December 15th, 2009 by admin

It was one of the best “first” days out of the season for me in years. Beautiful, fun, no lift lines and I actually got to ski with Ron as well as get a bunch of good shots of me with Winnie, the Race Department Boxer (mom: Sarah E.).

The resort is ready for the Christmas guests.

Look at Winnie's big brown eyes. She's awesome.

Big, wet doggie-kiss.

This is a "dog" blog, so I'm posting all the pix of me with Winnie the beautiful and adorable Boxer

These bluebird days are uplifting. I need as many as I can get.

Skiing with Ron - doesn't happen often, so it was a treat.

October 29th, 2009 by admin

I’m in Hawaii for my sister’s wedding, but those photos will be put up elsewhere and sadly didn’t include any four-legged family members.

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This is my favorite surfer dog in Hawaii. Her name is Malu, she’s going a little gray and doesn’t get out on the water as much, but she’s still a star.

If you want to see a video of her surfing in Waikiki with her surf-instructor owner Erik Lillmars, you can go to the DCX Surf School link at: wwwsurfingoahu.com. Or see the video embedded below. The video is pretty cool.
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To make a long story short, Malu was apparently homeless or abandoned and followed Erik around until he adopted her. They have been a team since she found him.

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Here’s a picture of of me and Erik, who is the best surf instructor EVER. He has helped me surf as well as relax and enjoy myself in the process of learning.

Here’s the photo of us after surfing – difference is hair I guess, but I know I felt happier and more mellow.

Aloha from Hawaii!

P.S. – Little dogs are very popular here. So far I’ve seen Shihzus, Pugs, long and short-haired Dacshunds, Min Pins, and Chihuahuas. I am planning on going to the Dog Halloween Parade.

October 7th, 2009 by admin

Gus, or “Gussy” as I often call him, is still a young dog. He was hit by a car last year and had to have his leg amputated, but like most dogs, he has adapted, and now hops along on three legs. When I took him for walks, he would walk-hop with enthusiasm, his ears flopping up and down with each stride.

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He has learned to balance on one leg in the back of the truck, jump fences with only three legs, and generally doesn’t seem to make a fuss about his disability.

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My girlfriend Sarah went on trip with her two boys and husband and I brought Gus up to our place in the Vail Valley. Here are a couple pictures of Gus at my place.

He doesn’t bark and is a mellow and loving dog.

The photo below is pretty much the same one as above, but taken with flash.

Here’s a photo of Sarah finishing a grooming job on a cute dog that is part poodle and I can’t remember what else, but maybe Old English Sheepdog?

I love the cut she did. It’s adorable. Go Sarah!

September 8th, 2009 by admin

Coleman is the most amazing Pit Bull I have ever seen … EVER.

Sometimes when I look at him he doesn’t look like a real dog. His features are so pronounced, he looks more like a caricature of a Pit Bull than a real-life Pit.

Look at his huge head and his heavy-set muscled body. If you didn’t know how sweet he was, it wouldn’t be hard to be scared silly and lapse into a cold sweaty paralysis when you hear his low deep growl and bark while he steadily looks you in the eye.

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However, once you met him, you would soon discover that he lives to be hugged, kissed, petted, patted, rubbed, scratched, massaged, cuddled and lavished with attention. In the small-dog world, this type of dog is often referred to as a “cuddle-bug” or “love-bug.

He’s patient, warm, strong, solid, loving and very well behaved.

He can smile too.

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Ken, my new friend and house-mate, selected Coleman for his gentle and stable temperament. He let me know that looks without a good disposition is no small matter when it comes to Pit Bulls, which is why he searched for a long time before finding Coleman.

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When Ken tells people that Coleman is a calm, friendly Pit who likes cats, children and small dogs, I don’t think anyone believes him at first. I know I was skeptical as I casually glanced at the solid mass of dog with big  jaws.

Later, when Willie, my spazzy Min-Pin, was trying to provoke Coleman while my Morkie and Yorkie were projecting nervous energy during their first meeting with the Pit Bulls, Coleman hardly blinked. He just stood there until the little ones got the jitters out of their systems.

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Since I have known him, I have not once seen him agitated, aggressive or display inappropriate dominant behavior. He’s like the 500 lb gorilla: he doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone. He is quietly self-confident without being arrogant or insecure, which I find to be attractive not just in a dog, but in people as well.

The angle of this photo is a bit silly because it makes Coleman’s head look so much bigger than his body that it appears he may fall over.

The camera is playing tricks here too. The black Pit Bull’s name is “Baby”. She is substantially smaller than Coleman, but appears bigger in this photo because she is closer to the camera.

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I will put up a separate post on Baby because she deserves her own post. If you let her, she will jump onto your lap, spoon with you on the couch, or wiggle her way into full-body teddy-bear hug. She’ll even stand up so that you can hold her paws and dance with her.

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Suddenly my whole perception of a Pit Bull’s potential as a pet has been changed forever.

FYI – Due to his good looks and excellent temperament, Coleman is available as a stud for qualified bitches. Contact me and I can put you in touch with Ken.

