More from the Laboratory

I was so intrigued by the explanation Mars Veterinary provided after Brugge's results from her DNA test, I decided to ask if they could give me the rundown on Ozzie's too and sent them a picture. They obliged, and once again within 1 to 2 business days I had a fun little personal analysis in my inbox. Regardless of how you feel about the accuracy of their tests, you can't argue that their customer service is top notch.

I sent them the same picture of Oz at the vet that I've posted on this blog about a million times (OK, maybe three), so I'm not going to post it here again. If you really want to see it, go back to the original results post. Sorry, but I'm easily bored and recently got a spiffy new camera.

"The sample obtained from Ozzie was adequate and generated a good genetic signature.  The Labrador Retriever is clearly his top breed match in terms of chromosomal match and the algorithm is very confident about it being a parent.  The White Swiss Shepherd is also routinely coming up at the grandparent level and has a commensurate chromosomal match.  The other grandparent is a mix but the algorithm does find the Dachshund routinely, suggesting evidence of this breed in the mix.  The White Swiss Shepherd is a subset of the German Shepherd Dog though they do have genetically distinct signatures.  In Europe, they are considered separate breeds and our reference samples for the White Swiss came from Europe which is why we have made the distinction.  In the US, the White Swiss Shepherd can be registered as a German Shepherd but cannot be shown.  We are doing further analysis on US derived white German Shepherds to see if the distinction is as defined in this population.  However, because they are considered German Shepherds in the US, there has been more interbreeding of the lines which may complicate the matter a bit. 

Looking at Ozzie, we see that he has some similarities to his "sister".  He also exhibits a short coat and drop ears which again are dominant traits that we would expect in light of a Labrador parent.  However, he has a base erect ear set which is a bit more marked than Brugge's.  Though the drop ear (Labrador) is dominant, it is working upon the prick ear influence from the White Swiss grandparent.  Like Brugge, Ozzie is also unable to make black as he has inherited the chocolate gene from both sides.  He also exhibits a black and tan pattern which is a recessive pattern though in his case it is chocolate and tan since he cannot make black.  The Labrador does carry both of these trait as we noted with Brugge.  The White Swiss may also carry them as we do see it occasionally in the German Shepherd.  However, the second set may be coming from the mixed ancestor by way of the Dachshund, as well.  It also appears that Ozzie has a mask on his muzzle - this is a dominant trait which again is likely coming through the White Swiss though the mixed ancestor may also be passing it on.  It is interesting to see that on the surface your two pups may look somewhat alike but that their genetics tell us that they are a fair bit different!"

They also sent me a link about dog coat color genetics. My inner child, who still believes she may someday be a Mad Scientist Geneticist, is totally nerding out right now. Additionally, I did a quick google search for "chocolate tan points labrador" (and several other amalgamations with the same point) and found tons of pictures and information about them. Apparently it's not rare, but not quite common either. It's just a mismark, like any other marking not allowed in a show ring. Don't you just love how you can learn about a subject your whole life, and still discover fun new pockets of knowledge? I adore it. Once again, my experience with Wisdom Panel Insights and Mars Veterinary was a lot of fun. If you're curious, I would highly recommend purchasing a test of your own (Amazon carries them at a discount, and they pop up on daily deal sites from time to time). And ask questions!

The opinions expressed on this blog are my own, and I have not been compensated in any way by Wisdom Panel or Mars Veterinary to talk about their product. The only thing they've dropped is knowledge, no cash or swag.

The Results Are In!

Friends know I've been dying to do dog DNA testing since I adopted Brugge. To start, I'm a nerd (I know, BIG surprise, the person who blogs about her dogs is a nerd), and like most nerds, I love science. Genetics have always fascinated me. In elementary school I dressed up like a Mad Geneticist for our "dress like what you want to be when you grow up" assignment. In case you were wondering, I wore a borrowed lab coat and a furry monster glove.

Anyway, I purchase a lot of our pet products from Amazon.com. Their prices and selection are hard to beat, and while I try to shop local as much as possible, sometimes Amazon just is the way to go. As such, every once in a while I get an email about deals. One fateful day, an email landed in my inbox stating that they were having a day of pet-related Gold Box deals. One of those deals was the Wisdom Panel Insights dog DNA test. I had spoken to our wonderful vet, and while she echoed what the internet and several friends had already told me (that DNA breed tests aren't always super accurate), she had stated Wisdom Panel was the brand to use. The deal was too good to pass up, so I pulled the trigger and purchased one. Then Steven got me one as a gift. It's good to have a spouse who supports your hobbies... and neuroses. (Side note: I've found deals on Wisdom Panel Insights tests all over the internet from time to time. Or if you're impatient you can just purchase them straight from their website.)

