There is nothing fabulous about today....

Well, as the title of this post reads, there is nothing fabulous going on in my life today.
I got a phone call from my mom this morning.

I have written about my great dane, Elle Woods, before. I have grown up with great danes, and love them. My parents also have a dane, Bella, who is 2.5 years and is Elle Woods cousin (they have the same grandfather).
A couple of months ago, my mom noticed that Bella was bleeding in her mouth. They took her into the vet, who sent her to a veterinary dentist, because he thought she had a cracked tooth. It turned out that she didn't have a cracked tooth, but while they were cleaning her teeth they noticed that her blood wasn't clotting.

After running several tests, they decided that they thought Bella had possibly gotten into rat poison. We didn't have rat poison out, but it was possible maybe she got into a dead rat or something?
So they started giving her daily Vitamin K shots, but she still wasn't better.
My parents took her to another vet, a specialist, who determined that she had something wrong with her blood. Basically her platelet count was like 0% of what it should be, she had no energy, and her blood wasn't clotting.
They finally diagnosed her with Thrombocytopenia with Immune Deficiency Disorder. Here's the page from the Mayo Clinic about Thrombocytopenia.

Bella had to have a round of chemo and LOTS of steroids. They made her lose almost 15 pounds, she got really weak, and had no energy. But last week they went and drew blood and we thought that she was getting better. Her platelet counts were almost back to normal, which is good.
Yesterday my dad said she never got up out of bed, and in the middle of the night she started throwing up blood. They took her to the emergency vet, and the vet said that she was bleeding internally and needed a blood transfusion and probably surgery.

My parents decided that it was just too much for her, so they had to put her down.
She was only 2.5 years old and the sweetest dog ever. We are so sad.

I am taking Elle Woods home on June 10th to stay at my parents house while I study in Prague for the summer. She is going to be SO lost without Bella there - they are best best friends. Seriously when they're together they're like butt buddies. One day over Christmas I had to take Bella to the vet and left Elle at home without her - Elle sat by the door and waited for her ALL day. :(

Here are a couple pics of our sweet Belly girl... we'll miss her so much. :(



One of my favorite Bella pictures... we like to call this one "Are you my mother?" Taken at one of my parent's friends ranch.

Another ranch pic:
Baby Bella and my little brother:
Bella lounging on the couch:
Bella LOVED my little neighbor, and she was so sweet and gentle with him
Bella laying on the couch with my mom
Sweet girl laying on the floor
Her favorite spot in the house since she was a pup - sunbathing!


And finally - Bella and Elle, best friends.

Rest in Peace sweet Belly girl... I hope you're chasing squirrels and bunnies and doggy heaven.