8/29/12 - We have opened up a campaign to help raise money for Cletus' care and also to help raise awareness of open lipped schizencephaly in both animals and people.
Please visit http://igg.me/p/217159?a=402306 to go to Indiegogo to donate to Cletus' cause.
Thank you,
Doug and Cletus
Please help us by contacting Ellen through FB and tweet through the avenue below...
Submit your story to Ellen to potentially be on her show and have her help "change your life": http://ellen.warnerbros.com/show/respond/?PlugID=432
Tweet her: http://twitter.com/TheEllenShow/
As far as Cletus' doctors are aware of, Cletus has the only known reported case of open lipped schizencephaly in a canine. The key word here is reported. Most vets are not aware that schizencephaly exists or they are not aware that this condition is possible in an animal. Cletus is living proof of this possibility.
According to the Humane Society of the United States, there are 78.2 million dogs in the U.S. (http://www.humanesociety.org/). Some sites state that schizencephaly affect 1.54 per 100,000 people. According to rightdiagnosis.com, schizencephaly affects 1 in 2719 people or 0.04% of the population (http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/lists/preval.htm). The fact is that no one is sure how many people schizencephaly truly affects. If we assume these same statistics in dogs, it equates to up to 31,280 dogs out there with schizencephaly in the U.S. alone.
Please help me to get the word out about Cletus and schizencephaly. Contact your local news organization about Cletus or have your local news organization contact me directly at dsilber27@hotmail.com
Thank you for your support,
Doug & Cletus
I am Douglas Silber and I was the owner of Cletus, a bloodhound who is reported to be the 1st dog with open lipped schizencephaly (OLS). Even though he has the only reported case of OLS in a dog, he can't be the only one with the condition. This blog began with the purpose of following his life and to help educate about OLS in an animal. Cletus may no longer be by my side but I will continue to push for schizencephaly education and awareness... in the name and memory of Cletus the Bloodhound.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
8/28/2012 - Running out of $$$
8/28/12 - Cletus had his 2nd acupuncture treatment on Tuesday the 21st but it did not take as well as his 1st treatment for some reason. After about 12 days of getting better and better and about 2 days prior to his 2nd treatment, Cletus began to show some regression signs. He was becomming a little weak when walking and began to fall sometimes. We were hoping that the acupuncture treatment would correct this.
It has been a week since his 2nd treatment and Cletus has continued to get worse. Although he is happy (tail wagging), Cletus has been falling more and more due to his hip dysplasia and torn ACL.
I took him into the vet today and due to being on steroids, he cannot go on the normal treatment for hip dysplasia because it would react with his anti-seizure medication and cause internal bleeding. Cletus also does not have the option of surgery.
We will be giving Cletus fish oil and some other natural type holistic treats to try to counteract his pain and discomfort. In addition, we are looking for a physical therapist to work with Cletus.
It is sad to say but we are running out of money. With all of his treatments and trips to the emergency room, we have spent over $9,000 this year alone on Cletus. The acupuncturist, which was supposed to be free, turned out not to be free but instead costs $145 every 2 weeks and who knows how much physical therapy will cost. Cletus is on special dietary food and takes up to 9 different medications depending on the day. He is also now taking 2 different and very expensive herbal suppliments per his acupuncturist. Today we added fish oil and the holistic treats (which the vet gave for free and we greatly appreciate) but next time will not be free. We want to do what is best for Cletus but it is putting us in the poor house. What do we do? The answer is not to put him down because we can save him, we just need more money to give him the help he needs.
Please help us by contacting Ellen through FB and tweet through the avenue below...
Submit your story to Ellen to potentially be on her show and have her help "change your life": http://ellen.warnerbros.com/show/respond/?PlugID=432
Tweet her: http://twitter.com/TheEllenShow/
As far as Cletus' doctors are aware of, Cletus has the only known reported case of open lipped schizencephaly in a canine. The key word here is reported. Most vets are not aware that schizencephaly exists or they are not aware that this condition is possible in an animal. Cletus is living proof of this possibility.
According to the Humane Society of the United States, there are 78.2 million dogs in the U.S. (http://www.humanesociety.org/). Some sites state that schizencephaly affect 1.54 per 100,000 people. According to rightdiagnosis.com, schizencephaly affects 1 in 2719 people or 0.04% of the population (http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/lists/preval.htm). The fact is that no one is sure how many people schizencephaly truly affects. If we assume these same statistics in dogs, it equates to up to 31,280 dogs out there with schizencephaly in the U.S. alone.
Please help me to get the word out about Cletus and schizencephaly. Contact your local news organization about Cletus or have your local news organization contact me directly at dsilber27@hotmail.com
Thank you for your support,
Doug & Cletus
It has been a week since his 2nd treatment and Cletus has continued to get worse. Although he is happy (tail wagging), Cletus has been falling more and more due to his hip dysplasia and torn ACL.