The tests were simple enough to use. Each kit contains two swabs, a pre-paid envelope, and a sample information sheet. I made sure Brugge hadn't been to the dog park for a couple days prior to testing to avoid the risk of contamination from other dogs. Ozzie was still on restrictions. I used their online test registration, which was super quick and easy, and I really appreciated that you don't have to create an account and log-in credentials. They also have a "test tracker" where you can check in for results. Simply put in your last name and sample ID number and you're set! We made sure to do the tests in the middle of the day (well after breakfast) after giving them water and crating them for a couple hours so they couldn't get their mouths on anything. A using the swabs was easier than we expected, and after 5 minutes of drying time we packed them up and put them in the mailbox. Then we waited.

Ozzie's came back first. The advertised turn around time is two to three weeks, but Ozzie's results were ready in 6 days! Brugge's took a little longer, but still only 12 days. Now, without further ado... the results!

Ozzie:

I think his results were so speedy because his mix was much less complicated than Brugge's. Ozzie seems to be a White Swiss Shepherd and Labrador Retriever Mix. White Swiss Shepherds are a variation of German Shepherd; in fact, the breeds are so closely linked that one of the "breed profile" pages they included in Ozzie's results was that of the German Shepherd. The white genes were considered a fault and an effort was made to remove them from the German Shepherd breed pool. Other breeders liked the look, and developed their own breed from the "flawed" white genes. I wonder, though, if in Ozzie's case the test declared he was a White Swiss Shepherd because he comes from a line of German Shepherd that carries the white traits. I was somewhat surprised by the results, but I can definitely see the Lab in his behavior and love of water. He looks like a melanistic black and tan shepherd with chocolate standing in for the black, and his hind legs have some of the characteristic dip of a shepherd. When I did some more digging, I found there is a recessive "Liver" color trait in German Shepherds. I'm wondering if this gene could have combined with a chocolate gene from the lab side, activating the liver genes. Liver shepherds also have brown noses instead of black, as is the case with Ozzie. You can learn more about liver coloration in German Shepherds here.

What do you think?  Do you see the White Swiss Shepherd and Lab?

Brugge:

Brugge's results caused a fair amount of head-scratching. I, along with my veterinarian, had always assumed her to be a Doberman mix, probably with lab and a little more who-knows-what. Her results were so surprising that I had a lengthy correspondence with Customer Care at Mars Veterinary, the parent company of Wisdom Panel. I was really impressed by the thoroughness of their explanation, as well as the quick responses I received. Without further adieu...

As you can see, there is a very conspicuous absence. Her results showed no amount of Doberman whatsoever. After I contacted the company initially, they asked for more information and a picture. "Oh boy," I thought, "Now they're just going to really start making things up to appease me." I was happy to find that wasn't the case. Here is the picture I sent them, along with their final response about Brugge's results.

"The sample received from Brugge was of good quality and generated a good genetic signature.  Her results do not indicate that she has had a recent Doberman Pinscher ancestor.  She clearly had a Golden Retriever grandparent with a great grandparent Labrador Retriever and trace Cardigan Welsh Corgi.  The other ancestors are too mixed too call.  Please see the attached graph which plots Brugge's genetic signature against all the Doberman Pinschers in our database as well as the signature from a representative of all the breeds we test for.  You will see that her genetic signature groups within the All Breeds Outgroup as opposed to being pulled towards the Doberman Pinschers as we would expect if she had any evidence of them in her genetic makeup.  Hypothyroidism is the most commonly diagnosed endocrine disease in dogs and we do tend to see it in Golden Retrievers more often than other breeds. In regards to the low T4 and low TSH levels, this may have been early in the disease process such that the feedback loop hadn't bumped the TSH levels up yet or just a slightly unusual presentation due to individual variation.

When we look at Brugge, we are able to see evidence of the breeds called.  She exhibits a short coat which is a dominant trait so she only needed to inherit a single copy of the short coat gene to exhibit this.  Both the Labrador and Corgi are short coated though the mixed ancestor may also have passed it down as well. She is a chocolate and tan dog - this is a recessive coat pattern so she did need to inherit a copy of it from both sides of her family tree.  The Corgi does carry this pattern as do the Labrador and Golden Retriever, though it is less common.  Please see the attached photo of a chocolate and tan purebred Labrador puppy bred from a champion sire.  Genetically, Brugge is unable to make any black because she has inherited two copies of the chocolate gene instead.  The color in dogs begins near the spinal cord and spreads from there.  In cases where they do not develop enough color cells, white peeks through.  This white spotting tends to be expressed in the lower portions of the body first so it is not surprising that she has a bit of white on her chest and toes, as these areas are the furthest from the spinal cord and tend to be white first.  However, she does have drop (floppy) ears which are a dominant trait - both the Golden and Labrador have drop ears.  They do appear to have a slightly base erect ear set such that there is more cartilage near the base than the tip; this commonly occurs when there has been a prick eared ancestor such as the Corgi that has contributed some influence.  Brugge did not inherit a copy of FGF4 which is the gene responsible for the shorter leg in the Corgi.  Therefore, Brugge does not exhibit chondrodysplasia.  Finally, head shape and ear shape and size are determined by a number of genes working together toward an average state in about approximate proportions to the breeds called though the mixed ancestor would also factor into the equation.  In light of the breeds identified, it is not surprising that she has an intermediate muzzle and an average width cranium."