July 9th, 2009 by admin

Sheree and I drove from Ann Arbor to Olga’s house in Bloomfield Hills yesterday for a get together that had been in the works for months. Halle went with us too and immediately curled up in Gabby’s fabulous dog car seat for the ride. After we arrived at Olga’s place, Collette arrived.
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The highlight of the visit was seeing the little two pound Yorkie, Lucy, who was previously lame and awaiting surgery, walk, run, roll over and sit on her own. She was only able to sustain this activity for seconds and move no more than a couple feet, but for a dog who had no use of her legs when she was first rescued by Olga, this is just short of a miracle.
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You can see read about Lucy’s story, see a video and other photos of Lucy under “Adoptable Pets” on the Retrodoggy Rescue site:  http://www.retrodoggyrescue.com/
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Or go directly to the page for Lucy here: http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=13780214
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Lucy in her pen

You can’t tell from the photos, but this tiny Yorkie is feisty and full of life. While I was there I saw her take every opportunity to move and be active.
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Olga showed us the compression massage she does on Lucy’s legs. She has also been taking Lucy for acupuncture. Under Olga’s care, this puppy went from seeming like a lost cause to a bundle of energy who is clearly exerting her will to live.

Sheree holding Lucy

Lucy plays with her baby toy

Olga holds Chico the Bichon

I fell in love with all her dogs. The personalities are all very pronounced. Chico, shown here with Olga is like a little person or a big baby. He loves  human attention, especially Olga’s.
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Even though Olga admonished me not to pet him for fear that he might bite, he jumped up on my lap when I first sat down. Later I did pet him after he continued to nuzzle me. Colette petted him too. She shrugged off the biting thing saying that it wouldn’t be the first time she was bitten ;-)
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Here are a couple more photos of Chico snuggling with Colette:

Louie, Olga’s other Bichon was my personal buddy. He’s soft, cuddly and sweet as can be.

Louie

Louis close up

***The adorable Clara***

Clara, like most of Olga’s dogs was a rescue with multiple health issues that no one else wanted. She has been nursed to health and is enjoying her senior years much loved and part of the family. Look at her beautiful eyes.

This photo of Clara is blurry, but it’s too cute to leave out.
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Finally (below) is a photo of Chico and Halle. Halle is on Colette’s lap.

Chico and Halle

I didn’t get a photo of Scooby, the Coton de Tulear that will be going to his forever home soon, but he is a rambunctious and beautiful puppy.
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I don’t get out often so the excursion was a treat for me and it was nice to be among friends and dogs.

March 28th, 2009 by admin

Would you like to have a feature on your dog or dogs on this blog? Did your dog do something funny, heroic, extraordinary that you would like to share with other dog lovers?

I’m accepting Guest Doggies now!

If you have a dog with Liver Disease, please include history, conditions, symptoms, and how your dog is doing now.

For all other dogs, please explain how your dog has enhanced your life and his or her special qualities.

Leave me a comment to this post and I will email you personally to retrieve  photos and text from you.

-Ming

February 25th, 2009 by admin

Nicole just let me know that TJ’s pathology lab came back for the growth that was removed from his paw.

Just so that you know the biopsy results were good. These are her words: “YAY ~ YAY ~ YAY ~ YAY”.

The growth that was removed was determined to be a Benign Histocytoma Tumor, which shouldn’t grow back.

Nicole took these pictures this morning, She finally figured out a way to bandage his foot securely. In the past three days he was able to the gauze cast off and lick his paw, but “not today though…mommy did it good…”

No more yucky growth, but about this cast...

Doggy paw cast perfected

February 21st, 2009 by admin

If you scroll down a bit you can see the two other posts on TJ. He had a growth on the top of his paw that was just surgically removed and is now home wearing the dreaded cone and recovering.

Here’s the email Nicole just sent me:

Hi Ming…We got home last night.  He [just] had surgery 4 hours before, so he was so tired, as I was too -  we fell asleep on the couch. He was restless at first, as his paws hurt and couldn’t get comfortable, so I cradled him like a baby, so he didn’t have to put pressure on his paw, he was out like a light within minutes of his new position….

The Dr. said the biopsy results will be in within 4 to 5 days. He’s being positive, and doesn’t think it is a mass cell tumor at this point, but we still have to wait to find out!

[TJ's] stitches come out in 10-14 days.  Yes, his paw hair should grow back.  He is on Baytril again, but no pain meds.  He seems to be doing ok today, although he wants to lick his paw.  I have the cone on him.  But in a couple of days, I will wrap it with gauze.  The Dr. said I can put a carter baby sock on him, so I may try that as well.

-Nicole

Tucked in and watching from the window, his favorite spot

February 19th, 2009 by admin

Here a photo of the growth that Nicole emailed me:

The growth on the top of TJ's paw

I think I would have it removed too!

This is the cutie who’s going in for the removal procedure tomorrow.

I'm just a happy little guy

February 18th, 2009 by admin

Nicole, a DLD member has requested prayers and good thoughts for her little Yorkie, TJ, who will be having a growth on his paw removed on Friday, after which it will be sent to pathology.

Here’s the four year old, seven pound yorkie-boy “TJ”:

I'm ridiculously cute and I know it

Nicole reports that the  growth has been on the top of TJ’s paw for about a month.  It is the size of a black bean and is skin color. They treated it for two weeks with Baytril and an antihistamine in case it was a lick granuloma. But it has been about a month now and the growth appears to have grown a bit. The Vet doesn’t know what it is, but he, Nicole and her husband are all uncomfortable with it, so he will remove it in its entirety and send it to pathology.

Nicole is petrified about the surgery because of the chance that it may be a mass cell tumor. Althouth she is trying to stay positive, she has appealed for help:

Please keep my baby TJ in your thoughts and prayers. [..] I am trying to remain positive, but inside I am SCARED to death!I too am hoping this turns out to be ‘nothing’ but the stress of it possibly being a mass cell tumor is freaking me out.

