's hard not being home to take care of my baby.

I don't have any updates on his movement yet today, I will post more later after I get home and walk him a bit. Hopefully now that the infection is going away we'll see even more improvement with his walking.

Day 5 and some Q&A

2006-04-03T13:25:00.000-05:00

Last night was rough, for some reason none of us slept very well. Mickey was having a hard time getting comfortable and I kept trying to help him readjust.

I think he's still got a bit of a fever and was shivering, so I would cover him and then he'd get too hot and want to move again, I have a bad case of mommyitis!!!

Movement-wise Mick is definitely doing better than before the surgery. He isn't falling all over the place and slipping as easily on the wood and tile floors.

I got some questions so here's a little Q&A:

Q: Did you know that Mickey had both conditions? or did Dr. Durkes find that in his examination?

A: I did know he had both conditions. The Spondylosis was diagnosed by Dr. Becky at Tops Rehab Clinic in Grayslake, IL. She does Mickey's acupuncture and is a WONDERFUL doctor.

Q: Also did you have xrays or MRI results that you took to Dr. Durkes?

A: I had x-rays that I sent to Dr. Durkes, he was able to confirm the Wobbler and Spondylosis conditions with those. An MRI would have been $1600, so I was ready to do that only if necessary.

Q: Was it double the cost with both conditions?

A: I am working on an itemized report of all costs associated with the trip. Specifically the gold bead implants for Wobblers is $700 and the Spondylosis was $550.

I added the itemized expenses below, down four entries.

Day 4

2006-04-02T11:05:00.000-05:00

Mick continues to improve, no fever this morning and a lot more tail wagging!

He and I were discussing the rain this morning, and this is the face he was giving me, have you ever seen anything cuter??? I love how the neck wrap pushes all his skin forward and makes his face all wrinkly.

I'm still waiting for him to poop some more, and I am sure the rain isn't going to help matters any. He'll have to put on his raingear, a target bag with a hole in it that slips over his head to keep the neck wrap dry. Now that's high fashion for ya!

Update on the fever

2006-04-01T20:27:00.000-06:00

YAY, Mick's fever is down to 102.2, looks like the antibiotics are doing the trick. He still seems a bit stiff, but I guess that' s to be expected after what he's been through.

Dr. Durkes says...

2006-04-01T12:40:00.000-06:00

Keep giving Mickey his antibiotics and call him tonight if it's not going away.

My poor baby, you can tell he's just miserable.

It can't all be good...

2006-04-01T12:26:00.001-06:00

We've had a bit of a setback this morning. Mickey has a fever of 103.7 and is obviously lethargic and unsteady on his feet.

He did actually poop a bit this morning, but not nearly enough to account for all he's eaten.

We are waiting for Dr. Durkes to return my call right now, I will update on what he says.

Itemized Expenses

2006-03-31T21:42:00.000-06:00

Here's a report for expenses incurred during our trip:

Veterinary Expenses

Item	Charge
Baytril Chew Tablets	57.00
Office Visit-Comprehensive	70.00
Anestesia - Gen Inhalant	75.00
Anestesia - Extended	210.00
Gold Implant - Spondylosis	550.00
Gold Implant - Wobblers	750.00
GOLD Hospital	50.00
SUBTOTAL	1712.00

Travel Expenses

Item	Charge
*Gas, 1.5 tanks @ $2.80/gal	75.60
*Food	70.00
*Hotel	124.00
*Misc trips for snacks and supplies	100.00
SUBTOTAL	369.60
TOTAL	2081.60

* Approximate costs

This will be updated as I remember new things, I am sure that I am forgetting something.

Home Again

2006-03-31T19:35:00.000-06:00

We're finally home from our journey. The first thing the boys and I did was to lay down and take a two hour nap! :)

Mickey is resting comfortably on his spot on the couch.

Mickey is happy to be home!

Mickey is still showing much more steadiness on his feet then before his procedure. He hasn't pooped yet, I wish he would, I think he may be a little uncomfortable with the neck wrap.

He's barking at noises from the wind outside, so he must be feeling OK.

I'll post more with news on his recovery and any changes I see that would be related to the Gold Beads. Thanks again to all who have been following Mick's story.

2006-03-30T23:10:00.000-06:00

Mickey's friends Deco and Lance send get-well wishes too! (We love you guys, thank you!!!)

2006-03-30T23:04:00.000-06:00

Mickey and his get-well ducky from Tracymom

How is he NOW?

2006-03-30T21:15:00.000-06:00

I cannot believe how well Mickey is doing. There is some minor swelling on his back below his neck, but other then that everything looks good. We were given some Baytril (sp?) to keep infection at bay since he did bleed so much during the procedure.

Already he seems to have better footing, he's able to go up and down curbs and get off the bed with little if no help.

Right now he's passed out on the floor, I think the bed is a little too mushy for him right now.

Java's been a great big brother, he's been along for the whole thing. DH and I took Java over to visit his breeder during Mick's procedure, she lives in the next town over. He got to visit with his Mom, Sister and half sister. I can tell you, he was in heaven with all those girls around!

Java and his Mommy

Java's sister Noel - yes, the jowles do run in the family!

Surgery and After

2006-03-30T19:22:00.000-06:00

My little boy pulled through like a trooper! What an exhausting day we have had.

To summarize the day, we got to the hospital at 8:00, they had us in a room by 8:30. Micky has been really wobbly since we got to Marion, and fell about three times before we got him in the building. It's easy to know you're doing the right thing when that happens, I knew he could not go on for much longer down that path.

