My Daddy and me! <3

I really love my Daddy:) he is so much fun to attack!

Remember me?? I'm BACK!

Teeth...

Mommy and Daddy are finding my teeth on the floor everywhere! I keep losing them and bleeding all over my toys. Daddy took a picture of my teeth with his phone but it turned out really blurry so Mommy is going to take a picture with her good camera. I guess that means I'm getting to be a pretty big boy! Hee hee! I'm learning how to walk nice with a new harness that Mommy and Daddy bought me. It doesn't pull on my neck and it prevents me from pulling Mommy down the road on her face. :) I like to take walks with it. I find sticks to bring home and play with all the neighbor dogs! Well, I think I'm gonna go chew on some toys now. I have more loose teeth I need to get rid of!

Bye!

Truck :)

Taking a break

Please excuse the short break we've taken from blogging. Truck's mommy and daddy have been sick the past few days.

Truck's mommy will be taking some new photos of him soon and will be posting again shortly.

Thank you for your support!!

Truck sends his love!!!

Size Comparison

The first picture was taken the weekend I came to my new home (Memorial Day Weekend 09) and the second picture was taken last night (August 13, 2009.) And yes that is the same, exact chair in both pictures. I guess I'm getting bigger! I don't feel like I am. I still like to sit on people's laps and play with little dogs. Mommy always says "ow!" or "oof" when I sit on her, I guess that's because I'm bigger than I thought I was! Hee hee!!!

(pics taken with Daddy's Blackberry, which I would like to chew on...hee hee!!)

RIP GIBSON

In loving memory of the worlds tallest dog, Gibson the Great Dane who was taken to the Rainbow Bridge too soon.


THE RAINBOW BRIDGE
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...



http://www.gibsondog.com/

BLOAT (GDV) INFO

Hello everyone! This is Truck's Mom. Today I just want to share some information on an important subject: Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) also known as Bloat. It is the number one killer of Great Danes. Truck is going to be having a procedure done next month called Gastropexy. Please read and share with fellow dog parents!


BLOAT
Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) is also known as "bloat," "stomach torsion," or "twisted stomach." Bloat is an extremely serious condition, and should be considered a life-threatening emergency when it occurs.
The gastric dilatation is one part of the condition and the volvulus or torsion is the second part. In bloat (dilatation), due to a number of different and sometimes unknown reasons, the stomach fills up with air and puts pressure on the other organs and diaphragm. The pressure on the diaphragm makes it difficult for the dog to breathe. The air-filled stomach also compresses large veins in the abdomen, thus preventing blood from returning to the heart. Filled with air, the stomach can easily rotate on itself, thus pinching off its blood supply. Once this rotation (volvulus) occurs and the blood supply is cut off, the stomach begins to die and the entire blood supply is disrupted and the animal's condition begins to deteriorate very rapidly.

THE SIGNS/SYMPTOMS OF BLOAT
The most obvious signs are abdominal distention (swollen belly) and nonproductive vomiting (animal appears to be vomiting, but nothing comes up) and retching. Other signs include restlessness, abdominal pain, and rapid shallow breathing. Profuse salivation may indicate severe pain. If the dog's condition continues to deteriorate, especially if volvulus has occurred, the dog may go into shock and become pale, have a weak pulse, a rapid heart rate, and eventually collapse. A dog with gastric dilatation without volvulus can show all of these signs, but the more severe signs are likely to occur in dogs with both dilatation and volvulus.

GASTROPEXY
A procedure called a gastropexy can be done to tack the right side of the stomach to the right side of the body wall using minimally invasive surgery. Truck will be having this procedure done in September.

THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF SUSCEPTIBLE BREEDS:
1. Great Dane
2. Saint Bernard
3. Weimaraner
4. Irish Setter
5. Gordon Setter
6. Standard Poodle
7. Basset Hound
8. Doberman Pinscher
9. Old English Sheepdog
10. German Shorthaired Pointer
11. Newfoundland
12. German Shepherd
13. Airedale Terrier
14. Alaskan Malamute
15. Chesapeake Bay Retriever
16. Boxer
17. Collie
18. Labrador Retriever
19. English Springer Spaniel
20. Samoyed
21. Dachshund
22. Golden Retriever
23. Rottweiler
24. Mixed
25. Miniature Poodle

PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW IN HOPES TO MAKE PET PARENTS MORE AWARE OF THIS CONDITION AND SAVE OUR FURRY BEST FRIENDS!!

Thanks for reading!!