He is my baby boy and I am his mamma…

THANK YOU! Nicole

February 13th, 2009 by admin

UPDATE: The money Grant sent for Daisy’s travel from Long Island to Newark has been transferred as a donation to RetroDoggy Rescue to help dogs with liver disease since it was not used for Daisy.

Previously, Grant (MVD Yorkie, Higgins) graciously contacted me personally to offer financial assistance for Daisy’s travel-related expenses all the way to Colorado. Daisy’s owner declined all offers, but I accepted the funds from Grant to be used specifically for transport-related expenses, with a portion set aside for emergency use.

Here’s a picture of Higgins, Grant’s Yorkie on the beach in Bermuda. Besides the fact that he looks like a total Teddy Dog, I love the paw prints in the sand in the photo:

Higgins, Grant & Lauren's Yorkie, pondering

February 7th, 2009 by admin

This piece is called “Finnian Begin Again”. In light of Finnian’s recent passing, I found it difficult to read without feeling pangs of intense sadness. Dawn’s honesty and candor gives us a window into her world and that of her sweet Finnian.

I highly recommend reading this piece, but must warn that it may cause the tears to flow again.

Finnian Begin Again

When I first adopted Finnian, we weren’t sure he would make it. His rescuer, Northwest Poodle Rescue, told us his sad, and nearly unbelievable story.Only three pounds when he was rescued, he was kept as a stud in a puppy mill for eight long years. He had never played outside, never been socialized, and never left the cramped cage he lived in, which was so small that his spine had a permanent arch and he was unable to walk. He had only learned how to stand properly and walk after he was rescued.



His legs were so atrophied that it took him a long time to build the muscles necessary to move. As he tried to walk, all he could manage at first was a kind of stumbling sideways crab-walk, punctuated with lost footing and falling down, then struggling to get up again. Later, we were to discover that over-breeding had also caused his kneecaps to be permanently dislocated, adding to the difficulty of his movement.

At some point, Finnian had been bitten by another dog, probably one he was forced to mate with, and his leg was torn open, an insult to the already injured skin of his body. He was bald and bare from urine burns that were made when the urine that soaked his cage and his body, built up and turned to ammonia. He had spent most of his time raw and burning and soaked.

After he was rescued, the vet conducted emergency dental surgery on him, removing twelve teeth that were rotten from an inadequate diet and that looked like “an Australian blooming onion” in his mouth, another genetic defect caused by over-breeding. Either during the difficult surgery in his tiny mouth or sometime before, Finnian suffered some unknown neurological damage to his tongue. Whether through stroke or trauma, he was not able to control his tongue and it still hangs out one side of his mouth. I had to use a water dropper to hydrate him several times a day, an ordeal that caused him to choke and sneeze. Since it was also difficult for him to chew and swallow, he would cough and sneeze food into his sinuses, leading to numerous infections that made it difficult for him to breathe.

Worried about his continued coughing and difficulty breathing, I took him to the emergency animal hospital in the middle of one bad night. This visit revealed that Finnian indeed had scorched lungs from inhaling ammonia from his urine. They also found that he had an enlarged heart and hardening kidneys.



During those weeks, I kept Finnian in a baby front pack at all times. I even slept with him each night on the recliner, giving him his pain medicine and waiting until he was sleeping comfortably before settling in for the night myself. I stayed still so that I wouldn’t  disturb him, and I woke several times to make sure he was still with me. Sometimes he would open his eyes, sigh heavily after seeing I was still there, and fall back into a deep sleep, chittering his familiar chitter of fear and desperation.

There are no words to describe how we bonded during that time. To the outside world, it would look like it was I who was helping him. Over time though, I started to realize that he was helping me as much or more. Having dealt with anxiety for years as a result of Asperger Syndrome, a high-functioning form of autism, I had always forced myself to go out, to get out in the world and not fall prey to the agoraphobia that always seemed so tempting. I would have panic attacks in public, brought on from social stress and sensory over-stimulation. Just going about life could be so hard.

First from necessity and then in order to socialize Finnian, I began to take him with me everywhere in his front pack. We went to the store, to the mall, to my Thai boxing class (a very structured kind of social outlet for me), and to walk around the neighborhood.  People would stop me and want to hear his story. I would explain all he had been through and people would pet him, going out of their way to show him love. These encounters were nice for me, because it gave me a way to connect with people and a way also to feel comfortable with their physical nearness. Finnian became a focal point not only for the people I met out in public, but for me as well.

I started putting my anxiety medication in his front pack, knowing that if I started to have trouble I would focus on him during the confusion that accompanies a panic attack, and  still be able to find my medication. Soon, though, I realized I was having fewer panic attacks because he was with me. And shortly after that, I was surprised to see after much  trial and error, underpinned by our strong bond, that Finnian was in fact signaling to me when I was heading into social or sensory trouble.

When I was feeling good and outgoing, he would be forward and outward-focused. As my stress level changed, he would turn inward, focusing more and more on my chest and pawing me when things were about to fall apart. He would know this was happening before I did.  Sometimes just putting my nervous energy into petting him would help.  Other times I would have to leave the situation anyway. Finnian would let me know which course of action was going to work.