I expected Mickey to instantly dislike Dr. Durkes like he does with most male vets, but amazingly he was calm and tolerant of his touches. Dr. Durkes felt up and down his neck and spine while feeling the pulse in his own temple. Unfortunately, they don't allow people to view the procedure anymore, Dr. Durkes felt like too many dogs were having to come back for another treatment, I think it interferes with his concentration.

They wheeled a hydrolic table into the room and DH and I lifted Mickey onto it, he was given a sedative and within 10 seconds was already falling to sleep. I begrudgingly let my baby go and turned him over to the very competent hands of Dr. Durkes and his staff.

Western Ave Animal Hospital

Finally at 1:00 we went back to pick Mickey up, literally, we had to pick him up. He decided that he wasn't going to use his legs. In order to get him to the car we had to put him back on the hydrolic table and wheel him out, I had no idea how we were going to get him from the car to the hotel room, but I was prepared to sleep in the car with him until he was ready!

It was quite a shock to see Mickey, he had been shaved from the back of his head to the base of his tail. Micky has spondylitis in addition to wobblers, so Dr. Durkes did the procedures for both conditions. Based on the amount and color of the blood, Dr. Durkes assessed that 60% of the problems Mickey had with movement are due to his back, not the wobblers. According to the doctor, we should expect to see improvement with the back issues in a week, and improvements with the wobblers in about three. :)

I would love to give more information to anyone who wants it, so if there are any questions out there please leave them in the comments section and I will answer as best I can.

A very groggy Mickerson

Implant sites on shoulders - each one of those dots is where the needle was inserted to inject the beads.

Mickey's back - I haven't counted the dots, but I am sure there were literally hundreds of injections.

The neck wrap

THE morning

2006-03-30T06:11:00.000-06:00

Well, it's here, THE morning. I am nervous as all heck! Breakfast is raisin bran, coffee and OJ, I don't feel like eating a bite, but I know I will need it.

Last night was resless, even Mickey who normally sleeps like a rock was up and down all night. I finally got him to settle down by holding him close to me and massaging him to sleep. I know it may be a little melodramatic, but I find myself wondering if this is the last time I'll be able to do that. Kiss that cute little spot on his temple, take him for a walk, wipe that impossibly long "hanger" from his jowles... :) I LOVE all those things.

One thing I do know is that if Mickey has a chance to a long productive life, Dr. Durkes and his team are the key to that. I am anxious for the months ahead to see Mickey gain his confidence back.

Think strong thoughts for my Mickerson today.

Marion, Indiana

2006-03-29T18:42:00.000-06:00

Well, here we are, safely to our destination, Marion, IN. I have to tell you, I LOVE living in the Midwest. BUT, driving anywhere in Illinois or Indiana has got to be the most boring thing to do ever. If you like looking at farm, after farm, after farm, AFTER FARM, you'll love this drive. Otherwise make sure you have some good tunes and a driving partner to keep you focused.

Of course the boys knew something was up as soon as I got up and dressed. I had packed most stuff in the car last night, and while throwing in some last minute things I was greeted with this sight:

Come on Mom, we're ready to go!

At about 6 PM checked into the Comfort Suites in Marion, they give a discount to people going to see Dr. Durkes. Our room is pretty nice (see below), it's roomy. Be aware, they give smoking rooms for people with dogs.

Comfort Suites

There's a nice grassy area behind the hotel and we're on the first floor so no tangling with stairs or elevators.

Dinner was steaks from the Icehouse restaurant, they were pretty good.

Comfort Suites serves breakfast so at least we won't have to worry about running around first thing in the AM. Our room also has a coffee maker, microwave and mini-fridge.

The blog entry tonight is courtesy Comfort Suites internet and DH who so kindly brought the wireless router so we could both sit here and surf the net. :)

2006-03-23T18:01:00.000-06:00

My hansome boy

The Adventure Begins

2006-03-23T17:33:00.000-06:00

Mickey is my 2.5 year old Harlequin Great Dane. Mickey has been diagnosed with Wobbler Syndrome, or Cervical Vertebral Instability. On Thursday, March 30, Mickey will be visiting with Dr. Terry Durkes, DVM to have the Gold Bead Implant procedure done.

A nice summary of what Wobbler Syndrome is:
http://www.upei.ca/cidd/Diseases/musculoskeletal/wobblers.htm

The Gold Bead procedure involves implanting gold plated magnets under the skin with a special needle. The procedure is based on the ancient art of Chinese acupuncture which follows the philosophy that certain points on the body can be stimulated to restore balance to the body's energy force, Qi or Chi(pronounced Chee).

From Acupuncture.com "The ancient Chinese believed that there is a universal life energy called Chi or Qi present in every living creature. This energy is said to circulate throughout the body along specific pathways that are called meridians. As long as this energy flows freely throughout the meridians, health is maintained, but once the flow of energy is blocked, the system is disrupted and pain and illness occur. Imagine rivers that flood and cause disasters or an electrical grid short-circuiting that causes blackouts. Acupuncture works to “re-program” and restore normal functions by stimulating certain points on the meridians in order to free up the Chi energy".

Here is some information on Gold Bead Implants, including a paper written by Dr. Durkes:
http://lochvale.freeservers.com/Durkes.html

Another good summary on Gold Beads:
http://www.wholepetvet.com/goldbead.php

And here is my favorite Wobblers success story about a Doberman named Sylvia who with Gold Bead Therapy was able to compete in agility once again:
http://hometown.aol.com/clcw/index.html

So this is just the beginning of our adventure. I will take as many pictures as I can, and give daily updates once surgery day is near.