Brugge vs. Doberman. She's the blue dot. Doberman traits are in green. Apparently never the two shall meet!

The photo Wisdom Panel sent me of a purebred Chocolate and Tan Lab. What a cutie!

The interesting thing is that her body has always looked a little long proportionally, and when she scratches she makes what I call her "duck face," which now that I think of it looks extremely close to the face of a corgi! I highly doubt the accuracy of the trace breeds detected, especially since Glen of Imaal terriers are one of the rarest breeds in America, and I doubt there are many running loose in North Carolina, impregnating strays. It seems that the science team concedes the fact that the trace breeds are dubious, and that actually lends more credibility to their position in my eyes. So, call it hindsight bias, or naivety, but I'm actually fairly satisfied with the explanations given. Considering my main motivation for the using the tests was curiosity and the opportunity to gain some knowledge while having fun, I'd say they were well worth it, and I really enjoyed my experience.

And there you have it, folks! The genetic histories of my mutts. What do you think?

UPDATE: Read about the explanation of Ozzie's traits I received from Mars Veterinary about Ozzie in my other post here! 

Please note: I haven't been compensated in any way by Mars Veterinary or Wisdom Panel. This post is merely a story of my own experience with this product.

Ozzie's Story, pt. 3; Recovery

As of today, we are one month out from Ozzie's surgery to correct his Osteochondrosis (OCD). Pardon me while I do a happy dance. His surgery itself was a perfect success, and so far the recovery is going very well. However, "well" does not equate to "easy" in this situation. Still, we prepared and were able to put certain measures in place to help make things a little less cumbersome, and I am so glad we had the foresight we did. Our surgeon has also been accessible and fantastic in working with us to find solutions to accommodate Ozzie's personality while keeping his recovery on track. One of my beliefs that goes hand in hand with my cardinal rule of Know Thy Dog is using professionals (vets, trainers, etc.) that will work with you to meet your dog's specific needs, rather than squeezing you into a one-size-fits-all solution.

He looks so innocent, doesn't he?

I knew from the beginning recovery was going to be a challenge. During the procedure, the surgeon removed the cartilage flaps in Ozzie's shoulders and ground down the lesions on his bones to get rid of the decalcified, unhealthy areas. This meant that not only would Ozzie have to heal from the surgery itself, but his body also had to repair the once-defective areas. OCD occurs when there is an inadequate blood supply to the top of the bone. Consequently, that area is only fed by joint fluid. The bone starts to deteriorate and decalcify. In an effort to protect the bone, the body produces cartilage flaps, but unfortunately they just make things more uncomfortable. By grinding down the defective bone area to the healthy bone, blood flow is restored. Little clots form, and from there the bone is able to regrow and repair itself. Healthy cartilage then forms, and voila, problem solved. As I mentioned before, there is an increased chance of osteoarthritis, and we have to be careful to limit high impact activity, but Ozzie is no longer lame and in constant pain.

Because his body has so much rebuilding to do, being meticulous in the management of his recovery is imperative. His shoulders need to be given the opportunity to regenerate in a healthy way. If they aren't able to do that, we would basically be back at square zero. No pressure, right?

Funny to think something sooo little can cause soooo much work!

Ozzie's recovery has a few stages, broken into two two-week blocks and one four-week block. I'm calling this last one the Home Stretch! That's a total of eight weeks, assuming everything goes according to plan. As the surgeon said, "I take care of the technical part, but the hard part really falls on you." It is incredibly intimidating initially, but now that we're halfway through, I can say it's ultimately very doable.

Weeks 1 and 2 Ozzie was on bed rest. He could be taken out to do his business, but that was the only activity allowed. Running, jumping, and basically all of his favorite activities are completely forbidden. We also had to limit his propensity for doing burnouts on the hardwood floors. Steven carried Oz from his crate to the grass and back when he was home, but I had to settle for walking him through the house, carrying him down the steps, the carrying him back up the steps and walking him back to his crate. Fifty pounds of wriggly muscle covered by loose puppy skin was too much for me handle other than for short periods. Ozzie had to wear his cone of shame whenever he was unsupervised. We found that it stressed him out too much to take it on and off, so we ended up just leaving it on him. We iced his shoulders 3 or 4 times a day for the first few days, and we were able to remove his bandages on the third day. Fortunately, during this period he was also on painkillers as well as an anti-anxiety medication, which kept him fairly mellow. Unfortunately, he was still too excitable to do one of his physical therapy exercises without injuring him.

