31
Medical Conditions & Diseases / Re: Puffy Dane Toe
« on: February 16, 2006, 09:40:38 am »
Good to hear Skuy is doing well again. I'm sure he is happy to be back home with the family.
Jason
Jason
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32
Great Dane Discussions / Re: Cost of Having a Great Dane
« on: February 16, 2006, 09:35:56 am »
If you are talking about monetary cost, I read an article about a study of the costliest breeds over their life span. Great Danes were at the top of the list. As far as I remember though, this study included everything from health care, food, toys, accessories, auto choice, etc.
From personal experience, I can tell you gastric bypass surgery is expensive ($3,000 give or take). My dane also became anemic and needed a blood transfusion and 4 night stay at a hospital and that exceeded the cost of the bypass surgery. Iclude antibiotics and other medication (they are not covered under YOUR health insurance like your children), and health problems can get expensive. Not that ALL Danes have health issues, but you do have to be prepared in a worst case scenario.
That being said, I wouldn't trade my Oreo for all the gold in Fort Knox. The emotional reward you get from a dane is unmatched by any other pet. Of course, I may be biased.
Jason
From personal experience, I can tell you gastric bypass surgery is expensive ($3,000 give or take). My dane also became anemic and needed a blood transfusion and 4 night stay at a hospital and that exceeded the cost of the bypass surgery. Iclude antibiotics and other medication (they are not covered under YOUR health insurance like your children), and health problems can get expensive. Not that ALL Danes have health issues, but you do have to be prepared in a worst case scenario.
That being said, I wouldn't trade my Oreo for all the gold in Fort Knox. The emotional reward you get from a dane is unmatched by any other pet. Of course, I may be biased.
Jason
33
Medical Conditions & Diseases / Re: Puffy Dane Toe
« on: February 13, 2006, 01:40:01 pm »
Welcome to Big Paws. I have been battling the same condition with my dane since the beginning of 2005 and I'm still trying new stuff. He has had the boils and blood blisters on his back feet, but has also had skin and ear infections as well. He has been on antibiotics several times and is now on Soloxin for Hypothyroidism, but is still having the issues with his feet. My vet finally referred us to a Vet Allergist and Dermatologist and we did a consultation. She recommended a biopsy as well, but I want to try changing food, foot soaks and other stuff before we go forward with that.
I am actually in Atlanta as well. Dr. Mary Schick (in Roswell, GA) was the Derm Vet we were referred to and I've heard good things about her if you are going forward with the biopsy and treatment. Just to give you a heads up, the cost estimate was $850-$1100 for the biopsy test. This is before treatment and medication and after the $96 consultation. And you will have to collar you dog for a week before so they can get an unaltered sample for the test. Oreo got a "bite" collar which is a bit different than the E-collar, but he absolutely hates it. It basically holds his neck stiff and he has balance problems with it on. He can't walk down stairs, turn around or sit down with it on so I only use it for 1/2 hour periods when I catch him licking.
Let me know how Skuy's condition progresses. Maybe we can share some info and resolve the problem.
Jason
I am actually in Atlanta as well. Dr. Mary Schick (in Roswell, GA) was the Derm Vet we were referred to and I've heard good things about her if you are going forward with the biopsy and treatment. Just to give you a heads up, the cost estimate was $850-$1100 for the biopsy test. This is before treatment and medication and after the $96 consultation. And you will have to collar you dog for a week before so they can get an unaltered sample for the test. Oreo got a "bite" collar which is a bit different than the E-collar, but he absolutely hates it. It basically holds his neck stiff and he has balance problems with it on. He can't walk down stairs, turn around or sit down with it on so I only use it for 1/2 hour periods when I catch him licking.
Let me know how Skuy's condition progresses. Maybe we can share some info and resolve the problem.
Jason
34
Medical Conditions & Diseases / Ear Problems
« on: September 15, 2005, 09:09:47 pm »
Hey everyone. It's been a while since I've posted here, and I apologize for staying away so long. Sometimes life gets in the way of my Big Paws time.
So Oreo has been doing OK, other than a skin infection a few weeks ago, but he has been shaking his head alot. No scratching or rubbing against things, but just shaking. I clean his ears weekly with OptiFoam, OptiRinse, cotton balls and Q-tips, but I suspect some type of ear infection. Even though his ears are clean and dry as far as I can see, there is a sloshy sound if I massage them below the base (even several hours after I've cleaned them). Actually, it is only his right ear, and it seems to be messing with his balance too. He's shaking his head enough now that his outer ears are taking a pretty good beating so I plan to take him to the vet tomorrow. Just thought I'd get some opinions from my BPO friends.