Bee Sting Pics

The top three pics are of Truck's eye as it swelled. It ended up swelling completely shut but I was too worried about him to bother taking a picture (sorry!) The last picture is the best and only pic we could get of his swollen lip. It's blurry but it is about 5 times bigger than it should be. That darn dog and his obsession with bees!!

Truck's Mommy

BEES!!!

Mommy and Daddy are a little frustrated with me right now. See, I really like to chase the bees in our yard. Which normally wouldn't be a problem except they usually end up biting me. When I get bit, I swell up like a balloon!!! I got bit right above the eye on Thursday and my eye swelled shut. Then on Friday I got bit on the lip and it swelled up three times it's normal size! I'm not allergic but I do have quite a reaction to the stings. Benadryl clears it up in a few hours. I just can't remember when I'm outside, not to play with the bees!! Mommy got a picture of my eye right after it happened but I wouldn't sit still for a good pic of my lip. (She will post the eye pic tomorrow.) So now I have Mommy and Daddy all worried and they watch me like a hawk when I'm outside. Yeesh! Mommy said all the people who work at the vet hospital know her name by now cause she calls them about me all the time! I'm just a big ball of trouble hee hee!

I just can't help it!
I like to keep Mommy and Daddy on their toes! :)

Growing up

So I was thinking yesterday that since I just turned 5 months old maybe its time for me to start acting my age, you know... more like the teenager that I am. So I decided I was going to sleep on my own bed last night instead of Mom and Dads bed. Of course I did ask them if I could put my bed beside their bed in their room... Baby steps ya know ;-) So, I decided it was time for bed, so I walked into the bedroom and laid down... Dad went and got me my favorite pillow that I like and a few of my toys and my special blanket. I got comfy and fell asleep... Well, I guess I didnt realize how difficult this was actually going to be. I was laying there on my bed and I woke up and it was totally dark and quiet! The longer I laid there I couldnt take it! I HAD to get in bed with Mom and Dad. So I got up and put my from paws on the bed, Dad woke up when he felt me and he grabbed me under my bum, picked me up and gave me a big hug and kiss and put me between him and Mom. It was SO COMFY and safe I fell asleep in about 10 seconds. I guess I'm not totally ready to be independent yet.

<3 Truck

Wednesday Wisdom

"Dogs are miracles with paws."

"He is my other eyes that can see above the clouds; my other ears that hear above the winds. He is the part of me that can reach out into the sea. He has told me a thousand times over that I am his reason for being; by the way he rests against my leg; by the way he thumps his tail at my smallest smile; by the way he shows his hurt when I leave without taking him. (I think it makes him sick with worry when he is not along to care for me.) When I am wrong, he is delighted to forgive. When I am angry, he clowns to make me smile. When I am happy, he is joy unbounded. When I am a fool, he ignores it. When I succeed, he brags. Without him, I am only another man. With him, I am all-powerful. He is loyalty itself. He has taught me the meaning of devotion. With him, I know a secret comfort and a private peace. He has brought me understanding where before I was ignorant. His head on my knee can heal my human hurts. His presence by my side is protection against my fears of dark and unknown things. He has promised to wait for me... whenever... wherever - in case I need him. And I expect I will - as I always have. He is just my dog." - Gene Hill

Another funny frisbee pic...

(taken on Daddy's Blackberry)

Motorcycles and Frisbees

So lately when I go for a ride in the Jeep with Mommy and Daddy I've been noticing these strange things. I see a person, but they are not in a car and they usually have a big round thing on their head. Dad says these people are riding "motorcycles" Hmph. Whatev Dad. He says it's ok when they are behind us while we are driving but I don't think so. I get real close to Mom and Dad and give my scariest, loudest bark just to let them know that I mean business! They better stay away from me and my people! I don't care what Dad says, there is something fishy about those "motorcycles"!

I got a new frisbee to play with and when I pick it up and carry it around people always giggle and tell me how funny I am! I don't know why....


(pic taken with Daddy's Blackberry)

Mondays are so poopy :(

I really don't like Mondays. It means Mommy and Daddy have to go back to work. I hate it when they go to work. I miss them SO much!

I'm sleepy today so this will be a quick post.

I am 65lbs now! Growing bigger everyday! And I am learning new things all the time! I can now sit, lay down, get up, and give paw all by just watching hand signals! I don't need to hear the words anymore! Mommy and Daddy said that I am SO smart! I just really like to get the treats when I do things right...hee hee!!

Well, I'm gonna go catch up on my beauty rest now. I gotta stay cute forever, ya know! ;-)

Later,
Truck