Aerial view of Ozzie's haircut. I call it a Halfsies Backhawk.

Weeks 3 and 4 we graduated to letting him walk through the house every time he went out, allowing him to walk up and down the ramp we built from the back porch, and taking him for short leash walks around the back yard. He was able to come off of his pain medication and anti-inflammatory medications; for the first time since a week after bringing him home, he was off of Rimadyl! At the recheck he got his stitches out, and again I thanked my lucky stars that we went the arthroscopic route  because the healing was so quick and easy. We also were able to teach him a puppy push-up to get his extension movement we were lacking in his exercises. A puppy push-up is a great way to build muscle, stability, and flexibility for all dogs, not just those recovering from surgery! And it's super easy. Have your dog sit. Have your dog lay down. Have him sit again. That's it, easy peasy! We first learned about them when working on initial training with Brugge and trying to wear her out.

In this last phase, weeks 5 through 8, we're increasing his leash walks gradually up to 20 minutes, increasing the amount of puppy pushups, and reintroducing steps and steep inclines. In one month's time he should be back to doing everything a normal dog would do, just on-leash. At his final recheck, we will hopefully gain permission to finally "cut the cord" and let him do whatever he wants! We'll still have to gradually increase his activity and not let him overdo it at first, but he will hopefully be in the clear as far as disrupting his healed shoulders!

We all can't wait for more of this!!!

Like I said, it hasn't been easy, but this process has been 100% worth it. Two months of having to problem solve and work hard is nothing compared to a lifetime of comfort for Oz. I would even venture to say that it has been helpful in some ways. I've been forced to become more patient, which is one of my biggest flaws. Our household is on a great routine that was set up when we were giving Ozzie pills four times a day at specific times for those first two weeks.

Now you know the general guidelines for Ozzie's recovery, but I mentioned we had taken measures to make his recovery easier prior to his surgery. We all know I'm a little long-winded, so I'm wrapping it up here. I'll reveal my methods for preparing him for as smooth a recovery as possible, as well as things I wish I'd done in advance, in my next post!

Ozzie's Story, pt. 2; The other kind of OCD

Alternate name for this post: "Why can't you adopt a healthy dog?!"

Ozzie at the vet.

So, in the first part of his story, I mentioned that things with Ozzie got interesting after he recovered from his URI. I had noticed him limping from the day I brought him home from the shelter as a foster. I figured in his puppy enthusiasm he may have jumped and sprained something, and the limp wasn't bad, so after checking with the foster coordinator I decided to wait until his Upper Respiratory Infection recheck to get him checked out by the shelter vet. At that time, they noticed the limp, but like me thought it was just a strain or sprain. The vet prescribed Rimadyl (a common NSAID for dogs, much like ibuprofen for humans) and rest, and to come back in a week if it hadn't improved. Again, we diligently ascribed to the doctor's orders, but the limp remained. At the next check we left with another Rx for Rimadyl, and another order to give him time and rest. The next step would be to sedate him for an x-ray, and probably have him neutered at the same time.

I have an enormous amount of respect for the vet and staff at the shelter, but I decided I was too impatient to wait. We had already been considering making Ozzie a permanent member of our family, so I brought him to my vet. She and her staff are saints, and after 23 tries (and some excited weeing from Ozzie, sigh) they were able to get some good images without sedation. She was also able to pinpoint the source of his pain; both of his shoulders, the left a little worse than the right. The X-rays confirmed her suspicion; Ozzie had OCD.

"OCD?" you say, "But isn't that a brain thing?" Well, yes. I think it's safe to say most people are at least a little familiar with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and while dogs can suffer from that as well (especially certain breeds, such as bull terriers), this was the other kind of OCD. Ozzie had been dealing with Osteochondrosis. In layman's terms, Osteochondrosis (OCD) is a condition where a lesion forms on the top of the leg bone that intersects in the shoulder joint. In technical terms, that area of bone is the humeral head. To compensate, the body forms a cartilage flap over the lesion, which can grow quite large and cause pain with movement. Ozzie had lesions on both sides, with the left looking worse than the right.

Where the arrow is pointing, you may be able to detect a small divot where it looks like the bone should be rounded but instead dips inward. 

OCD has a few causes that can either work together or alone to cause the defect. The primary culprits are genetics, poor nutrition, and too much exercise. By poor nutrition, I don't necessarily mean low quality food, but certain foods are not recommended for puppies because they can cause rapid growth. OCD usually begins around a period of rapid growth, so it is thought those factors could be linked. Since Oz is a pound puppy, we can't know what caused his OCD for sure, but he does have a couple risk factors. OCD tends to affect large and giant breed dogs, and males are more at-risk than females. We're not sure what breeds make up his background, but at about 50 lbs. at 8 to 10 months, it's safe to say he's a large breed boy.

