Dante began having serious issues with fluid retention last weekend, he had an abdominal drain that relieved him of 4 lbs of fluid and we took him home for what we expected was his last week with us. His heart issues had always included his the left side if his heart, but around September 1st he began exhibiting signs of right sided heart failure.  Our vet confirmed he now had both. He amazed every vet he met that he was still kicking with such a bad ticker. We think its because he loved people so much that he always chose to keep going, but he had lost over 25 lbs from the huge calorie burn it took to keep his heart beating. And he often ate only partial meals because fluid retention and a full stomach made him uncomfortable.

Today he showed the same determination, but knowing what little quality of life was left for him we euthanized him this morning. He had a wonderful week of being able to have a full stomach eating good food, laying around in the cool grass watching the leaves fall from the trees and sleeping next to his humans. He peaked on Wednesday with a bit of guinea chasing and going for drives. He gained 10 lbs of meat and his ribs were covered again, but also he gain water weight.

 In the end, the lasix dosages became huge...more than 1000 mg a day and still his body could not shed the fluid to help his breathing and give him comfort. Yesterday ( Oct 10) he was stable, but only due to the massive amounts of lasix. Today was a different story. With his refusal of food last night and earlier today and his urine output so very low, as well as some disorientation when walking and sometimes walking on the tops of his back feet...we knew all that was left for him was suffering. We let him go.

It is hard to describe what Dante meant to our family.  He came to us January 9th, 2008 in terrible need and we immediately fell in love with his gentle determination to win each day of life as if it were a prize at the fair. He SO wanted to live and experience all life had to offer. People were unafraid of him, they walked right up to him knowing he was gentle...not something I regularly experience with Great Danes in public. He just had the peaceful vibe that invited the world in.  Especially the fearful responded to him. Many times I heard how much the person petting him was scared of dogs, but here they were drawn to Dante.

We had people stop whatever they were doing and drop to their knees to pet him when we went out. He affected everyone who met him in a powerful way.

I have not slept a full night since he came because he needed constant care, I learned how to work around his needs, never completing even the simplest task without the need to stop and attend to something urgent for him. It was a challenge to stay focused and be a functional human being. Yet I can honestly say I would do it all over again if Dante could just come home. Every minute of it... every moment of distraction, every bit of worry was worth this extra-ordinary dane's amazing character.

Heartfelt Thanks to ALL who donated to Dante's expensive care. Because of you Dante lived 10 months longer than expected and the quality of his life was a vast improvement over his former circumstances. He played, ran, chased, picked gourds in the garden with his mouth. He luxuriated in life, soaking it up like a sponge. I cannot begin to tell you how thoroughly he enjoyed life. HGDR learned and contributed much to the advancement of care and longevity of DCM and CHF danes through this journey with Dante.

Special Thanks to Dr. James Scheifley, Dante's primary vet and true friend. His medical advice, care, and refusal to write Dante off like other vets made it possible for Dante to live longer. He educated us about Dante's diseases, gave it to us straight about the eventualities, and allow us to partner with him in Dante's care. But most importantly Dr. James loved Dante and did what amazing vets often do at their own emotional peril, get involved in what their training tells them is a lost cause and in doing so make all the difference.

Dante lit up each time he saw his Dr. James.

Dr. James is a rare find and we count ourselves blessed to put our pets and ultimately our hearts in his care.

To Dr. Goodman, who took the last steps of Dante's journey with us and made the unthinkable; bearable. His deep understanding of the last visit being as important as the first is witness to his character. We met as strangers, but Dante as well as our family knew him instantly as an abiding friend.

Dante was simply the most peaceful creature I have ever met. He quietly rejoiced in the simplest acts of living. There is a lesson in that for all of us.

Jodiann, Jack, Dillon, and Nathan, Dante's Foster Family.



 Dante's last day with his Daddy Jack.

See Photos of Dante on a better day... Dante Supermodel