Support Rescue Great Dane Maverick
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We've seen the internet work in mysterious ways, so we thought we would reach out to all those animal lovers, especially Great Dane lovers, for support.
The short story:
Our rescue Great Dane Maverick has had a very tough 18 months of his life. He really hasn’t had a fair shot and is about to undergo his third surgery in ten months to fix ongoing problems. When we rescued him, we were only told he had a sensitive stomach and couldn’t have expected the journey we’ve gone on with him, including a nearly immediate, life-saving surgery. He was 107lbs in March and by June we got him to a healthy 140lbs!
If you give to rescues, Great Dane rescues, etc, we would appreciate if you would consider giving directly to Maverick’s care. We have received no direct financial support from the (very wonderful) rescue that connected us.
Our Great Dane Maverick has had a challenging first 18 months of his life. We rescued him in March 2015 and are his third owners. His first owners surrendered him to a vet clinic when they couldn't afford the surgery to save his life when he bloated and his stomach turned (torsion). It is deadly if left untreated, which the vet clinic did treat. His second owners were military and were relocated and Maverick couldn't go. After our previous Great Dane, Duchess, passed from cancer in January we felt a call to rescue Maverick when the Great Dane Rescue of Kansas City called and said "We've got this dog..." We didn't think we were ready to have another family member, but we just couldn't say no.
But, there were many things left unsaid from the previous owner. Maverick was sick and emaciated when we took him in on a Sunday. The next day the uncontrollable vomiting and bowel issues started. By Saturday we learned he had a hole in his stomach for some time. It had gone untreated and that week his spleen migrated into the stomach, bloated and turned causing the stomach to do the same thing. He was literally about to die and, through a series of fortunate events, we got him to a surgeon who saved him. We were told it would be a 50/50 chance he would make it through the surgery and 50/50 he'd make it through the next couple days. We also discussed the "option" we didn't consider an option - euthanasia. (Though we discussed at length the potential pain he might go through with the Vet and felt like the risk was worth it). He survived. He shocked all of his caretakers. He is sweet and wonderful and goofy and has a very distinct joie de vivre. He loves life, a lot.
Since March, we have worked closely with our vet to control his bowel issues and he has been diagnosed with IBS. We estimate he’s been to the vet 25-30 times since his surgery to manage his issues, along with help from the local food store. He is a favorite at the clinic and everyone fawns over him. We thought we had it under control until recently.
Thursday he started vomiting uncontrollably and by Sunday he was admitted to the emergency vet clinic because he was bloated, again. And they can’t figure out how to stop the bloating. With a number of tests, about half a week in the clinic along with multiple x-rays and a planned surgery, possibly two, the cost of his medical care has become overwhelming.
We’ve never imagined ourselves as people who would ask help from others. But now we are at a point where we can use help.
With the new information gathered this week, his prognosis is good. He is in the care of three vets, one of whom is a specialist. In fact, another of his vets even blends Western and Eastern practices.
We are asking for anything you might be able to contribute to our awesome, ornery, stubborn, spirited and, occasionally, lazy puppy Maverick's most recent surgery.
Four days after we rescued!
The short story:
Our rescue Great Dane Maverick has had a very tough 18 months of his life. He really hasn’t had a fair shot and is about to undergo his third surgery in ten months to fix ongoing problems. When we rescued him, we were only told he had a sensitive stomach and couldn’t have expected the journey we’ve gone on with him, including a nearly immediate, life-saving surgery. He was 107lbs in March and by June we got him to a healthy 140lbs!
If you give to rescues, Great Dane rescues, etc, we would appreciate if you would consider giving directly to Maverick’s care. We have received no direct financial support from the (very wonderful) rescue that connected us.
Our Great Dane Maverick has had a challenging first 18 months of his life. We rescued him in March 2015 and are his third owners. His first owners surrendered him to a vet clinic when they couldn't afford the surgery to save his life when he bloated and his stomach turned (torsion). It is deadly if left untreated, which the vet clinic did treat. His second owners were military and were relocated and Maverick couldn't go. After our previous Great Dane, Duchess, passed from cancer in January we felt a call to rescue Maverick when the Great Dane Rescue of Kansas City called and said "We've got this dog..." We didn't think we were ready to have another family member, but we just couldn't say no.
But, there were many things left unsaid from the previous owner. Maverick was sick and emaciated when we took him in on a Sunday. The next day the uncontrollable vomiting and bowel issues started. By Saturday we learned he had a hole in his stomach for some time. It had gone untreated and that week his spleen migrated into the stomach, bloated and turned causing the stomach to do the same thing. He was literally about to die and, through a series of fortunate events, we got him to a surgeon who saved him. We were told it would be a 50/50 chance he would make it through the surgery and 50/50 he'd make it through the next couple days. We also discussed the "option" we didn't consider an option - euthanasia. (Though we discussed at length the potential pain he might go through with the Vet and felt like the risk was worth it). He survived. He shocked all of his caretakers. He is sweet and wonderful and goofy and has a very distinct joie de vivre. He loves life, a lot.
Since March, we have worked closely with our vet to control his bowel issues and he has been diagnosed with IBS. We estimate he’s been to the vet 25-30 times since his surgery to manage his issues, along with help from the local food store. He is a favorite at the clinic and everyone fawns over him. We thought we had it under control until recently.
Thursday he started vomiting uncontrollably and by Sunday he was admitted to the emergency vet clinic because he was bloated, again. And they can’t figure out how to stop the bloating. With a number of tests, about half a week in the clinic along with multiple x-rays and a planned surgery, possibly two, the cost of his medical care has become overwhelming.
We’ve never imagined ourselves as people who would ask help from others. But now we are at a point where we can use help.
With the new information gathered this week, his prognosis is good. He is in the care of three vets, one of whom is a specialist. In fact, another of his vets even blends Western and Eastern practices.
We are asking for anything you might be able to contribute to our awesome, ornery, stubborn, spirited and, occasionally, lazy puppy Maverick's most recent surgery.
Four days after we rescued!Organizer
Liz Icenogle Joseph
Organizer
Kansas City, MO
