Day Sixty-Seven

WOWZERS! Seriously this has been a miracle drug for Festus. I can't get over the improvement that he has made while on the Cyclosporine. Seriously he is like a brand new dog. Hair, luxurious hair everywhere on him!! No scabs, no itching, no inflamed skin, no stink. I can walk in my house without being over powered by the smell that once was Festus. 

I do want to take a small break from our regular scheduled programming of me updating his progress to talk about something that is both near and dear to my heart. The GDCA is asking for DNA samples from danes (other dogs can participate as well but my mission is to get more research on genetic markers for danes as having one with a ton of health problems makes them extra special to me). The main objectives are as follows:

• Facilitate more rapid research progress by expediting the sample collection process
• Provide researchers with optimized family groups needed for research
• Allow breeders to take advantage of future DNA based disease tests as they become available
• Foster a team environment between breeders/owners and the research community improving the likelihood of genetic discovery

To get your dog's DNA profile listed go to this website: http://www.offa.org/chicdnabank.html

I personally did the cheek swab for Festus, super simple, make sure they haven't had anything to eat, and stick some toothbrush/q-tip looking thing in their mouth rub around on their cheeks (super simple with a dane) and put back into the package. Literally a 2 year old could do this, there is NOTHING complicated about it. Send the sample back with $5 yes you read that right only $5 to get their DNA profiled and have the possibility of helping thousands of future danes/dogs become healthier moving forward. And if you go to this link http://www.offa.org/display.html?appnum=1545064#animal you'll get to see Festus' results published. His registered name through AKC is Victory's Dynasty After Eight.  The other nice thing about this DNA profiling is that it links it then to their parents and siblings if they've had any DNA testing done as well, then you can see their lineage a little better and it is nice to have as well. 

Another thing that is near and dear to me is the Great Dane health survey, this helps the GDCA research more health things that are starting/already are running rampant in the Dane genetics and hopefully come up with some markers to work with to prevent these issues in the future. 

"Information from JP Yousha of Chromadane: 
As some of you may know, OFA/CHF offers a free online health & welfare survey to CHIC breeds like ours. For the past year I have been working with Eddie Dzuik & Robin Nuttall to produce such a survey for the Great Dane. This is now active & I invite all Dane owners to go to this link & answer the survey for each Dane they have owned:
http://www.offa.org/surveys/survey_greatdane.html
These online surveys do have their limitations, bear in mind. They must be formatted to avoid text answers and only certain parameters, a certain length (which restricted the number of questions) are possible; so certainly not every issue of all will be addressed with complete satisfaction. Plus there isn't true scientific rigor when it comes to the sample being unbiased. That said, I do feel the major issues and areas are addressed adequately. And given we get a large enough number of respondents, we should at least be able to "take the breed's temperament" (so to speak) as to majors concerns of health & welfare. This will both allow to better direct research where choices exist, help with education efforts where relevant, and even provide the basis for a more formal health survey. 
It's been more than a decade since a health survey has been done on our breed. This one is free, another pioneering program offered by OFA. Note please I insured this survey is open to ALL Danes worldwide , not just AKC Danes. So please take the time to fill out the survey. Thank you. "jp"

And now back to our regular scheduled programming!! Cookies to all those that read that info, even more cookies for those who submit DNA samples and to those that fill out the health survey (which literally takes 5 minutes, you all should have that amount of time to spare. 

See, cookies!! That cookie is what I was using to bribe him to look at the camera today, the power of food to this boy is amazing!

Oh Hi there! Look at me, I've got hair now and I'm not itching or stinking so super silky soft for snuggling and cuddling. 

The nice thing about BC is that even though it is the middle of February we have wonderfully sunny days now that I can hang out on the patio and snooze in the sun.

Nom nom nom! Finished one cookie now looking to the sky for my second cookie! 

Yup, that is one hairy scabless stink free neck that you're looking at, all real 100% pure blue dane hair. Certified by none other than the AMAZING Festerooni himself!

Somewhat of a far back photo to get his body in, again cookies are fantastic bribery!

Day Fifty-Five

Well, this week there isn't too much more progress to report other than more hair and longer hair and non-existant itchies. I'd say over the past almost two months that Festus is a totally different dog. He is a healthy looking dog, he is a dog that doesn't itch, he is a dog that is back to being an in your face momma's boy follow you EVERYWHERE dog. All of the above make me smile more than anyone would believe.

The past little while people have asked "Why??". Why would you spend so much money on a dog? It's just a dog, you could spend your money on other things. Well, until you've had a dog that means the world to you, you'll never know the why. Why I do it is that he is the world to me, the love that you get from a dog is like nothing else. They are always happy to see you, they know when you're having a rough day and when you just need them to be around. When you just need them to snuggle. All they ask in return is for you to love them right back.

There aren't many close ups this week, only two. But for your viewing enjoyment I've also included photos of both dog's trip to the park today to play fetch. The simple things in life that make them happy.

Fuzzy neck!! Look at that luxurious hair that has grown in. Only fifty-five days of the cyclosporine and he is far surpassing any of the hopes I had for him to be at this point in his treatment. 

Belly shot, he wasn't wanting to be too cooperative with me today for getting the on the side shot today so we'll suffice with under the armpits. 

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! We have lift off. Maybe with those lips he is hoping to fly somewhere.

His annoying sister trying to play interference while he was running for the ball. Sidney has NO interest what so ever in the ball, she'll run to it when he does then just stand there like WTF do you want me to do with this thing!

He runs full force to the ball skids to a stop then quickly spins around to get the ball as he ALWAYS overshoots where the ball actually is. 

Trying to play interference and ends up getting SLAMMED into.... She is almost 8, lived with Festus for 4 years now and STILL doesn't know that he is like a freight train and can't always stop in time if she decides to cut him off... 

War wound of slobber!! This is a totally regular occurrence for her, this is one of his finer pieces of artwork that he's left on her face. Poor Sidney, always getting the short end of the stick.

Weeee! Again, look it's a ball and Festus is going to get it, Sidney is closing in on him and as you'll see in the next two photos she caught up to him.

Sidney telling Festus a secret.... I'M GOING TO BEAT YOU THERE!!!

And again.... She's not so successful in the cutting her brother off... 

Until next time - Woofs and Slobbers!!