Over many months, Finnian became a reliable gauge of my mental state and began to guide me constantly and infallibly in my negotiations with the outside world. Now that he was healing and more physically able, I started to train him in basic obedience and our bond grew even more. In addition to alerting me to panic attacks, he started to paw me insistently and wake me at the onset of my night terrors and sleep disturbances. He also started to insist at times that I get up in the night to take anxiety or sleep medication.

When I got up I would reward him for this service, although he didn’t expect it.  If I overslept because of the medication, he would let me sleep as long as possible, then paw me until I woke up. On mornings I hadn’t taken medication, he would wake me up even earlier so I could start my day on schedule. He was somehow able to tell the difference.  Somehow he trained himself.

On days that I suffered from sleep deprivation to the point of not being able to trust my perceptions, he seemed to “patrol” the house for me. If I heard a voice and my partner and son were out of the house, I would ask him, “Who’s there?” and he would run around the house, coming back and then asking to get up in my lap if no one was there. At times there actually would be someone outside or at the door, and he would alert me by barking.

As our wonderful and sensitive Finnian, also known to the family as “Finnian Begin Again,” became stronger and healthier, he became the delight of our home, and a delight for our other dogs, our extended family, friends, and strangers. Still, he is most special to me, and I to him…



Finnian in his little red sweater

Now happy and secure, Finnian not only touches all whom he meets, but he remains a special friend to me, a kind of extension of my soul, allowing me greet my own unfolding happiness in ways I never thought possible.

Now licensed as a service dog, Finnian repays me daily for all the care I gave him when he could barely stand. I know that it is I who got the bigger gift. Thank you, Finnian.

Edited by Ming 2/7/09

ADDENDUM - A post from Margy about adopting dogs that aren’t perfect


“Hi Ming. Just wanted to tell you what a magnificent job you have done with your blog. It is very sensitive and touches my heart. I sure wish that Dawn would consider writing a book about her experiences. This is a story that the world needs. It would encourage the adoption of dogs who are not physically perfect and they could assist those of us who are not perfect as well. It would offer hope, and give us courage. Hugs, Margy Hope” 


2/7/09 Dog Liver Disease (DLD) group.

February 3rd, 2009 by admin

It’s a little after 3:00 pm Eastern Standard Time. Finnian is scheduled to be at the vet’s at 4:00 Pacific Time, four hours from now.

Dawn struggled with her decision to put him to sleep because he was feeling better today, his eyes shiny with life. The decision to let him go was enormously difficult. Now she prepares to say the last goodbye to her trusty little guide and partner.

It was only after joining the DLD (Dog Liver Disease) group that I met someone who had a service dog. I remember how profoundly it affected me to read about Margy’s service dog Noodles, who has since passed, and what that relationship was like. It changed something inside me forever. The epiphany about relationships with animals was further heightened when I met Dawn and Finnian on the site less than a week ago.

There was another deluge of posts today on the DLD site to support Dawn during this difficult time. Every post was meaningful, kind, thoughtful and considerate. I reprint verbatim here the two posts that reference service dogs:

On February 2, 2009

“Dear Dawn. My heart is breaking for you, I remember, too well, how I felt when my Hearing Ear dog, Noodles had to be put to sleep because he had a rare cancer. Take your time, breathe, and be kind to yourself. I can only say that in time, the good memories of Finnian will make you smile once more. I am keeping you and Finnian in my prayers. 
It may ease his discomfort if you give him some vanilla Pediasure with Fiber, if he cannot eat. Big hugs from Margy Hope
”

On Feb 3, 2009

“As we all say a prayer for Finnian and Dawn today during this difficult time, remember that she is on the West Coast, so her 4:00pm will be the East Coast 7:00pm. I want to send my prayers and positive energy and thoughts and love to them at the time they need it the most. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers today and help Dawn deal with this loss. We have all experienced losses like this in our lives, but Finnian being her service dog makes this so much more difficult. Margy knows more than anyone about this having lost her precious Noodles a fewyears ago. Dawn, our love and prayers will be with you both.

Love and Light
Beth”

February 3rd, 2009 by admin

Just five days ago, on January 29, 2009, I read Dawn Prince-Hughes’ post on the Dog Liver Disease (DLD) group asking whether she could safely give her liver-compromised dog a de-wormer medication to treat him for tapeworms.

Since dogs with liver disease cannot efficiently process chemicals, toxins, proteins, etc., vigilance and care must be taken on what goes into the dogs’ systems, including food, medication, treats, topical solutions, or anything that would be ingested, inhaled or absorbed. The group’s founder and head moderator was able to let Dawn know which de-wormers would be better tolerated by dogs with liver disease.

That was the easy part of Finnian’s story to read. The rest of Dawn’s posts I present here, very minimally edited, for you to read:

Finnian, my dog who is in liver failure, was a puppy mill rescue. He had been in a cage so small for eight years that his back was permanently arched and he couldn’t walk. He was bald and his lungs were burnt from urine and feces.

Although he’s a “teacup” poodle, at three pounds he was only half his ideal weight. His kidneys were hardening and his heart was enlarged. And his mouth was so infected that a hole had been eaten into his nose. After four oral surgeries we still haven’t been able to close the hole.

He can’t have another surgery as he became so weakened, he almost died on the table the last time. Both the infection and the operations have lead to his current liver failure.

It’s so hard, because despite his health, he has bright eyes and loves life for the most part. Even in his current state at eleven years old, he tried to play with the puppy last night.

An outpouring of posts flooded the DLD site, expressing gratitude and admiration for Dawn’s adoption and care of such a sick dog. Even I posted: “You are truly a knight in shining armor for this dog.”

