Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs After driving several days to rescue an emaciated dog in Miami, adopter Chandra Honican is now in for the long haul in healing him back to health.Honican runs an equine sanctuary, Off The Pace Standardbreds, in Kentucky. No stranger to rescuing animals, Honican told Newsweek the farm is currently home to more than 200 animals: horses, goats, cows, pigs, dogs, cats and a chicken.However, her latest addition, Llyod has been a case unlike she’s had before. He was severely underweight and would need months to recover.Honican and her farm partner saw a post from the Miami-Dade Animal Services about Lloyd, a 10-year-old Great Dane, and they immediately wanted to step in and help him. Through friends of friends, Llyod was adopted on their behalf while they made the long trek from Kentucky to Florida.Llyod was a victim of a “revenge case” between a couple divorcing, Honican explained. The husband took Llyod during the divorce and to get revenge, starved him until someone eventually brought him to the animal shelter as a surrender.When they were about 20 hours out from reaching him, Llyod was rushed into emergency surgery for bloat, also known as gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) complex. An article from the American Kennel Club explained that GDV occurs when the stomach fills with air and as pressure builds, it stops the blood from the hind legs and abdomen from returning to the heart. It can send the dog into shock.He made it out of surgery and when given the green light, Honican drove him back to Kentucky where he would stay with her forever. It was the start of his recovery, which will last months as she slowly helps bring his weight back to his breed’s standard.Llyod weighed about 75 pounds when she picked him up in December. His ribs and bones protruded. An adult male Great Dane should weigh between 140 and 175 pounds. Noting how tall Llyod is, Honican believes he should weigh around 150 when healthy.Honican has been sharing Llyod’s journey through her TikTok account @chandrahonican. While thousands have become invested in his recovery, many expressed they want her to give this “skin and bone” dog steak and leave food bowls out for him to eat. However, the disclaimer on her January 13 video revealed the process of his gaining weight isn’t that simple.”Until his body gets used to his new stomach and having food again, we have to go slow,” she told Newsweek.It breaks her heart, but he needs to adjust to different portions.
Screenshots from a January 13 TikTok video of an extremely skinny Great Dane who was rescued after being starved by his previous owner.
Screenshots from a January 13 TikTok video of an extremely skinny Great Dane who was rescued after being starved by his previous owner.
@chandrahonican/TikTok
Llyod eats five small meals a day, equating to about 1,600 calories. Honican said he only eats puppy food or wet food because “everything else he vomits.” She’ll put him on a higher food dose for a few days to see if he can handle it. If he can, then they increase it to that amount.His vet bills have already racked up to about $15,000. Plus, his food costs about a couple of hundred every few days, Honican said. But none of that matters. All she’s focused on is Llyod’s recovery and being there for him every step of the way.Despite everything he’s been through and his current road to recovery, Llyod didn’t hesitate to show his personality when he first was brought to his forever home.”He is so funny and stubborn and does whatever he wants to do and we love that,” Honican said. “He comes bouncing to the door. He thinks nothing is wrong with him. He wants to play with our other dogs but he can’t yet.”Honican and the rest of the team at the farm are all amazed at Llyod. She said he has the “strongest will to live” she’s seen from an animal.Viewer ReactionsHeartbroken and taken aback at how skinny Llyod looked, the TikTok video brought in more than 987,000 views and 85,600 likes as of Tuesday.”His coat looks healthy even though he’s so thin. He’ll be absolutely gorgeous once he’s better. I hope everything else is okay for him. He seems so sweet,” wrote a viewer.Another added: “Oh my god that poor angel thank you for rescuing him. I hope he has an incredible rest of his life with you.””Poor guy. Can’t wait to see him pack on some weight,” said a third.