I took him into the vet today and due to being on steroids, he cannot go on the normal treatment for hip dysplasia because it would react with his anti-seizure medication and cause internal bleeding. Cletus also does not have the option of surgery.
We will be giving Cletus fish oil and some other natural type holistic treats to try to counteract his pain and discomfort. In addition, we are looking for a physical therapist to work with Cletus.
It is sad to say but we are running out of money. With all of his treatments and trips to the emergency room, we have spent over $9,000 this year alone on Cletus. The acupuncturist, which was supposed to be free, turned out not to be free but instead costs $145 every 2 weeks and who knows how much physical therapy will cost. Cletus is on special dietary food and takes up to 9 different medications depending on the day. He is also now taking 2 different and very expensive herbal suppliments per his acupuncturist. Today we added fish oil and the holistic treats (which the vet gave for free and we greatly appreciate) but next time will not be free. We want to do what is best for Cletus but it is putting us in the poor house. What do we do? The answer is not to put him down because we can save him, we just need more money to give him the help he needs.
Please help us by contacting Ellen through FB and tweet through the avenue below...
Submit your story to Ellen to potentially be on her show and have her help "change your life": http://ellen.warnerbros.com/show/respond/?PlugID=432
Tweet her: http://twitter.com/TheEllenShow/
As far as Cletus' doctors are aware of, Cletus has the only known reported case of open lipped schizencephaly in a canine. The key word here is reported. Most vets are not aware that schizencephaly exists or they are not aware that this condition is possible in an animal. Cletus is living proof of this possibility.
According to the Humane Society of the United States, there are 78.2 million dogs in the U.S. (http://www.humanesociety.org/). Some sites state that schizencephaly affect 1.54 per 100,000 people. According to rightdiagnosis.com, schizencephaly affects 1 in 2719 people or 0.04% of the population (http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/lists/preval.htm). The fact is that no one is sure how many people schizencephaly truly affects. If we assume these same statistics in dogs, it equates to up to 31,280 dogs out there with schizencephaly in the U.S. alone.
Please help me to get the word out about Cletus and schizencephaly. Contact your local news organization about Cletus or have your local news organization contact me directly at dsilber27@hotmail.com
Thank you for your support,
Doug & Cletus
Sunday, August 19, 2012
8/19/2012 - Cletus' unbelievable recovery
8/19/12 - It has been almost 2 weeks since Cletus' first acupuncture treatment and he is doing FANTASTIC!! Each day since his treatment he has been getting stronger and stronger, happier and happier.
If your pet or child is suffering and of course with your physician's permission, acupuncture seems to be an ideal additional treatment to help ease pain, nerves, discomfort, anxiety, etc.
I did not know what to expect from acupuncture being that I had limited experience with the practice. It was our last option. Cletus was literally on death's door. For almost 2 weeks prior to his treatment, Cletus was collapsing more and more when he tried to walk. He stopped eating his food 6 days prior. I was making him skinless chicken, rice and veggies and he was eating some of that.
I was planning on putting Cletus down to put him out of his misery depending on the outcome of the acupuncture. His quality of life was going down fast and his level of pain was going up.
The morning of his treatment, Cletus could barely stand and when he tried, he would collapse. Cletus was in pain from a torn ACL in his right knee, hip dysplasia, and open lipped schizencephaly. I had to lift all of his 100 pounds into and out of the truck to get to the acupuncturist. I had to help walk him in with a towel under his belly holding up his back end and his harness holding up his front end.
Cletus normally needs to check out everything being the nosy body that his is but he just laid down and let the doctor put the needles in for the acupuncture treatment and stayed on the floor with his head on my lap for the entire hour long treatment. Even after the needles were taken out, Cletus just laid there. He looked so peaceful and relaxed.
I asked the doctor what to expect and he told me "maybe a 10% improvement if any". Being that Cletus is a one-of-a-kind, the doctor said that he did not know truly what kind of outcome to expect or how long it would take, if it would be of any good at all. Throughout the treatment, other doctors from around the hospital were coming in to meet the "famous" Cletus.
When we got up to leave, Cletus stood right up and walked himself out of the office and down the corridor, it was absolutely amazing!! We stopped by the vet on the way home and Cletus was falling all over the place on the linoleum floors but when we got home, Cletus went right outside and played with his brother for the first time in weeks.
The next morning Cletus ate his breakfast for the first time in a week and since Cletus has been eating regularly. Each day gets better and better. After 12 days, Cletus barely falls anymore. He is playing with his toys and with his brothers and his tail is wagging constantly. Cletus is happy and is able to be the 2 year old puppy he is supposed to be.
I have taken Cletus off of one of his medications and slowly reduced another medication to the level he was at 2 months ago. Next week I will reduce another medication if all stays well. Cletus has also not had a seizure in over 3 weeks (knock on wood). He goes back to the acupuncturist on Tuesday.