-Jason
So Oreo has been doing OK, other than a skin infection a few weeks ago, but he has been shaking his head alot. No scratching or rubbing against things, but just shaking. I clean his ears weekly with OptiFoam, OptiRinse, cotton balls and Q-tips, but I suspect some type of ear infection. Even though his ears are clean and dry as far as I can see, there is a sloshy sound if I massage them below the base (even several hours after I've cleaned them). Actually, it is only his right ear, and it seems to be messing with his balance too. He's shaking his head enough now that his outer ears are taking a pretty good beating so I plan to take him to the vet tomorrow. Just thought I'd get some opinions from my BPO friends.
-Jason
35
General Board for Big Dogs with Big Paws / Re: wolfhound, dane question
« on: July 31, 2005, 09:22:18 am »
Oreo is almost 9 and is the heaviest he has ever been at just under 140 lbs. Most of his life he has been around 130 lbs. He is considered small for a male, but that is just weight. His height is rather average at around 35 in.
My old house had a 30 in. chain link fence. He never once challenged it. My current house has a 5 foot wood fence in back, but he is a "free range" Dane and usually just follows me around. He rarely wants to be outside unless I am though.
When I was looking for a rescue dog, I heard of Danes clearing 6 foot fences easily. These were generally from Danes who were up for adoption because they had "behavioral problems," but I think they were just neglected. Lots of Danes just like to be around their people and don't like to be isolated in the backyard.
Jason
My old house had a 30 in. chain link fence. He never once challenged it. My current house has a 5 foot wood fence in back, but he is a "free range" Dane and usually just follows me around. He rarely wants to be outside unless I am though.
When I was looking for a rescue dog, I heard of Danes clearing 6 foot fences easily. These were generally from Danes who were up for adoption because they had "behavioral problems," but I think they were just neglected. Lots of Danes just like to be around their people and don't like to be isolated in the backyard.
Jason
36
General Board for Big Dogs with Big Paws / Re: dog bed
« on: July 30, 2005, 10:24:43 pm »
I bought a heavily discounted comforter at the discount store (ugly as sin), and sewed a large pillow-type case to put it in. Now, I'm no seamstress, but it just needed to be two pieces of fabric and a zipper. So I fold the comforter twice and stuff it in this (it ends up being about 3'x4'). When necessary, I wash the case. When absolutely necessary, I wash the comforter. The comforter lasts a lot longer this way and washing the case once a week gets rid of most of the hair and dirt (plus it is smaller and fits in the washer better).
My girlfriend made a really nice one with a large piece of high density foam and fabric. Unfortunately, the foam doesn't fit in the wash so after a few months it smelled bad enough to be tossed out.
I tried the expensive store bought beds but they never last very long. They get holes and rip very easily.
-Jason
My girlfriend made a really nice one with a large piece of high density foam and fabric. Unfortunately, the foam doesn't fit in the wash so after a few months it smelled bad enough to be tossed out.
I tried the expensive store bought beds but they never last very long. They get holes and rip very easily.
-Jason
37
Great Dane Discussions / Re: Help! Its my first time!
« on: July 27, 2005, 10:42:28 pm »
Good points Gene. I second the motion.
Jason
Jason
38
Great Dane Discussions / Re: Skinny old Dane needs to gain some weight
« on: July 27, 2005, 10:32:50 pm »
I used to have major problems getting Oreo to eat. Still do sometimes, but not as much as he has grown older. He's also been through the bloat and torsion surgery, the diahrea, the bland food diet, anemia, weight loss and all that goes with it. He went from 120 to 130 to 100 but now sits at a very comfortable 138.
Through all of this, the only times Oreo seemed excited to eat was when I was boiling chicken for him. I would boil chicken, boil rice (in the chicken stock) and cottage cheese. This is the only time I could get him to clean his bowl. After he dropped to 100 lbs, I feed him this combo 3 times a day until he was back up to his fighting weight.
FYI: I've had problems with Eukanuba being too rough for Oreo's stomach causing major diahrea. Not saying it is bad, but my vet told me some dogs have trouble digesting it. Your mileage may vary.
Jason
Through all of this, the only times Oreo seemed excited to eat was when I was boiling chicken for him. I would boil chicken, boil rice (in the chicken stock) and cottage cheese. This is the only time I could get him to clean his bowl. After he dropped to 100 lbs, I feed him this combo 3 times a day until he was back up to his fighting weight.
FYI: I've had problems with Eukanuba being too rough for Oreo's stomach causing major diahrea. Not saying it is bad, but my vet told me some dogs have trouble digesting it. Your mileage may vary.
Jason
39
Great Dane Discussions / Re: Help! Its my first time!