So, of course my next question was, "OK, what now?" Given that we had done the limited activity and anti-inflammatory drug route, our only other option was surgery, and he had to have it soon. Oh boy. Now, some people might not have quite the same reaction as I do when they hear their spastic foster puppy has a major medical problem that requires an expensive surgery to fix, but at that moment, after the little voice in my head was done shrieking, I thought, "I have to have him. And I have to fix him."

My vet went over the options with me. She knows of several board-certified surgeons who would be great for the job, but she recommended arthroscopic surgery and honed in on a list of surgeons with the facilities for that kind of operation. She gave me a ballpark figure that almost made me wet myself, and promised to call around for prices. Who needs savings anyway? I'm young, I can rebuild my nest egg. Sigh. Cue the "Why can't you adopt a healthy dog?!" line from my mother.

What prompted her to say that? Well, Brugge, despite not yet reaching two years of age, has a few different health issues. That's another story for another time. My answer? They need me. I could have adopted Willem and/or Tim, who were perfectly healthy despite their rough beginning; the time when they really required special care was short-lived. I'm a bleeding heart, so I feel I must reserve space in my home for dogs that really need a higher level of care, something other people might balk at, for issues that could (and do) land dogs in shelters. I've had two vets and three trainers tell me "Brugge is so lucky she found you; most people won't deal with this." With the "this" being either her boundless energy, high level of intelligence, chronic health problems, or some combination of the three. Dealing with various health concerns of my own throughout my life and having people who never gave up on me has made me want to pay it forward. But enough about me.

The quotes came in, and I picked a surgeon at a local specialty hospital. We met for his pre-op, and I was extremely impressed. Ozzie is enthusiastic, as many puppies his age (8 to 10 months at the time) are, and the surgeon took it all in stride. He hopped up in her lap, and she just said "Well you know what happens when you hop on a vet? You get examined!" and proceeded to check out his mouth. We discussed the procedure, she drew pictures, and we went over recovery and prognosis. The good news; Ozzie was an excellent candidate for the surgery they should be successful. The bad news; recovery is very drawn-out and demanding, and he may never be a completely normal dog. With all OCD dogs, there is an increased likelihood for osteoarthritis. However, due to the placement, his should be minimal. We just need to minimize his high-impact activities. Sorry, Oz, no high jump for you!

The day he came home; note the wagging tail! He has an irrepressible happiness.

As far as recovery, that deserves it's own post! Ozzie had his surgery a few weeks ago, and I'm happy to report it was a complete success! They were able to complete the entire procedure arthroscopically and completely remove all cartilage fragments, and he's right on track with his recovery. Stay tuned for part 3! If you'd like to learn more about Osteochondrosis of the shoulder in the meantime, I recommend these links:

http://www.acvs.org/animalowners/healthconditions/smallanimaltopics/osteochondrosisoftheshoulder/

http://www.vetsurgerycentral.com/shoulder.htm

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2084&aid=464

Ozzie's Story, part 1, "The Twin"

I'm a believer that dogs choose you just as much as you choose them. I'm also a believer in fate, at least when it comes to dogs. Ozzie's arrival in our family is an illustration of those forces at work.

It started with a text from Jessica. Something to the effect of "Have you seen Demeter? He looks just like Brugge!" Jessica and I have a shared habit of trolling the county shelter's website on a daily basis. A throwback to our dogless days when we were both looking for a companion and the men in our lives hadn't quite warmed up to the idea of taking on that much responsibility. And then again when we were both looking for companions to our companions. Whatever the reason, it's a habit we can't break, and I'm not sure we want to.

I pulled up the animal list at the shelter. There he was, a 10-month-old carbon copy of our girl. Gut-wrenching. I had to go see him. Steven actually agreed to a trip up there; normally I'm forbidden for fear of an unexpected addition. Demeter had a winning personality and was sweet as honey, and indeed, very similar to our Brugge. Oh dear. But we already had Tim and Willem, we couldn't take another in as a forever dog right away. We left and hoped against hope that he would be adopted soon.

Two weeks went by and he was taken off the website. A little known fact is that can be a good or a bad thing. Our county shelter still euthanizes, as do most government shelters. It's a simple and tragic issue of numbers; too many animals, not enough resources. As I later found out first-hand, the staff do everything in their power to get these animals out of the shelter and into permanent homes or at least into their dedicated network of fosters. I called the shelter, my heart in my throat, and gave them his ID number (which I had memorized). He hadn't been adopted. He was sick with a URI. "URI" stands for "upper respiratory infection," or "kennel cough," as it's commonly known.