Dawn’s response revealed yet another layer of meaning and poignancy:

I feel like I have been so blessed by Finnian. I spent many years as a homeless autistic person and he reminds me every day to forgive and let go. What I’ve been through is nothing compared to Fin’s life.

Finnian has been MY knight in shining armor! You know, he was so sick when I got him I carried him around in a front pack. When he felt better I took him out in public that way. He started alerting me to impending sensory episodes that would incapacitate me.

I finished his basic training and then had him registered as my service dog. He has traveled with me by plane, train, and bus, over mountain and plain. He goes on errands with me everywhere, and sits on my lap when we are home, going nowhere else except for exercise walks. That’s what makes this even more difficult. We have become one entity.

Here are the two photos she sent me last night.

Only four days later, we read the crushing post from Dawn entitiled “Finnian will be crossing the bridge tomorrow…”:

Mon Feb 2, 2009 11:41 am

Finnian is crashing. He feels awful and is having trouble standing and walking. He is very confused and his breathing is shallow and difficult.

I am taking him shopping today in his front pack, his favorite thing. I will be spoiling him tomorrow and then at 4:00 pm the vet will be putting him to sleep.

I won’t be on the list for a while, as I recover from the loss of my service dog and best friend. I just wanted to thank everyone who helped us and has shown so much love and care to us.

Love,

Dawn and Finnian

February 2nd, 2009 by admin

That was a long 15 seconds at the end. It’s a good time to be a Steelers fan. Cardinals played well. Game was compelling.  Willie, our most athletic dog has had a Steelers-themed Myspace page since 2007.

Screenshot of Willie's Myspace page

Willie in her custom ski racing speedsuit from Austria

She’s wondering when I’m going to get her that Steeler’s jersey I promised. And she said I should let people know that she would have been ok if Kurt Warner had won tonight because she’s just that kind of dog.

January 27th, 2009 by admin

Ok – I finally have a moment to post a photo of the water-loving Havanese, “Mac”. He’s vacationing in Florida with his people-parents, who took him boating.

Mom, Dad, THIS IS THE BEST!

It’s amazing to see how much Mac enjoys life, even when his symptoms are troubling, like the head tremors he has been experiencing on and off for the last several weeks. Every time I see a photo of Mac living life to the fullest in spite of his health issues, I know that I want to be more like him.

Bonnie says that until recently, the longest head tremor lasted about two minutes (about a week and a half ago). She describes them as a “light head movement, back and forth, back and forth.”

Then after a several tremor-free days, he had a longer lasting episode on Wednesday, January 21. Bonnie said it happened “on and off” (9-10 seconds on, 4-5 seconds off) for about four minutes. I know she’s frustrated because she has tirelessly explored the causes with numerous vets, hospitals, testing, and spent as much time managing his various chronic health issues with special diets, supplements, medication and care.

He recently saw a Holistic Vet and I think he’s getting acupuncture. Bonnie may also be taking him to a neurologist. She’s been an active presence on the Dog Liver Disease (DLD) Yahoo Group, so I know the great care he is getting from Mom.

Like other dogs with chronic health issues and special needs, the best care and vigilance cannot provide a cure or even a symptom-free life, but it can greatly improve the dog’s quality of life and often extends his lifespan many times over.

Mac is living proof of a well-managed special needs dog who continues to live and love with enthusiasm.

(Mac the water and fun-loving Havanese, diagnosed Sept 2007 with MVD, Microvascular Dysplasia, and Severe Fibrosis. Born 12-16-05)

January 24th, 2009 by admin

PREFACE
This story is a bit long, but it’s one worth telling. It’s a story of the gift of life, made possible by loving commitment and determination. In the case of dogs, the rewards are almost always worth it and then some!

Sheree is an active member of the Dog Liver Disease (DLD) Yahoo Group, who shares her liver disease experiences and advice freely and generously. She has two Yorkies, both with liver shunts, who are now “alive and well and living in the suburbs”.

The stories below are told by Sheree with minimal editing by me.

FIRST THERE WAS GABBY
She came into our lives as a puppy full of health and energy. At about four months of age, she started having bouts of vomiting and stomach pain. Poor little Gabby would roll around and cry, or would vomit so much in a short time that she appeared lifeless.

Miss Pet Appeal 2001 (Gabby the playful puppy)

This is a frequent pose of Gabby’s to this day,  especially when she’s asking to play! Little did we know at this time that she would become so sick.  She was always such a sweet dog.

Misdiagnosis after misdiagnosis, vet after vet, the problems kept resurfacing every few weeks. We finally thought she would have some stability after she was diagnosed with IBD (Irritable Bowel Disease) and put on special canned food, but when we took her to Florida with us, she became very sick towards the end of the two-week stay.

One night she vomited over and over in the middle of the night while we were in an unfamiliar place. We found an animal emergency room open and took her in. They gave her some fluids and we left with her about an hour later, but she got sick again almost as soon as we were back in bed.

By that time, it was almost morning, so we found a vet hospital nearby where they immediately put her on an IV and gave her medication to alleviate her symptoms. We left her there to have blood work done and fluids replenished.

When we returned, the vet told us Gabby might have a liver shunt based on her blood work, symptoms and history. That was the first time we’d heard the words “Liver Shunt”!

When we got back to Michigan, I made it my mission to get to the bottom of Gabby’s health issues once and for all. I researched liver shunts online, resulting in my taking Gabby to the MSU veterinary teaching hospital. There she had the amroid constrictor ring put on in 2003. She was two years old.