« on: July 27, 2005, 10:13:39 pm »
Congrats on your new Dane. My Oreo is a rescue Dane and I think it is a great idea to go that route. I will caution you to take your time. I assume you have done some research on Great Danes to realize they fit your lifestyle. Don't be in a rush to just chose a pooch and go. Take some time with the rescue place to observe, choose, and bond a bit with a dog before you take him/her home. Get a feel for the personality of your pooch and picture them in your life. I met a few dogs the first visit, bonded with Oreo on the second visit, and brought him home on the third visit.
Also, you mentioned crate training. Oreo had to relearn house manners when I adopted him so crate training was a necessity. Crate training a 130lb. dog is not for the timid or impatient. Be very patient and understanding. Messes will be made, clean-up is not fun, but soon your new pooch will learn the lesson. Once Oreo learned the rules, he received full rein of the house and the crate was no longer necessary.
Sorry if all this is rudimentary, but having a Great Dane is a big responsibility and since you said you have limited experience with dogs, I felt like a little warning was necessary.
Oh.... and make sure you have buckets of cash lying around for "emergencies". These range from medical expenses to replacing furniture and rugs.
Check out this book: "For the Life of your Dog" by Greg Louganis and Betsy Sikora Siino. It deals with adopting a dog with a strong emphassis on Great Danes.
Jason
Also, you mentioned crate training. Oreo had to relearn house manners when I adopted him so crate training was a necessity. Crate training a 130lb. dog is not for the timid or impatient. Be very patient and understanding. Messes will be made, clean-up is not fun, but soon your new pooch will learn the lesson. Once Oreo learned the rules, he received full rein of the house and the crate was no longer necessary.
Sorry if all this is rudimentary, but having a Great Dane is a big responsibility and since you said you have limited experience with dogs, I felt like a little warning was necessary.
Oh.... and make sure you have buckets of cash lying around for "emergencies". These range from medical expenses to replacing furniture and rugs.
Check out this book: "For the Life of your Dog" by Greg Louganis and Betsy Sikora Siino. It deals with adopting a dog with a strong emphassis on Great Danes.
Jason
40
Saint Bernard General Discussions / Re: Molly has one Blue Eye&one brown Eye Could change as she grow's??
« on: July 14, 2005, 01:51:33 pm »I Was Wondering if it would change in human's they do,does any one know the only they is she would not be show,able,i not doing it anyway,it will not have anything to do will her heath! thank's marylee,she will be here , in two weeks i can't wait!!
It appears waffles717 is so excited about the new pup that the words aren't coming out quite right.
The condition is called heterochromia and is apparently somewhat common in dogs. I knew a dane with one gray eye and one brown eye. An absolutely striking and gorgeous dog. From what I gather there is a remote chance of a health problem, but most likely not. As far as show condition, I'm no expert, but I would guess this is not favored.
By the way, David Bowie is the most common example used for heterochromia in humans....that is if David Bowie is human.
Jason
41
Treatment & Preventative Meds / Re: Gastropexy - to tac or not to tac
« on: July 14, 2005, 01:27:01 pm »
I agree with what has been said already... If he's getting fixed, might as well tac. Oreo was tacked after bloat and torsion surgery and I wish I had done it before. Like Jack, Oreo was fixed before I adopted him so it didn't even really come up. You are smart to think about it now.
Jason
Jason
42
Bills & Other Legislative Acts / Re: canine automotive leash laws
« on: July 06, 2005, 08:30:03 pm »
I think I answered my own question, but for anyone who is interested, here are 2 links:
http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/05/506.asp
http://www.cumberlink.com/articles/2005/07/05/news/news01.txt
I doubt it would pass, but I imagine most of us Big Paw Owners wouldn't be able to abide.
jason
http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/05/506.asp
http://www.cumberlink.com/articles/2005/07/05/news/news01.txt
I doubt it would pass, but I imagine most of us Big Paw Owners wouldn't be able to abide.
jason
43
Bills & Other Legislative Acts / canine automotive leash laws
« on: July 06, 2005, 07:33:51 pm »
I was in Pennsylvania this past weekend and heard about a law they are trying to pass that requires owners to restrain or leash dogs riding in cars. I'm not really sure exactly how they worded the bill, but thought someone in PA could fill us in with the details. Are there any other states that require dogs to be strapped in while in transit?
jason
jason
44
Anything Non-Dog Related / Re: My New Topic: What do we drive
« on: June 30, 2005, 08:25:13 pm »
My dog rolls in a 2000 Dodge Ram Quad cab. But for everyday commuting, I bought a used 2001 Toyota Prius last November. Best investment I 've ever made, but Oreo doesn't fit well in it.
Jason
Jason
45
Anything Non-Dog Related / Re: My New Topic - What are your passions
« on: June 30, 2005, 08:46:52 am »
Music-Listening, playing and recording. Long drives- I don't have a fancy car or anything, but the time and open road allow me to clear my mind. And my loving and caring girlfriend. She is my every inspiration. Her smile is everything to me.
Jason
Jason