Day Forty-Eight

I know I know I'm a week late in the update, I was super busy last weekend. First off there has been continued improvement with Festus. His hair is getting longer and coming in super soft. The old hair that he did have though is coming out, he is blowing coat!! Geesh, I had totally forgotten what this was like until recently again. His boxer sister Sidney blows coat but not nearly as noticeable as when a dane does it. I have dane hair EVERYWHERE!!

Festus has had one little setback since we've started this treatment with the cyclosporine which is my fault as I missed one dose and man the next day he was itchy! So we popped down some chlor-tripolon and he was good as new again within a few hours. This time it only took one dose of the antihistamines and he was good, before he used to have to take a few doses before you would notice anything of a difference. Even though he is on every other day for the Cylclosporine, that one dose missed mistake sure won't happen again. I now have an alarm set on my phone to go off every 48 hours.

Today due to the weather being so cold and the heat on we've been battling some dry skin and such with both the dogs so it was change all the bedding, and bath day!! YIPEE! Well perhaps Sidney is still cursing me, and Festus has since long forgotten the bath (he takes them like a champ doesn't phase him), I'm still saying YIPEE as their hair is soooo soft, and they smell OH SO GOOD!! I finally picked up some Chris Christiansen Day to Day Conditioner (meant to pick up the shampoo too but they didn't have any) and it sure does a good job at leaving a nice soft clean scent and super soft hair behind. Next time I'm at that store I'll have to remember to pick up the shampoo if they have it in stock. Lately I've been using the microtek shampoo on Festus (which I did again today) and using up what I have left of the earth bath mango tango for Sidney. I'm not too much of a fan of the earth bath as I don't find it leaves them as soft as they should be and takes forever to rinse out even when diluted.

I should also note here, someone asked me the other day about his breeder. I did advise them against purchasing a puppy from them as his problems are genetic. Although, this person still went ahead with the purchase of the puppy (actually had the puppy before they talked to me, although they initially said at first they were looking at one and put a deposit down). I strongly suggest to those looking for a dane (or any puppy for that matter) to ensure their health clearances are done of the parents/grandparents and listed on OFA and TALK to other puppy buyers, talk to a lot of them, the more the better. Also check out Rip Off Report to see if they have any complaints lodged against them as well. It is also important to continue the lines of communication with your breeder if you end up with a dog with health issues so that they are made aware of them. Even if they continue to breed the dogs that produced yours with issues, then it is on their conscious and not yours. I know that Fesuts' mom has been bred again, as well as his littermate sister, and his half sister on his mom's side. On his Dad's side, there has been a lot of puppies sired by him, as well as a lot of puppies of his that have gone to produce their own. There is another dane out there that suffers from allergies as well, although not as bad as Festus', she still suffers. Her grandpa is Festus' daddy.

Ok time for pictures, there aren't many this week as it is now dark outside and well, the lighting in my house isn't all that good for photos.

Close up of his neck, look at the puppy soft hairs that are coming in and the neck skin isn't swollen and angry from itching. That little white speck in the middle there, that will never have hair as he had a biopsy of his skin taken there at one point. Biopsy = scar so that one speck I can totally live with! Best part ever, you all ready for this, you can PET IT and he doesn't go into an itching frenzy!! Total success in the progress on that one. Before you couldn't touch it or put a collar on him without him wanting to scratch it off. Now he wears his collars with pride once again. 

                                          

Elbow, if you look really closely (ahem, click on the photo to make it BIG) you can see the puffy skin is shrinking down and some fuzzy wee hairs are poking through! Again a major accomplishment for him to have some hair there and not puffy skin.

This is Festus' all to famous, you going to give me that cookie yet, or am I going to have to jump up and down being impatient and let out some boots.... Patience has never been one of his strong suits at all. 

Post cookie, now just totally not caring about the camera as his tummy has been satisfied once again. 

Until next week where I will have much better photos available for everyone's viewing pleasure!

Day Thirty-Three

Lets start with a photo this week. We are both SOOOOOO HAPPY today and let me tell you why.... Festus is looking almost normal. If you saw him on the street you would have no idea all the problems he has. No idea what so ever!! This past week he has made leaps and bounds in progress it has made me smile from ear to ear these past few days. He has also been so happy as well running around the house causing havoc all the time. Wanting to go out, wanting attention, wanting to steal things off the counters (NAUGHTY NAUGHTY BOY) which at this moment we don't really care. It is such an amazing treat to see him act this way. 

Sup Ladies.... Look at my sexy blue fur that is growing in! I'm even shedding all my old nasty hair and this soft soft hair is coming in. My momma tells me it is so nice to snuggle at night in bed now that my hair isn't pokey! 

Festus' neck is no longer bald and red! It is FUZZY! While the hair may still be short it is coming in soft, I can't wait to see what this is going to look like in another month. If the progress remains this good he'll finally be able to go and visit all the little old ladies at the hospital and get spoiled rotten with massive amounts of attention and possibly knitted gifts. 

Oh Hi there, aren't I just a cute little (big) fellow. Got any cookies that I can eat??

Even his belly hair is coming in and some of the skin tags are shrinking. 

Boxer sisters, they like to totally photobomb!! This is supposed to be all about me but somehow she totally weasels into the blog posts... Don't know what I'm going to do about that one.

Yet another photobomb but I'm tired now and must sleep, can't even make it to my bed. Before these photos mom and dad had me running to get my ball at the park. Geesh, I just wish they would stop throwing it away causing me to go and get it. One of these days perhaps they'll learn not to throw it away as I will just plain give up going to get it for them. Oh who am I kidding, it is too much of a fun game for me to play and keep myself amused. If only the brown one would stop chasing me causing me to run over her little butt.

Day Twenty-Five

Festus has almost been on the cyclosporine now for an entire month!! He is doing phenomenal on it as well. We can pet him all over his body and he doesn't feel the need to itch about 90% of the time which is a massive improvement over 25 days ago in which touching him would get those hind legs moving and itching like a mad man. I am beyond happy with the improvements that he has made. Hopefully by spring he will be able to go and visit the little old ladies at the hospital as it would just make their day!

He has been much more cuddly lately and just well, much more personable in his day to day life. He is getting excited over the simplest things again meal time, walk time, car time, well anytime really he has gotten just SUPER BOUNCY!! He zooms around the house zooms around the yard, tries to zoom around on the leash. He is making me laugh more and more everytime I turn around he is actin a fool.

Time for my close up! 

His elbow area isn't red anymore and is softening up. Less callously and hair is starting to fill in a bit there.

Close up of his neck/belly area. What used to be red and angry looking along with scabs is back to skin colour with little bits of pink. No scabs are present, no crusty skin either. HUGE improvement over from where he first started. 

Sorry for the shadow but this is a good overall shot of him sitting showing now there is hair that is slowly starting to fill in for him. Waiting for a treat to be thrown at him which he only catches about 1 our of every 50 or so. He gives the college effort though and at least makes the attempt every time always in slow motion which makes me giggle. Not sure if he does this on purpose to make me smile at him and tell him how silly he is or if it is just him. To catch or not to catch that is the question!

Closer up and a bit brighter of his belly.

Got daddy to help with this one to get him to stretch his neck up for a full under the chin shot. What a bit of freeze dried cheddar can do. Simply magic!

Different belly angle, decided to lay on the ground under him to get the shot. What do we see here ladies and gentlemen, I do believe that is some hair!

Moooom please put down the camera now and just pay attention to me!

Winks for the ladies!! Until next week big slobbers ~Festus