Poker

Great Danes Needing Homes

Poker

Update: If you would like to help with Poker's £3,000 vet bill, you can donate any amount, no matter how small, with a credit or debit card via PayPal. Just press the button below!

Meet Poker, a lovely 2 year old harli boy. He came into Daneline very underweight with a bad limp on his hind leg. We rested him for a few days gave him some anti inflammatory tablets to see if that helped. No, it did not.

Poker

We booked him into the vet in Scunthorpe and the diagnosis was as we thought - a cruciate rupture! We transported Poker down to Bristol and made an appointment at Hightcroft Vets with their specialist Nick Macdonald. Below is the vet's report and xrays:

Vet report

Poker was lame on his left hind leg. The knee was unstable and had increased joint fluid, consistent with a cruciate ligament rupture. X-rays of the knee showed the extra joint fluid and also signs of osteoarthritis already.

Poker X-rays

Arthroscopy of the knee confirmed a complete rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament but there was also a tear of one of the cartilage pads in the knee (medial meniscus).

Poker X-rays

The torn cartilage was removed and a Tibial Tuberosity Advancement procedure was performed to stabilise the knee so that he no longer needs a cruciate ligament.

Poker X-rays

Poker had an epidural anaesthetic as well as the general anaesthetic, this meant that he was very comfortable for the 24 hours after the operation and he was already using the leg a little when he was discharged the next day.

Poker

As you can see and read, Poker was in a lot of pain and had been for some considerable time, bless him. While he was having his op we had him castrated, so we now feel a change of name might be a good idea as he doesn't do what he used to do!!!!!!!

Poker

For the time being Poker is staying in Bristol to recuperate. He is having his staples out on the 27th and he will then be allowed out for two 5-minute walks a day. Poker is a very loving and a kind boy, it is so hard to keep him calm and not let him get too excited, especially when all the others are charging around just before their walks. He is slowly putting on weight but we have to be very careful as we do not want to put an extra pressure on his legs. Once again Highcroft vets have excelled themselves, so a big thank you to all who helped look after Poker.

Please click here to see how to contact Daneline about Poker.

Update: If you would like to help with Poker's £3,000 vet bill, you can donate any amount, no matter how small, with a credit or debit card via PayPal. Just press the button below!

A couple of hours after the visit to the vet:

Poker

Poker

Update 12th November 2013

Poker has been to see Uncle Nick, the vet today. He wants to do a last set of x-rays tomorrow. Nick needs to check that Poker's leg is mending as it should be, we will let you know the outcome tomorrow. At this rate Poker will be able to drive himself to the vets, he has been so many times!

Here is Poker trying to find the squirrel.

Poker

Update 14th November 2013

Poker got the all clear yesterday to be rehomed by the vet. It has been a long and sometimes painful journey for the poor boy. Last night we made huge huge progress he actually went out in the DARK for a pee! Although he will never be brave, he is pain free and happily out on walks running free off lead. His next big step is a new home please give us a ring if you think you can offer him a new start.

Ok mum I heard you the first time. I am not going to have to go back to the vets again!

Poker

Update Saturday, 25 January 2014

We are Mike and Teresa, and we have been thinking about adopting a Dane for a while so we’ve been followers of Daneline for quite a long time. We bought a picture in the auction before Christmas and found out that one of the foster homes was really close to where we lived, so we asked if we could visit. We were met by Michelle and three beautiful Great Danes. This led to serious talks about adopting, and was it the right time. We kept looking at the dogs for adoption and when Poker was pictured, we were smitten. Lissi and Michelle brought Poker for a home visit in January and he was very relaxed immediately! Within a very short time he was lying down in the dining room, going to sleep. Unfortunately he had to go back to the vet on the Monday because he had an infection in the leg which had been operated on, so he couldn’t come to stay with us until the following Saturday.

It was evident that Lissi and Michelle care deeply about the welfare of the dogs in their care – they have been so supportive of us, answered lots of questions and actually given us the confidence that we can take one of these beautiful creatures into our family.

So Poker came on Saturday and spent a week with us, which was just fabulous. He had his latest operation on Monday this week on his other leg to sort out his cruciate ligament, which Daneline have paid for again – he’s an expensive boy!! Lissi told us what was happening every step of the way and met Mike at the vets to make sure that everything was OK.

Highcroft Vets have been amazing! they have explained everything and given written instructions on what we have to do now. We’ve had phone calls from Lissi, Michelle and the vets. We feel incredibly well supported and informed – we’ve been part of the whole process, rather than just being told what to do.

We have nothing but admiration for Daneline. Obviously the love and commitment for the rescue of Great Danes is the main factor of why Lissi, Michelle and everyone else involved in the organisation do what they do – it is all-consuming.

Poker has now had his name changed to Harvey and even though we have only had him for a short while, we love him dearly. We are going to take things very very steady until his legs are fully recovered, then we are looking forward to enjoying his company for a long and happy life. Thank you Daneline, for bringing this lovely boy into our lives.

Poker

Poker

If you know of a Great Dane in need, please click here to see how to contact us.