Please help us by contacting Ellen through FB and tweet through the avenue below...
Submit your story to Ellen to potentially be on her show and have her help "change your life": http://ellen.warnerbros.com/show/respond/?PlugID=432
Tweet her: http://twitter.com/TheEllenShow/
As far as Cletus' doctors are aware of, Cletus has the only known reported case of open lipped schizencephaly in a canine. The key word here is reported. Most vets are not aware that schizencephaly exists or they are not aware that this condition is possible in an animal. Cletus is living proof of this possibility.
According to the Humane Society of the United States, there are 78.2 million dogs in the U.S. (http://www.humanesociety.org/). Some sites state that schizencephaly affect 1.54 per 100,000 people. According to rightdiagnosis.com, schizencephaly affects 1 in 2719 people or 0.04% of the population (http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/lists/preval.htm). The fact is that no one is sure how many people schizencephaly truly affects. If we assume these same statistics in dogs, it equates to up to 31,280 dogs out there with schizencephaly in the U.S. alone.
Please help me to get the word out about Cletus and schizencephaly. Contact your local news organization about Cletus or have your local news organization contact me directly at dsilber27@hotmail.com
Thank you for your support,
Doug & Cletus
If your pet or child is suffering and of course with your physician's permission, acupuncture seems to be an ideal additional treatment to help ease pain, nerves, discomfort, anxiety, etc.
I did not know what to expect from acupuncture being that I had limited experience with the practice. It was our last option. Cletus was literally on death's door. For almost 2 weeks prior to his treatment, Cletus was collapsing more and more when he tried to walk. He stopped eating his food 6 days prior. I was making him skinless chicken, rice and veggies and he was eating some of that.
I was planning on putting Cletus down to put him out of his misery depending on the outcome of the acupuncture. His quality of life was going down fast and his level of pain was going up.
The morning of his treatment, Cletus could barely stand and when he tried, he would collapse. Cletus was in pain from a torn ACL in his right knee, hip dysplasia, and open lipped schizencephaly. I had to lift all of his 100 pounds into and out of the truck to get to the acupuncturist. I had to help walk him in with a towel under his belly holding up his back end and his harness holding up his front end.
Cletus normally needs to check out everything being the nosy body that his is but he just laid down and let the doctor put the needles in for the acupuncture treatment and stayed on the floor with his head on my lap for the entire hour long treatment. Even after the needles were taken out, Cletus just laid there. He looked so peaceful and relaxed.
I asked the doctor what to expect and he told me "maybe a 10% improvement if any". Being that Cletus is a one-of-a-kind, the doctor said that he did not know truly what kind of outcome to expect or how long it would take, if it would be of any good at all. Throughout the treatment, other doctors from around the hospital were coming in to meet the "famous" Cletus.
When we got up to leave, Cletus stood right up and walked himself out of the office and down the corridor, it was absolutely amazing!! We stopped by the vet on the way home and Cletus was falling all over the place on the linoleum floors but when we got home, Cletus went right outside and played with his brother for the first time in weeks.
The next morning Cletus ate his breakfast for the first time in a week and since Cletus has been eating regularly. Each day gets better and better. After 12 days, Cletus barely falls anymore. He is playing with his toys and with his brothers and his tail is wagging constantly. Cletus is happy and is able to be the 2 year old puppy he is supposed to be.
I have taken Cletus off of one of his medications and slowly reduced another medication to the level he was at 2 months ago. Next week I will reduce another medication if all stays well. Cletus has also not had a seizure in over 3 weeks (knock on wood). He goes back to the acupuncturist on Tuesday.
Please help us by contacting Ellen through FB and tweet through the avenue below...
Submit your story to Ellen to potentially be on her show and have her help "change your life": http://ellen.warnerbros.com/show/respond/?PlugID=432
Tweet her: http://twitter.com/TheEllenShow/
As far as Cletus' doctors are aware of, Cletus has the only known reported case of open lipped schizencephaly in a canine. The key word here is reported. Most vets are not aware that schizencephaly exists or they are not aware that this condition is possible in an animal. Cletus is living proof of this possibility.
According to the Humane Society of the United States, there are 78.2 million dogs in the U.S. (http://www.humanesociety.org/). Some sites state that schizencephaly affect 1.54 per 100,000 people. According to rightdiagnosis.com, schizencephaly affects 1 in 2719 people or 0.04% of the population (http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/lists/preval.htm). The fact is that no one is sure how many people schizencephaly truly affects. If we assume these same statistics in dogs, it equates to up to 31,280 dogs out there with schizencephaly in the U.S. alone.
Please help me to get the word out about Cletus and schizencephaly. Contact your local news organization about Cletus or have your local news organization contact me directly at dsilber27@hotmail.com
Thank you for your support,
Doug & Cletus
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
8/7/2012 - Acupuncture ROCKS!!!