All dogs that come into the shelter are vaccinated, but the vaccine takes time to be effective and is hit or miss since there are so many strains of viral and bacterial causes. Our county shelter can treat the dogs for one round (assuming there's space), but many become sick a second time and face euthanasia unless they can find a foster home for the duration of their illness. It is a more forgiving policy than that of most shelters. It's a heartbreaking reality that upper respiratory infections run rampant in shelters, despite the best efforts of the staff. You know those signs that say "don't stick your fingers in cages?" Those are there for the animals' protection to help prevent the spread of disease. Our county shelter even provides gowns and gloves for visitors to wear to help protect the animals. But there's only so much that can be done around highly contagious, airbone pathogens.

I immediately signed up to be a foster. I was already fostering Tim and Willem with Pawfect, but I had my mind made up that I had to get that boy out, and I decided to take matters into my own hands. I attended a foster orientation and got to see the inner workings of the shelter. The staff and fosters are amazing people who, despite the things they see and experience ever day, have not lost their compassion and love for these animals. I cannot say enough good things about them and their efforts. I left that day with a very grateful Demeter. In retrospect, I probably wouldn't recommend rashly bringing a sick and contagious dog into your home with other fosters. I was able to quarantine him in a spare bedroom we use for a home office, and we were extremely diligent with keeping him and the other dogs separate as well as hand washing and shoe changing between visits. It was a great stroke of luck that the other dogs didn't get sick (although we had them all vaccinated).

His name had to change. "Demeter" was too much of a mouthful for me; I prefer one- to two-syllable dog names, something that can easily be called out for attention and recall. We decided to change it to Ozzie. He recovered beautifully from his URI and I committed to keeping him until he was adopted, but really at that point we had already fallen in love with him. And then things got interesting. Stay tuned for the dramatic conclusion! Hint; it has a happy ending.

Brugge and Ozzie on their first meeting post-quarantine.

Also, on an unrelated note, we've gotten an application in on Tim! Fingers crossed that this could be his forever family!

Lace & Twill Lately

Clearly, things have been a little slow on the blog lately. I've been a bad blogger. However, things have been full throttle here at Lace & Twill Headquarters. A few highlights:

1. Willem has been adopted! His new family is incredibly sweet and a wonderful fit for him. He even has a kitty brother and sister!
2. We adopted a second dog! His name is Ozzie and he is fabulous and sweet. I'll be giving him a proper introduction and telling more of his story in another post. It's a doozy!
3. We still have Tim. He's doing great after being separated from Willem, in fact, he seems to really be coming into his own.
4. We made a big discovery about Brugge's health and diagnosed a new problem. Fortunately, it's treatable! Stay tuned for a post about that too.

So, while I may not have been posting lately, I've racked up tons of material for future posts! I'm excited to get back into the swing of things and continue sharing what I've learned. Thanks for bearing with me!

We've been a little lazy around here...

A Photo Friday; Fourth of July!

So on Wednesday, which happened to be the 4th of July, I was able to take some pictures without dealing with leashes thanks to our fabulous new fence! The fence was finished on Monday night, and it has seriously been life changing in the best way possible. I'm talking at least 600% more exciting than when I upgraded to an apartment with a dishwasher and laundry machines. I also lucked out in the fact that neither of the fosters have any storm or fireworks phobias. These are seriously some awesome (And do I dare say easy? Knock on wood!) dogs. But enough from me, on to the pictures!

Willem is a true All-American dog. And look at those soulful eyes; they just melt my heart.

This one shows the other side of his personality; a goofy, wiggly brick of fun!

Tim sure knows how to work a camera. What a model.

He's a real Yankee Doodle Boy!

Brugge got in on the fun too. I just love my baby girl.

Dog Parks; An Introduction

Today was TWill's inaugural trip to the dog park. It was brief, but very telling! While both of the guys were cautious and slightly anxious at first, they loosened up very quickly and seemed to really enjoy themselves! I'm thinking they will be more and more playful in a couple of trips. Jess was there with her two dogs, and they came SO close to some real playtime with them. Don't get me wrong; these boys are SUPER playful and often give Brugge a run for her money here at Lace & Twill Headquarters. I think when they were on their own in the elements they were used to being run off by strange dogs protecting their turf. Once they realized their fellow dog park compatriots were friendly, they relished in tush sniffs and running around like wild men.

We were lucky to go on a weekday morning when there was a small, relaxed crowd there. It was an ideal situation for dog park newbies. In fact, in honor of their first trip to the dog park, I figured I would post some tips for other dog park newbies. Brugge has graciously offered to illustrate.

Brugge, demonstrating how fun a dog park can be! Photo courtesy of Bronco's Mom.

First off, let me say that not all dogs are ideal dog park dogs. Some dogs have intense fear issues, others have been inadequately socialized (and no, a dog park is not the place to socialize your dog who has never had interaction with other dogs... start with a training class or a pack walk first!), some are too ill or frail to enjoy a trip out there, and some dogs simply enjoy their personal space too much to share it with others. Unlike doggy daycare establishments who often have temperament tests, the assessment of which dogs attend public dog parks falls completely on their owners. This brings me to my cardinal rule of dog ownership; Know Thy Dog.


