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Helpful Groups & Dogs in Need / Re: Great Dane looking for Home in Canada
« on: November 28, 2006, 10:09:59 am »
No I'm not. For more info email me at mjbecker@telus.net
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Helpful Groups & Dogs in Need / Great Dane looking for Home in Canada
« on: November 28, 2006, 10:01:51 am »
Hi, Dane in need of GREAT home. Located in Alberta, Canada. For more information please send me a private message. Thanks
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Great Dane Discussions / Phoebe Update #2 Grrrrrrrrr
« on: October 15, 2006, 10:19:29 am »
What frusteration! Phoebe had her stitches removed from her ankle this past Friday. Her ankle was looking so great. We were told not to keep wrapping it with vet wrap but to allow it to dry and expose it to air however to also cover it with some breathable fabric like a clean tube sock so that she could not lick it but so that it could get better. Well Friday night sometime through the night she chewed the sock off and chewed her ankle open. Saturday morning it was bac to the vet. While the scab is gone and her ankle looks worse it was not in need of stitches so we cleaned it, and I had to buy her a muzzle. We're now set back to a week of laid back activities, no licking the ankle and more antibiotics.
What frusteration. I never realized how difficult Lick Granuloma's can be, or how difficult recovery can be for big dogs. We're now nursing Phoebe like crazy, watching her like a hawk. I feel bad that she's in a muzzle but she needs it to heal. On a good note, Phoebe who dropped down to 80lb after the surgery has now put on 10lb and is up to 90lb. Thank goodness. She also has her spunk back which is awesome to see, but hard to control when we let her outside to go to the bathroom. She's on the week of laid back activities but she turns into a puppy outside. So she's now leash bound when going outside. I cannot wait until this has past for her. I am looking forward to walks and playing outside.
What frusteration. I never realized how difficult Lick Granuloma's can be, or how difficult recovery can be for big dogs. We're now nursing Phoebe like crazy, watching her like a hawk. I feel bad that she's in a muzzle but she needs it to heal. On a good note, Phoebe who dropped down to 80lb after the surgery has now put on 10lb and is up to 90lb. Thank goodness. She also has her spunk back which is awesome to see, but hard to control when we let her outside to go to the bathroom. She's on the week of laid back activities but she turns into a puppy outside. So she's now leash bound when going outside. I cannot wait until this has past for her. I am looking forward to walks and playing outside.
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Great Dane Discussions / Re: Phoebe Update
« on: October 07, 2006, 07:52:49 am »
Well....*sighs* we went in for the re-check last night. Phoebe has lost another 1 1/2lb from the 82lb on Wednesday. She's eating so my vet is not overly concerned. He said that he would increase the canned to make it 3 cans per day but with her not having completely solid poops right now (upset tummy) and with her having not eaten for 7 days prior that her digestion is slowed causing the loose poops, so as soon as they start to firm up we'll add one more can.
She's eating well, drinking and still taking her meds very well however last night when her ankle was checked once again it appears that 2 more if not 3 stitches are coming far too loose before their time thus come Sunday when we go back for yet another weight check/re-check he said in all likely hood he will staple her ankle closed as the ankle is such a tricky area to work on surgically due to the movement the dogs do.
Her ankle is looking slightly better, draining a lot on it's own which he said is good but the poor baby. I feel so terrible for her. I guess one positive has come out of all this though...Phoeb e has FINALLY shown interest in all the toys we bought for her. YAY! She had never before been given any toys aside from bones to chew so toys were very new to her. Now she happily lays with soft toys and chews or rather sucks on them. She carries them around and is retrieving them when we toss them inside. Perhaps when she is better and that ankle is mended we can work on tossing and retrieving outside. I'm pleased that she is finally coming around to try new things because I felt so bad that she was not doing anything aside from eating, drinking, sleeping and going potty.
We'll keep you all posted, and I'm praying that her ankle gets better really soon.
She's eating well, drinking and still taking her meds very well however last night when her ankle was checked once again it appears that 2 more if not 3 stitches are coming far too loose before their time thus come Sunday when we go back for yet another weight check/re-check he said in all likely hood he will staple her ankle closed as the ankle is such a tricky area to work on surgically due to the movement the dogs do.
Her ankle is looking slightly better, draining a lot on it's own which he said is good but the poor baby. I feel so terrible for her. I guess one positive has come out of all this though...Phoeb e has FINALLY shown interest in all the toys we bought for her. YAY! She had never before been given any toys aside from bones to chew so toys were very new to her. Now she happily lays with soft toys and chews or rather sucks on them. She carries them around and is retrieving them when we toss them inside. Perhaps when she is better and that ankle is mended we can work on tossing and retrieving outside. I'm pleased that she is finally coming around to try new things because I felt so bad that she was not doing anything aside from eating, drinking, sleeping and going potty.
We'll keep you all posted, and I'm praying that her ankle gets better really soon.
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Great Dane Discussions / Re: Dane Attacks Child...
« on: October 06, 2006, 05:25:49 am »
That is so cute. I was worried when I read the subject but when I saw some of the posts I had to check it out. Thanks for the laugh!