One year later, she was sick again! We took her back to MSU. She had blown another shunt! They performed the surgery to close off the shunt, and we came home with a “guarded” prognosis. Little did I know that blowing new shunts, could and would continue to happen. At the time I was not aware of the medical management and supplements that I now know about from the DLD group.

I found the Liver Shunt group in August 2007 and started Gabby on the recommended supplements and proper food and diet. Thanks to the DLD group and especially Olga’s (the founder and head moderator) support and advice, Gabby has been enjoying the best health since her symptoms began. I only wish I had known about the group when Gabby was first sick and diagnosed. The support and information would have provided us with much needed help and saved us from a lot of extra time and grief.

Gabby is now 8-years old and as loved as she is spoiled (in the best way possible of course).

THEN THERE WAS HARLEY
Harley was a 3-year old Yorkie rescue from Illinois that needed liver shunt surgery. He was very sick and had severe aggression issues, which is  a common symptom of Hepatic Encephalopathy (HE). Harley was transported to Michigan where Olga fostered him until he was stable enough to have the liver shunt surgery and amroid constrictor ring put on in November 2007. He did well after the surgery, eating the prescribed low protein RCH (Royal Canin Hepatic) kibble, taking antibiotics and a number of supplements.

When I first saw pictures of Harley, known as “Charlie” at the time, I fell in love with him. There was something about his eyes that haunted me. I couldn’t stop thinking about him and convinced my husband to consider him for adoption. After all, we were already familiar with LS and the related issues, and this little guy needed a forever home where he could get the love and care he needed and deserved.

We took Gabby with us to meet Harley and Olga for the first time at a nearby park. All went well and my husband not only agreed to adopt him, but he has been as committed to making Harley a part of our family as I was! He even considers Harley “his” dog.

When Harley came to live with us at the beginning of May 2008, boy was he a challenge! He was a sweet dog much of the time but could turn aggressive (“turn Cujo” as we would say) in a heartbeat. I knew Olga had said he was aggressive and that he had bitten her on several occasions, but I was not prepared for anything like this! After months of patience, work and several pretty bad dog bites, I am pleased to say that Harley has turned out to be one great little dog! It has taken persistence and love, but he now completely trusts us and I believe he knows we love him and that he is in his forever home.

I recently sent Harley’s first foster mom in Illinois some pictures of him, and let her know how great he’s been doing. His pictures and update are now on the “Pet Wall” at PETCO where she works. Needless to say, she was thrilled to hear about Harley.

Gabby, however, wasn’t so sure about Harley in the beginning, especially when he had aggression episodes.

Gabby (front) and Harley (top) Sunning

They co-exist quite well now. In fact, I think having Harley with us has made Gabby more confident and comfortable around other dogs. She has also benefited from the additional supplements that Harley was taking as they’ve been added to her diet as well. They are getting closer together, but slowly, an inch at a time.

See "the 3-inch gap"

Having two LS Yorkies is a challenge and comes with added responsibility and expense, but the unconditional love Gabby and Harley give us is amazing and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. Gabby is my little heart-and-soul dog. We’ve been through so much together. And Harley’s story and transformation is amazing because it is a story of many caring people coming together to give a sick dog a chance at a good life.

Face-to-Face, almost touching

Look at him now! This photos shows him checking out Gabby, who loves to float on “her” raft in the pool.

January 19th, 2009 by admin

The ALT blood test is one of the usual tests done in a series of tests when liver disease is suspected.

ALT stands for “Alanine aminotransferase”, an enzyme important in liver function.

A high amount of ALT found in the blood is often an indicator of liver damage or inflammation. Even though the ALT test is considered to be a sensitive test for liver disease, high ALT levels in the blood can be caused by many different conditions, such as lead poisoning, drug reactions, shock, etc. For this reason, other testing is typically done in order to better interpret the ALT test.

The reason a high amount of ALT appears in damaged livers is because liver cells release this enzyme into the bloodstream when they are damaged. Although an abnormally high level of ALT in the bloodstream is greater in damaged livers, it may or may not correlate with the seriousness of the liver disease or predict what the outcome or course of the disease will be.

Shaili’s ALT level: 783 **HIGH**
Normal ALT range: (14-151 U/L)

What is the unit U/L?

U/L is “Units per Liter”
• A unit is an arbitrary amount agreed upon by scientists and doctors.
• A liter is a measure of volume that is slightly larger than a quart.

References: “Symptoms and Diagnosis of Liver Disorders in Dogs” by Veterinary & Aquatic Services Dept., Drs. Foster & Smith web site;  www.peteducation.com; Web MD; and www.gastromd.com.

January 17th, 2009 by admin

Providing the explanation took much longer than expected. I did numerous rewrites, checked my facts, had my sister who is a microbiologist proof it, and read it to various people to see if it was easily understood.

The sister who proofed it is the one who has the 1.5 year-old son with no functional small intestine and a liver that was failing. The link about baby Bo is in the side bar under “My Nephew’s Rare Disease”

I have not done the ALT or bilirubin write-ups yet, but they’re coming. Please note that the BAT is usually one of several tests in a panel of tests for liver disease.

