Major changes!

New life....
A business opportunity presented itself for me a few months ago and I'm going with it. In order to be able to make this move I had to rent a house. This means my travel plans is on hold for at least a year. This is also good for my buddy Rex. He had a hard time getting in and out of the RV. Now we have no steep stairs to deal with.
Rex's condition is about the same. He has good and not so good days but we take each day as it comes. He still seems more or less pain free, just stiff and slow. That's OK I have the patience to take care of him. I just want to give him a good life to the end whenever that is. This guy is not ready yet, that I know. Rex is still on one Remidyl a day plus 300mg of Cosequin DS.

Rex keeps surprising me

Rex is showing some encouraging improvements, less limping and dragging. He can also walk 3-4 times longer than he was able to last week. I have also lower his weight with 3 lbs.

Rex not improving

Resting after 2nd acupuncture session

This is so frustrating. We can't seem to get Rex's leg to improve. He has now been on Rimadyl for one week and completed two acupuncture sessions. It pains me to see him limping so severely and not being able to walk for more than a few minutes. In all other areas he is perfect. Very alert, energetic and have so much willpower to keep going. I'm torn between keep trying and to put him down. I don't see any pain and the vet and the acupuncturist agrees. This is the only reason I keep going. The moment pain enters the picture I know what to do. I will try two more sessions and if that does not show any improvements I will have to make a decision.

Goodbye and thank you my old friend

The day I have dreaded for the last two years has come. Rex's legs has over the last few days gotten worse and now reached a point where he has a really hard time walking and even standing. He has very little control over his rear legs and struggles to keep his balance. Fortunately he does not seem to be in much pain, but this is not a life of a dog. Keeping him longer is not what is best for him. Deprived from running and walking he seems miserable and the right thing to do is to let him go to sleep forever. He have had such a great life. I like to think he was fortunate to come to me. I'm sure I have extended his life several years feeding him the food he was designed for. I never expected him to live to the age of 12. For 8 years we walked 3 times a day rain, snow or shine, never missed it once. He also never ever missed a meal. Was only sick one time! He's been an unbelievable easy dog to have, don't bark, never whined once!! Gosh I'll miss this guy. I'm planning on taking him to the vet tomorrow. Damn, I hate this part of owning a dog.

Morning snack

A sure way to get both of my dogs up in the morning is to serve them their morning snack. The reason they get this tiny meal is so I can portion their supplements out better . They get several that are suppose to be taken two times a day.
They both get a multivitamin called daily blend (powder), green blend (powder) and Omega 3. I mix the powder into raw ground meat. Camelot also get half a chicken wing to keep his poop hard. Camelot came to me with chronic diarrhea. This half chicken wing taken with his morning snack and 3 whole chicken wings with his main meal keeps his poop nice and firm and his anal glands empty.

Rex get a variety of  supplements for his joint issues. I'm currently testing Cosequin DS extra strength.

Happy birthday my friend! Rex is 12 today.

For the last 8 years Rex has been living and traveling with me and my other Danes. I got him at the age of 4. Rex is a genuine kind dog, incredible balanced and even tempered. I can't remember him ever doing anything wrong. He's just hanging out following me quietly. Such a great dog. 

He is now in is last phase of his long life, struggling with pretty serious join issues. I'm taking it day by day with him now. Watching for pain and signs of discomfort beyond what is good for him. I just do not want him to end his life miserable. So far so good. But, I'm prepared and I do live everyday with him as it could be the last. So, happy birthday buddy, I'm pretty sure we got many more walks together.

Rex made the morning walk again.

Once again Rex championed through our morning walk and made it to the end of the trail. He is definitely walking faster these days.  I guess dogs like humans have good days and not so good days. For me keeping an eye on Rex and adjust to his days is what I have to do.

Morning walk 11-2-2010

Below is a video from 11-2-2010. Showing Rex walking. He was actually doing pretty good that morning. And this is what makes this last journey with him so hard. He has good days and not so good days. I'm constantly watching out for any sort of pain. I know from past experience with Rex that he's wimp when it comes to pain. He will not move, definitely not walk. So as long as he is walking I know he is not in a lot of pain.

Dealing with an aging dog

Rex will be 12 this month. His health is increasingly becoming an issue with him. I'm know I'm entering into the area of what is best for him. I keep telling myslef that this is about him not me.

His main health concern is his hips. They have become very weak over the last years. He frequently falls back on his butt and is unable to get up. The look on his face when this happens kills me. He just looks so sad and helpless. "It sucks getting old daddy"

I will write a detailed report on his last days on this earth with focus on what is best for him.

Relaxing after a meal

That was a nice meal.

Rex has this habit of sitting on the couch after a meal. It's on of these rituals Rex has always done. This is the only time he will do this. He sits there for about 5 minutes, watching TV. Then he gets down, turn around and gets up on the couch.

Caring for an old dog

Rex is now 13 and that's pretty old for a Great Dane. I adopted Rex when he was 4 years old. I got him from Midatlantic Great Dane Rescue League. This is a fine organization that has helped thousands of Great Danes find a forever homes.

Rex had issues already at 4. His joints were starting to get affected by arthritis and he walked with stiff front legs. I switched him to a raw food diet the same day I got him. He eat it like he has never had anything else. Within a few weeks I saw great improvement. He gained much needed weight, his coat got shinier and fuller, he muscles become more developed and defined.

Now at 13 he can't run much anymore. His rear legs are weak and he sometimes falls down on his butt and have a hard time getting up. The look he gives me when he this position is priceless. He also sometimes sways back and forth when he walks on uneven terrain. I have him on several supplements that has benefited him greatly. I have listed them all here.

I wish I could ask him if he hurts. I try my best to figure out if he is in pain. I think the supplements are helpful in this area. It's mainly stiffness that slows him down. The vet can't find anything wrong other that the joint issues. His heart is very strong for a Dane his age. All important tests come out 100% OK. His eyesight and hearing is also great. So this old guy is healthy. If I can manage his arthritis he should live happily a few more years. He is such a good dog to have around. Never barks or whines, kind to everyone and very independent. Just a perfect dog to have around.

I had to build a ramp for him to get out of my the truck. I also had to make our morning walks a bit shorter. Camelot ll is so active anyways so he pretty much, by running around, double the distance Rex and I walk.

It's interesting to see how different a 2 year and a 13 year old Great Danes acts and are capable of doing. Camelot's agility makes him capable of jumping over obstacles twice his hight. Camelot is very aware of Rex's limited abilities to play and run and do not ever bother him.

I'm very fortunate to have two such amazing dogs.