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Great Dane Discussions / Re: Jasmine reverting back?
« on: October 06, 2006, 05:19:03 am »
Phoebe loves to dig and chew at my flower beds. I would love to hear how others keep their gardens intact. I sympathize. Phoebe is 2, and because she's deaf, calling her out of the garden is a chore because I have to go down and touch her to get her attention. She pulled my climbing vines off the side of the garage when she chewed the base and then pulled at the branch. 3 years growing and maturing so I was a little sad to see it come tumbling down in less then 2 minutes.
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Great Dane Discussions / Re: Phoebe Update
« on: October 06, 2006, 05:15:52 am »
Thank you all for your kind words. I have been so concerned and worried and felt so terrible for her this last while. I really felt guilty for putting her through both the spay and ankle surgery.
Since my last post she's eaten 5 cans of wet food, 3 cups of kibble and she's drinking a lot while taking her meds like a real trooper. She's stopped the crying, pacing and constant sleeping and has really perked up. Phoebe goes in for her re-check tonight to see how much weight she's put on and how her ankle is doing.
While my vet said that the Go Natural Salmon and Oatmeal is an excellent quality food and great choice he did say that if Phoebe persists with the gas as she has in the past that I may want to just keep her on the Gastro food she's on right now both in the wet canned and kibble. Time will tell. The Gastro is more expensive but if it settles her tummy and makes her feel better all around even after she's better then it's well worth it.
Phoebe thanks everyone for their thoughts and kind words. She'll update soon again and she cannot wait to go for a walk. We've been told to have her keep it easy until the stitches are removed so no real physical activities.
Since my last post she's eaten 5 cans of wet food, 3 cups of kibble and she's drinking a lot while taking her meds like a real trooper. She's stopped the crying, pacing and constant sleeping and has really perked up. Phoebe goes in for her re-check tonight to see how much weight she's put on and how her ankle is doing.
While my vet said that the Go Natural Salmon and Oatmeal is an excellent quality food and great choice he did say that if Phoebe persists with the gas as she has in the past that I may want to just keep her on the Gastro food she's on right now both in the wet canned and kibble. Time will tell. The Gastro is more expensive but if it settles her tummy and makes her feel better all around even after she's better then it's well worth it.
Phoebe thanks everyone for their thoughts and kind words. She'll update soon again and she cannot wait to go for a walk. We've been told to have her keep it easy until the stitches are removed so no real physical activities.
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Great Dane Discussions / Phoebe Update
« on: October 05, 2006, 04:20:00 pm »
Well Phoebe went into the vet last night as I was concerned about the redness around her abdomin after the spay. I made the appointment with my usual vet, after concerns about the vet that did the spay/surgery. I was already feeling better and a little relieved that she was going in until 10 minutes before we had to leave and she tugged on the vet wrap on her ankle and pulled out two stitches. So we skipped waiting the 10 minutes and rushed on in. Phoebe's ankle was swollen and very red.
My vet was not as concerned about her abdomin, she had a fever, was shaking and whining, has lost 13lb since last week. She weighed 95lb before surgery and now she's down to 82lb. She stopped eating for basically a week. She's dehydrated...I was close to tears. See I had no idea she was doing so poorly. Since Phoebe has been with us all she does is lay around, she's not overly active and has never played with toys, so she was acting pretty much like herself minus the whining and redness. I was worried that the lack of eating was not good but the vet who had done the surgery assured me that she'd been through a lot and was likely still not feeling so hot and kept saying give it another day. So whatever I got sick of that and being the worried mom I am took her in to my vet.
He cleaned, drained and rebandaged her ankle, there was no need for stitches in the area where they came out. She does have an infection though now set (the other vet had used braided stitches) in so he gave us pain meds, antibiotics, anti inflamitory meds, a cream for her ankle that will help with the irritation and infection. He also sent us home with pill poppers to get the meds into her, and canned Gastro food. When we got home I got the meds into her using the pill poppers and then she ate a can of food (YAY).
Today Phoebe has again taken her meds, eaten a can and a half of the wet canned food plus a cup of Gastro kibble. She's stopped shaking and whining and she's drinking. YAY!! I'm already feeling better. Phoebe was supposed to go back in today for IV if she hadn't started eating and drinking but now that she's doing both she goes back in to see the vet again on Friday to see how she's doing and re-evaluate her then.
My vet was not as concerned about her abdomin, she had a fever, was shaking and whining, has lost 13lb since last week. She weighed 95lb before surgery and now she's down to 82lb. She stopped eating for basically a week. She's dehydrated...I was close to tears. See I had no idea she was doing so poorly. Since Phoebe has been with us all she does is lay around, she's not overly active and has never played with toys, so she was acting pretty much like herself minus the whining and redness. I was worried that the lack of eating was not good but the vet who had done the surgery assured me that she'd been through a lot and was likely still not feeling so hot and kept saying give it another day. So whatever I got sick of that and being the worried mom I am took her in to my vet.