When I say "Know Thy Dog," I mean really spend time trying to objectively assess your dog's likes, dislikes, boundaries, and limits. The idea of truly knowing your dog affects every part of your relationship and every activity you enjoy together. For now, I'm going to focus on knowing your dog in a dog park setting. Dogs are like our children, so it's no surprise we always want to think the very best of them. However, we've all encountered a situation where a kid was acting out and their parents were in denial or refused to do anything about the child's ill-mannered ways. It's frustrating, isn't it? It isn't the kid's fault, and everyone would be much happier if the parents had set the child up for success instead of letting a situation escalate to where their little darling is affecting the enjoyment of others. The same goes for people and their dogs.

The first steps I would suggest for preparing for a trip to the dog park is assessing your dog. If your dog hasn't been to the vet in a while, consider scheduling an appointment to make sure your dog is physically healthy, up to date on her shots, and able to tolerate vigorous exercise. Taking a dog to a dog park isn't quite like taking a kid to a playground. Dog-and-dog play is often a contact sport; dogs have the potential to run like a crazy and bounce into each other and wrestle with each other. It's all in good fun (usually), but it's not always gentle! You owe it to your dog to be aware of any physical issues that can cause her discomfort. Additionally, a recent study has shown a link between pain and aggression. Think about it, if you were in pain, would you want other people coming up and asking you to play a game of football by repeatedly jabbing you in the ribs? Probably not. Pain makes dogs cranky, just like it does with humans.

 Very young puppies and very old dogs aren't the best candidates for all dog parks. Young puppies who haven't had all of their shots are at risk of catching very serious, life-threatening illnesses if they play around other dogs. If you would like to socialize your puppy, consider a puppy training class. They are also fabulous opportunities to form a strong, lifelong bond between you and your dog. As for very old dogs, if they are dog park veterans and they enjoy being out there taking it all in, I say go ahead and let them enjoy it in their senior years. However, I would be cautious when it comes to introducing an old dog to a dog park for the very first time. Their limits are much lower than younger dogs and can overdo it faster. Watch your dog closely and see if she's enjoying her trip, and watch out for any signs of fatigue.

Once you've established that your dog is physically healthy enough to take part in the controlled chaos that is dog park play time, you need to take a good hard look at her personality. Does she try to make friends with every dog she meets? Does she cower when another dog tries to sniff her backside to say hello? Does she try to bulldoze other dogs? Watch her reactions to seeing another dog on a walk, or while waiting at the vet's office. I would recommend taking a basic manners training class before heading to the dog park, again to set up a strong bond, but also to see how she does just being around other canines. If all goes well in these situations, try some private playtime with a friend's dog in an enclosed, controlled setting. Try to tune in to your dog's body language. See what she enjoys and what stresses her out. See if she takes advantage of other dogs who are more uncomfortable than her. Observe her like a scientist; it's for her own good!

Finally, I would suggest taking her to a doggy daycare establishment. They should perform a behavior assessment (which is usually free) to see how your dog fits in to group play. Additionally, the staff at these places are trained to moderate play to keep it safe and positive. It might be a bummer to have to drop your dog off and miss attending her first group play, but some facilities even offer webcams where you can tune in and watch while you're at work. Attending a doggy daycare is a great way for a dog to learn the vital cues from other dogs to interact safely and respectfully in group play.

Brugge's daycare even has a pool. We had to board her for a week earlier this summer, and I called it "summer camp." I don' think she missed us!

When you feel that you've assessed your dog and she seems comfortable playing with other dogs, you can make the decision to graduate her to dog park play. This brings us to the things you can't control, but you can take steps to minimize risk and maximize enjoyment! First off... Follow. The. Rules. Rules is capitalized here because they are Very Important. The Rules are there to help ensure everyone stays safe and happy! In addition to regular closing time information and maintenance information, the Rules usually include some sort of list like the following:

