Cletus reacted to the Tui-na treatment, which is using massage, rubbing techniques, and pressure points in areas of the body to re-align energy, just like he does to his acupuncture treatments. I honestly thought he was going to the Chi Institute for acupuncture and was surprised when we got there and he was scheduled for the Tui-na, but it really did have the same result. By the end of the treatment, even with students touching him all over the place and two other dogs in the room, Cletus was fast asleep!!
It is now 16 weeks, 2 days (114 days) since Cletus' last seizure, which occurred on 7/26. This is the longest Cletus has gone without having a seizure since the seizures began over a year ago. Prior to this, the longest Cletus went was 7 weeks, 2 days (51 days) back in April/May, 2012. I can't definitively say it is the eastern treatments that is fending off the seizures and most likely it is a combination of the eastern treatments and the medications, but it is very interesting that Cletus has not had a seizure since he started acupuncture/Tui-na... when was this?... it will be 15 weeks on Tuesday!!!... right after he had 5 seizures within 36 hours.
To be fair we did start him on a new medication at the same time which is why I can't definitively state it is the eastern treatments and when we did try to decrease his meds, it made him very unsteady due to neurological pressure. Whatever it is, he is healthy and happy so we will keep doing what we are doing as long as we can afford it!!
Love to all,
Doug and Cletus
NOTES:
We will continue to raise awareness of schizencephaly and get Cletus' story told to try to save other animals with this condition. We can't do this alone... we need your help...
The more exposure we can get for Cletus, the more likely it is that we can help other animals out there suffering from schizencephaly. Cletus can't be the only one with this condition. Animals must be getting misdiagnosed and dying from schizencephaly due to vets not understanding what they are dealing with. Help us get the word out about Cletus and schizencephaly.
WHAT IS OPEN LIPPED SCHIZENCEPHALY?:
Open lipped schizencephaly is a congenital cerebral malformation where spaces or clefts remain where the cerebral hemispheres would normally seal shut shortly after birth. Extremely rare in humans, this malformation has never before been known to be reported in a dog making Cletus very special to the doctors even though he has been special to me for a long time. There are great resources available online to learn more about schizencephaly or please contact your physician with questions pertaining to your specific case. It is my understanding that each individual with this condition has unique experiences in relation to the condition.
HELP US IN CLETUS' FIGHT THROUGH DONATION:
Cletus is special in so many ways... not only does his diagnosis make him unique and hopefully able to help find advances in the care and treatment of schizencephaly in both animals and humans, Cletus is honestly the smartest dog I have ever had... and he is missing half his brain! Cletus is AMAZING!!
I have 2 rules when it comes to Cletus' care...
Rule 1 - Cletus' pain level must be low...
Rule 2 - Cletus' quality of life must be high...
As long as these 2 rules are met, I will continue to do anything I can for him and will continue to spend whatever it takes to give him a chance for a "normal" and happy life. Sadly, Cletus' medications, treatments, acupuncture, physical therapy, etc costs over $1,000.00 each month. We are unable to cover any of the costs with pet insurance as insurance does not cover this condition, the University will not cover any associated costs being that they are a "teaching hospital run mainly through donation", and we have not been able to raise any money so far by any other means other than a grand total of $70 brought in through his last campaign which covered a couple of pills.
Basically... WE NEED YOUR HELP...
If you can, please donate to Cletus' campaign http://igg.me/p/217159
HELP US GET THE WORD OUT:
If you know of a source who can help us get Cletus' story into any magazines, articles, blogs, web pages, on TV, radio, etc, please let us know or contact those sources about Cletus. Cletus and I do not mind doing interviews or attending groups, educational workshops, etc to bring attention to schizencephaly in animals or humans. We want to do anything we can to teach and bring attention to the veterinary and medical communities about schizencephaly.
Please help us 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
ELLEN DEGENERES:
Please help us by contacting Ellen through FB and tweet through the avenue below...
Submit Cletus' story to Ellen for us to potentially be on her show: http://ellen.warnerbros.com/show/respond/?PlugID=432
http://www.ellentv.com/be-on-the-show/10/
http://www.ellentv.com/
STATISTICS (As of April 2012):
As far as Cletus' doctors are aware, 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.
THANKS:
Cletus and I want to thank the following Websites/Magazines/TV Stations/Etc for sharing Cletus' Story:
- ABC TV affiliate WCJB TV20
- Aplacetolovedogs.com
- Dawgbusiness.blogspot.com
- Experienceproject.com
- Fakeitfrugal.blogspot.com
- Houndgirl.com
- Jcagain.com
- Lovewhatsmissing.com
- Movementforhope.org
- News-pics-videos.com/schizencephaly-diagnosis
- Picturesofdogs.net
*** If I missed anyone, please let me know, thanks***
Thank you for your support,
Doug & Cletus
dsilber27@hotmail.com
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