Back to the BILE ACID TEST (BAT). First, if you haven’t seen Shaili, the athletic Pug, she is featured two posts down. Her recent blood work came back with some high Bile Acid Test numbers:

Fasting Bile Acid Test (BAT):
Shaili’s result: 13.4 µmol/L **HIGH**
Normal range: (0.0-12.0) µmol/L

2HRS Bile Acid Test (BAT):
Shaili’s result: 44 µmol/L **HIGH**
Normal range: 5.0-25.0 µmol/L

“But what does this all mean?!” you ask?

Most dogs are given the BAT to determine if there is a problem with their liver, or if another test they had done for liver disease was inconclusive.

For instance, as in Shaili’s case, if liver disease is suspected, but the biliruben test shows normal levels, the BAT is run because it is a more sensitive test for liver damage.

The BAT result numbers show how much bile acid is in the blood stream at the time each blood sample was taken.

1) On an empty stomach (no food for 12 hours)
2) Two hours after a (high-fat) meal is eaten

A high amount of bile acids in either blood sample means the liver is not adequately doing it’s job of pulling bile acids out of the bloodstream, which indicates liver damage.

The bile acid level in the blood sample two hours after the meal should only be slightly higher than the bile acid level before the meal because a healthy liver is able to remove most of the bile acids after two hours.

When a dog eats, food going into his body is in part “digested” by the bile acids that break down fats. Those bile acids are initially released from the gall bladder into the intestine to help with digestion.

After the food is digested, the bile acids go into the blood stream where the liver retrieves them and returns them to the gall bladder for storage until the next meal. This is why some articles state that the liver “recycles” bile acids.

Here is a simplified progression of the events upon feeding the dog:

1) The dog eats, triggering bile acids to be released from the gall bladder into the intestines2) While in the intestines, the bile acids help digest the food and break down fats from the meal

3) After the food has been digested, the bile acids in the intestines move into the bloodstream

4a) At this point, a properly and fully functioning liver would efficiently take the bile acids out of the bloodstream and return them to the gall bladder to be released and used again at the next meal.

4b) If the liver is damaged and not functioning properly, it will not be able to remove the bile acids at a normal rate, so the blood sample taken will show a high level of bile acids in it.

Upon eating, the body triggers the release of BA from the gallbladder into the intestine, where it helps break down fats ingested. Once the food is digested, the BA goes back into the bloodstream where it is recaptured by the liver.

Even though this test is a good indicator of liver disease, the results do not provide information on how severe the damage is, what caused the damage, whether the liver can recover and what the expected outcome would be.

Shaili’s “Fasting” Bile Acid Test is a bit higher than the normal range, and her “2-Hour” BAT level was double or more than levels in the normal range. Look at these results again along with the BAT results for a Pug Puppy that likely has a liver shunt:

Fasting Bile Acid Test (BAT):
Normal range: (0.0-12.0) µmol/L
Shaili’s result: 13.4 µmol/L **HIGH**
Pug Pup with suspected liver shunt: 287 **VERY HIGH** This is 21 times Shaili’s BAT level

2HRS Bile Acid Test (BAT):
Normal range: 5.0-25.0 µmol/L
Shaili’s result: 44 µmol/L **HIGH**
Pug Pup with suspected liver shunt: 1877 **VERY HIGH** This is over 42 times Shaili’s BAT level

UNITS DEMYSTIFIED:
• “µmol/L”  is  “micromoles per Liter”
• A mole (mol) is an amount of a substance that contains a large number (6 followed by 23 zeros) of molecules or atoms.
• A micromole (µmol) is one-millionth of a mole. (definition from Healthwise web site)

A note about the Pug puppy above. If this puppy does have a liver shunt and it is operable, it actually has a chance of living a good quality of life as well as enjoying a longer or even normall life span given that it’s condition is managed by proper diet and supplements.

If you are looking for more information, a support group, and practical advice from experienced dog liver disease moderators, please visit the Dog Liver Disease (DLD) Yahoo Group. You are not alone if you have a dog with liver disease or suspected liver disease. There you will find hope and help for managing the condition, reducing the symptoms, and increasing the livespan of your dog..

January 16th, 2009 by admin

Yesterday…today… it’s all starting to look the same to me!

I am currently waiting for more news on Daisy and also waiting for text and photos to come in for some the dogs of the frequent posters on the Dog Liver Disease (DLD) Group. In the meantime, you really have to see this picture of Shaili.

Kelly, the mom of Shaili (pronouced “shay-lee”) also sent me some info on her little athlete to go with the action photo of her below. Apparently she is at the top of her breed in agility which is pretty cool.

Shaili goes for it!

Kelly and Shaili are new members on the DLD group since Shaili’s recent blood work came back with some high Blie Acid Test (BAT) numbers and high ALT (Alanine aminotransferase).

“But what does this mean”, you ask. Well, I’m going to have to explain in another post. I did the research to find explanations in plain english, but then the post ended up being way too long, so just know for now that the results indicate that the liver isn’t fully functioning properly due to damage or dimished capacity.

I promise to post more info using Shaili’s stats, but I don’t have it in me right now.

Kelly wrote in her email to me that they rescued Shaili from “a less than ideal situation” and shares with us Shaili’s other health conditions as well as the agility work and play they have, and still do, enjoy together:

“[Shaili] is my “heart” dog and incredibly special to me. She has had her share of medical issues including luxating patella surgery, tooth extractions, Mast Cell tumor removals and severe hip dysplasia. However, she has always been a busy little thing, so I decided to try agility with her back in 2000, and she has since earned 100 agility titles (including several Championship Titles) in multiple agility organizations.