Please help us by contacting Ellen through FB and tweet through the avenue below...
Submit your story to Ellen to potentially be on her show and have her help "change your life": http://ellen.warnerbros.com/
show/respond/?PlugID=432
Tweet her: http://twitter.com/
TheEllenShow/
As far as Cletus' doctors are aware of, Cletus has the only known reported case of open lipped schizencephaly in a canine. The key word here is reported. Most vets are not aware that schizencephaly exists or they are not aware that this condition is possible in an animal. Cletus is living proof of this possibility.
According to the Humane Society of the United States, there are 78.2 million dogs in the U.S. (http://www.humanesociety.org/). Some sites state that schizencephaly affect 1.54 per 100,000 people. According to rightdiagnosis.com, schizencephaly affects 1 in 2719 people or 0.04% of the population (http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/lists/preval.htm). The fact is that no one is sure how many people schizencephaly truly affects. If we assume these same statistics in dogs, it equates to somewhere between 1,150 and 31,280 dogs out there with schizencephaly in the U.S. alone.
Please help me to get the word out about Cletus and schizencephaly. Contact your local news organization about Cletus or have your local news organization contact me directly at dsilber27@hotmail.com
Thank you for your support,
Doug & Cletus
Submit your story to Ellen to potentially be on her show and have her help "change your life": http://ellen.warnerbros.com/
show/respond/?PlugID=432
Tweet her: http://twitter.com/
TheEllenShow/
As far as Cletus' doctors are aware of, Cletus has the only known reported case of open lipped schizencephaly in a canine. The key word here is reported. Most vets are not aware that schizencephaly exists or they are not aware that this condition is possible in an animal. Cletus is living proof of this possibility.
According to the Humane Society of the United States, there are 78.2 million dogs in the U.S. (http://www.humanesociety.org/). Some sites state that schizencephaly affect 1.54 per 100,000 people. According to rightdiagnosis.com, schizencephaly affects 1 in 2719 people or 0.04% of the population (http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/lists/preval.htm). The fact is that no one is sure how many people schizencephaly truly affects. If we assume these same statistics in dogs, it equates to somewhere between 1,150 and 31,280 dogs out there with schizencephaly in the U.S. alone.
Please help me to get the word out about Cletus and schizencephaly. Contact your local news organization about Cletus or have your local news organization contact me directly at dsilber27@hotmail.com
Thank you for your support,
Doug & Cletus
Monday, August 6, 2012
8/6/2012 - Cletus is in bad shape
8/6/12 - Cletus' blog www.cletusthebloodhound.blogspot.com hit 5000 hits today!!
Cletus stopped eating his food about 5 days ago. We have been making him chicken, rice, and vegetables and he has been eating that but he refuses to eat his own food which is not like Cletus at all.
He either tore the ACL in both back legs or his hip dysplasia has gotten so bad that he can't hold up his own weight. When he tries to walk, he falls after about 5 or 10 feet. I am giving him pain meds to deal with his constant falling.
The doctors at the hospital gave us meds to deal with his seizures saying that they can't help him anymore and we should just treat him at home instead of spending the money bringing him to the ER.
I am looking into doggie wheelchairs but am waiting until we speak with the acupuncturist to see if Cletus even has a chance to get better or not. Cletus goes to the acupuncturist tomorrow but we know the outlook does not look good.
Our decisions were always based on his quality of life and pain level. At this point, he is unable to play with his brothers and is in pain at the end of the day from falling all day. Cletus' quality of life is falling and his pain level is rising. It looks like a decision we do not want to make is coming soon :(
It really sucks that this has happened to the sweetest 2 year old puppy I have ever known.
Peace and Love,
Doug and Cletus
Cletus stopped eating his food about 5 days ago. We have been making him chicken, rice, and vegetables and he has been eating that but he refuses to eat his own food which is not like Cletus at all.
He either tore the ACL in both back legs or his hip dysplasia has gotten so bad that he can't hold up his own weight. When he tries to walk, he falls after about 5 or 10 feet. I am giving him pain meds to deal with his constant falling.
The doctors at the hospital gave us meds to deal with his seizures saying that they can't help him anymore and we should just treat him at home instead of spending the money bringing him to the ER.
I am looking into doggie wheelchairs but am waiting until we speak with the acupuncturist to see if Cletus even has a chance to get better or not. Cletus goes to the acupuncturist tomorrow but we know the outlook does not look good.
Our decisions were always based on his quality of life and pain level. At this point, he is unable to play with his brothers and is in pain at the end of the day from falling all day. Cletus' quality of life is falling and his pain level is rising. It looks like a decision we do not want to make is coming soon :(
It really sucks that this has happened to the sweetest 2 year old puppy I have ever known.
Peace and Love,
Doug and Cletus
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