He cleaned, drained and rebandaged her ankle, there was no need for stitches in the area where they came out. She does have an infection though now set (the other vet had used braided stitches) in so he gave us pain meds, antibiotics, anti inflamitory meds, a cream for her ankle that will help with the irritation and infection. He also sent us home with pill poppers to get the meds into her, and canned Gastro food. When we got home I got the meds into her using the pill poppers and then she ate a can of food (YAY).
Today Phoebe has again taken her meds, eaten a can and a half of the wet canned food plus a cup of Gastro kibble. She's stopped shaking and whining and she's drinking. YAY!! I'm already feeling better. Phoebe was supposed to go back in today for IV if she hadn't started eating and drinking but now that she's doing both she goes back in to see the vet again on Friday to see how she's doing and re-evaluate her then.
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Medical Conditions & Diseases / Re: Noxzema Cream on Spay Incision????
« on: October 04, 2006, 09:28:55 am »
I thought it sounded terrible and even if it worked however that could be just the thought of the burning was too much for me. She is going in to see my vet tonight at 8pm. He's staying late to see her. I love him to bits. I just want to find out the reasons behind her redness, the bleeding ankle and the whining. I just got her to eat some rice and veggies so that's a plus. I'm pretty sure that food energy helps to heal, and since she hasn't eaten much of anything since last Thursday maybe that's part of the delay? Who knows but she's going to be seen. This is the first female dog we've ever had so the spay is so new to us not to mention deaf dog and ankle surgery and and....we're learning as we go. I guess I'm an over protective mom, maybe it's nothing but she isn't herself and I stress over her just as I do my kids.
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Medical Conditions & Diseases / Noxzema Cream on Spay Incision????
« on: October 04, 2006, 09:16:44 am »
I'm a little worried. Phoebe is going to see our usual vet tonight because the vet that did the spay/surgery just told me to put Noxzema cream on her incision where she had the spay. Noxzema>>
? I don't see how that would help her redness let alone anything. That cream stings/burns my skin when I purchased it in the past to use, I tried it once and it burned and dried out my skin. Has anyone heard of this? I'm worried. Hopefully my vet tonight will be able to tell me why she is red, why her ankle is leaking blood and why she is whining...
? I don't see how that would help her redness let alone anything. That cream stings/burns my skin when I purchased it in the past to use, I tried it once and it burned and dried out my skin. Has anyone heard of this? I'm worried. Hopefully my vet tonight will be able to tell me why she is red, why her ankle is leaking blood and why she is whining...11
Medical Conditions & Diseases / Re: Whining/Spay
« on: October 04, 2006, 05:36:53 am »
Yes the vet wants to put her onto some anxiety meds but not until he sees her once again on the 12th. I heard St. John's Wort was really natural and excellent and then heard about BACH but I haven't found the BACH yet and I do not personally know anyone with a dog that takes St. John's Wort I've only heard about it. She's changed into a different dog though since the surgeries. Before she was so laid back and never made a peep and now she's whining and pacing and sleeping lots and not eating (she's generally a pig and gobbles the food as it hits her bowl). I even made her a rice dish with some veggies hoping she would eat. Alas no.
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Medical Conditions & Diseases / Re: Whining/Spay
« on: October 04, 2006, 05:22:32 am »
Talked on the phone. He's called everyday to check in and I've given him info on Phoebe and how she's doing and really stressed the whining/redness. He said that it's normal for some redness. He also said that because she's a neurotic chewer (of herself) to really watch her because he said that coneing her could cause more issues for her. Grr.. I don't know what's up. We're not supposed to go back until the 12th to have her stitches removed on her ankle but this sucks. When I talked with him this morning he said give it one more day and if she's still acting like this then bring her in.
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Medical Conditions & Diseases / Whining/Spay
« on: October 04, 2006, 05:07:21 am »
Phoebe was spayed last Friday and had surgery on her ankle as well. Since then she's only eaten maybe a cup- a cup and a half of food which isn't much. She's whining a lot. Phoebe is deaf and I have no clue why she is whining?? Not that she could tell me otherwise but it's not like her to whine. Her ankle seems to be doing okay when we rebandage with clean wrappings and her tummy is pretty red. She's on antibiotics for a week but is it normal for females abdomines to get a little red? She licks but as soon as we notice we give her a tap and try distracting her. I'm so confused. The vet said she's healing well and looks good but with her not eating much at all, plus the redness and whining I'm a little concerned. Any thoughts?
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Saint Bernard General Discussions / Re: My favorite thing about my dog is....
« on: October 01, 2006, 07:51:06 am »
They are part of the family, each day there is something new to smile about, or celebrate and praise. Phoebe is so laid back that even when I feel slightly stressed or uptight I see her and it lowers everything and relaxes me, and no matter how I feel she lays her head against the side of my hips or leg for hugs and that feels so special that she sees the need to come over and hug because I need it.
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Great Dane Discussions / Re: Anxiety Medication? Help!
« on: September 30, 2006, 07:32:14 am »
Thank you, thank you!