I tell her I love her every day and we will still play agility as long as she feels good. So far she has just been diagnosed with high ALT and elevated Biles Acid, so we are taking it day by day …we are cautiously optimistic that she will be OK and with us for many more years!!”

Kelly is understandably confused, because even after receiving the results from the Bile Acid Test (BAT), she doesn’t know exactly what is wrong with Shaili’s liver. From what I can tell from the reading I have done, the test does indicate liver disease but is not enough to show how severe it is, exactly what kind of liver disease it is, and what the prognosis is. Shaili is getting an ultrasound next week. If another step is needed after that it is often a liver biopsy.

Although Kelly reports that Shaili “is acting completely normal, great appetite, very active, doing all her normal stuff,” the symptoms may not express themselves until the condition worsens. The good news is that Kelly may have caught the disease in a relatively early stage and can manage the condition with the help of the DLD group so that it doesn’t get worse, and may even improve her liver functioning by putting less of a load on it with proper diet and supplements.

The reason the BAT was done was probably because her bilirubin count was normal. Mike Richards, DVM, states on his web site that “When there is reason to be suspicious of liver disease but bilirubin levels are normal or close to normal, then bile acid testing can be very useful since it is a more sensitive indicator of diminished liver capacity.” Will have to define “bilirubin” later too! (http://www.vetinfo4dogs.com/dlivtest.html Tests for Liver Disease in Dogs)

I hope everyone enjoyed meeting Shaili and learned a little bit more about liver disease in dogs.

January 10th, 2009 by admin

DISCLAIMER: The photo below has not been doctored, altered or tampered with in any way. This is Jack, “Mr. Wall Street” enjoying Florida before his trip to the Upper Penninsula in Michigan.

Jack says "Obviously if you have money, BUY NOW!

He is Bonnie’s friend’s dog. Bonnie is the one responsible for donating the flight to Michigan for Daisy. She is a member of the Dog Liver Disease (DLD) support group and is the mom of Mac, the water loving Havanese with MVD (Microvasuclar Dyplaysia in the liver) and Moderate-Severe Fibrosis. See the other photo of Mac in the Guest Doggies link on the right.

Bonnie let us know that Jack always ” acts as though he should have a shirt and tie on,” which earned him the title of “the Wall Street type”. It was just recently that she found the collar and tie combo at a pet store and couldn’t resist getting it for him.

Jack has a big and important look but only weighs about 6 lbs.  Bonnie’s girlfriend’s daughter got him 5 years ago. He was the runt of the litter and very sick, so the breeder told her she shouldn’t take him.  Needless to say Lindsey (1st year in college) took him anyway. He was actually in a bird cage when she first saw him. It broke her heart.

With her care and appropriate medication, he turned out perfectly!

Update on Mac:

Here’s a photo that makes me smile every time I see it. Funny and yet totally fabulous!

Now THIS is the life!

Bonnie let us know that the recent drive from Michigan to Florida was hard on Mac. He was off schedule, dehydrated and not himself for the first week, [..] then he went tearing out of the house, missing a step, and did a face plant on the patio, resulting in a skinned nose and a hurt leg. Thankfully he seems to be recuperating nicely.

January 7th, 2009 by admin

The Dog Liver Disease (Yahoo) support group has well over a hundred members, all of whom have dogs with various degrees of liver disease, included Daisy, for whom this site was created.

The adorable Pomeranian below is Ritz. He was born on July 4th, 2006.

He has a form of liver disease called Microvascular Dysplasia (MVD). Normally blood going to the liver from other organs arrives in veins that branch into smaller and smaller vessels to reach the liver cells. MVD is the condition when these microscopic vessels are abnormal, resulting in a liver that cannot properly process toxins or make the proteins needed for healthy functioning and growth.

His doting mom, Stacy has had great results with the recommendations for diet and supplements from the DLD Support Group to improve Ritz’s symptoms and manage the condition.

In her words: “Our last liver panel and urinalysis were on November 25th [..] His liver enzymes were normal, his bile acids [were] down, and he had no crystals. This was the best we ever had!!!! [..] I owe everything to the group. I would not have known what to do without them (especially Olga who is my life saver and hero!!).”

Enjoy the photos!

Angel and Ritz when they were puppies

Supposedly Pomeranian owners call this stage of hair growth the “puppy uglies”, but we’ve decided it’s ridiculously cute! His little buddy Angel is a Maltese.

Ritz and Jax looking good for Christmas 2008

This is what the filled out Pom coat looks like. Beautiful and yet, still so cute!

December 31st, 2008 by admin

Halle, my little rescue Yorkie says, “Hi”.

December 21st, 2008 by admin

It was a long day with family, but enjoyable. My brain is a little mushy today from lack of sleep and from crashing on the couch to accommodate additional family in the house for the holidays.

Here’s a picture of Halle snuggled up in my down vest. There is no other material she likes more than fluffy down to cuddle in. It’s good stuff, that’s for sure.

Halle in my down vest

I think she looks a little like a baby fox here.

December 17th, 2008 by admin

Well yesterday was Mac’s birthday, which resulted in a flurry of well-wishing for the adorable white furry Mac on the DLD site. If you don’t already know, Mac is a dog. He’s a ridiculously cute Havanese who just turned three.

Here’s a picture of him that his mom, Bonnie sent me. He apparently loves water, which is hilarious because most small dogs I know wouldn’t think of lounging in a pool, much less enjoying it.

Mac in the kiddie pool