• Pick up your dog's poop.
• Nobody wants to step in it. Nobody wants their dog to eat it. Nobody wants to smell it. Just pick it up.
• Keep your dog on a leash until you get into the park.
• Ugly things can happen when your fresh, raring-to-go dog runs up to a tired dog that's over the whole playtime thing. Not to mention you don't want your dog to get run over in the parking lot.
•  If you have a female dog in heat, she should not be leaving your property, let alone attending a dog park for playtime.
• Nature can take over and cause issues here. Not to mention that I believe it's best that all pets be spayed and neutered to curb behavioral problems as well as lengthen the lifespan of your beloved pooch. Most fights I've seen at dog parks have involved at least one in-tact male.
• Your dog should be fully vaccinated, and her rabies tag should proudly be displayed on her collar.
• There's no sense in putting your dog at risk! Get those vaccines! Not to mention it's not only unsafe for your dog to not have a rabies vaccine; it's also illegal! Most vaccines can be administered at home, but a rabies vaccine must be administered by a veterinarian.
•   Handlers must carry a leash and remain inside the fenced area within view and voice control of their dogs at all times.
• This is just common sense, but it's amazing how uncommon it can be. I find watching my dog play at the dog park to be extremely relaxing and enjoyable most of the time. However, dog park time is not the time to be napping, burying your nose in a book, or yakking away on a cell phone. You must always be aware of your dogs whereabouts as well as her behavior. You need to be ready to spring into action and remove your dog if need be, which brings me to the next Rule.
• Acts of aggression against other dogs or people are prohibited. Dogs must be removed if uncontrollable.
•  This is another one that shouldn't even have to be written down, yet people can be startlingly clueless. I've been a part of a mass exodus when a black lab attacked (not a fight, an all out attack) a small dog, then another when his handlers failed to remove him right away. At the time, all I could think of was getting my dog and getting her out safely, but if my mind had been just a little clearer, I would have marched back up to those owners and told them to leave. If they'd given me trouble, I would have called the cops.
• No more than [number] dogs per handler permitted.
• Usually it's three, but I've heard of parks where the number is two or four. It should really be more like "no more dogs than you can control," but that would give people too much license. That said, some people can't control one or two dogs. That's usually tolerable, unless they're bullying other dogs or starting fights.
• Choke, prong, pinch, and spike collars must be removed inside park area.
•  Personally, I'm not a fan of choke, prong, or pinch collars. I've seen them abused far too often, I've seen too many ugly pictures of injuries from these collars, and I'm a believer in patient, positive training. They're not illegal (here... some countries in Europe have banned their use), so it's totally up to an individual's prerogative as to whether or not they use them, but they have absolutely NO place in a dog park. A dog can be killed if they become entangled. Spike collars that are just for show can be dangerous to other dogs. My advice is to use a quick release plastic collar, or a break-away collar such as the Keep-Safe from Premier.
• Handlers must stop dogs from digging and must fill any hole created by their dogs.
• Two words; turned. ankle.
• Close Adult supervision required for children under the age of 12.
•  This one is absolutely key! It is extremely unsafe for children to be unsupervised around even the friendliest of dogs, especially when there are several of them around. So many dogs love kids, but express their love by jumping up and giving kisses, sometimes even mouthing. All of this can scare or injure a child. And it goes both ways. A child approaching a dog in the wrong way can cause the dog to react defensively, resulting in a bite. Click here for some fabulous information from Dr. Sophia Yin on teaching children to interact safely with other dogs (it's good for adults to keep in mind too!). Also, please don't let your kid run with sticks (dogs WILL chase them and attempt to get the stick), dig in the dirt (thousands of dogs have used that same dirt as a place to relieve themselves), or scream (it will draw a crowd of concerned four-leggers who want to smother your child with comfort). Also, don't bring snacks for your kid. Bottom line, a dog park is for dogs. It is not a playground for children. You wouldn't want an unruly dog running a muck around the jungle gym, so extend the same courtesy to our four-legged friends.
• No food or dog chews are allowed.
• Some dogs are totally fine with play time but do not do well when food becomes a part of the equation. Some dogs resource guard and a fight can ensue. Also be careful with bringing toys; don't bring a favorite (there's a good chance it will get trashed) and if you see dogs becoming possessive to the point of aggression, get rid of it (even if it's not your dog causing the problem). Also, when it says no food, it means no people food. If you decide to pick up some cheesy monstrosity from Taco Bell on your way to the park, expect furry faces trying to join you for lunch. My one exception would be bottled water in the summertime, but be very careful; some dogs are given water bottles to play with and could view your drink as a toy. Your safest bet is to leave it in the car. Additionally, in the vein of no treats, dog park time isn't ideal training time. Use praise as a reward for good behavior, and wait to really work your dog until you're at home.
• No littering.
•  Duh.

Brugge says, "Follow the rules so everyone can be as happy as me!" Photo by Bronco's Mom.

That's usually the gist of the real rules. A couple of additional pieces of advice I would add are:

•  Don't wear cute clothes. There is a 99% chance you will get dirty. There is also a 99% chance that you will be laughed at if you come in wearing your finest, get dirty, and freak out about it. Sorry.
•  Don't get upset when a dog jumps up on you if it only happens once or twice. It happens. It's a dog park. Dogs are super excited and happy to be there and happy to be alive and oh my goodness is that a tennis ball?! WHEEEE!
• Wear shorts and flip flops at your own risk. Steven learned this the hard way when a boxer mistook his hairy man leg for a tree.
• Even if your dog is just playing, go get her if she's making a person or a dog uncomfortable. Some dogs can get overly excited and become a nuisance even if they don't mean to. It's OK to take a beat and keep your dog at your side for a minute so she can regroup and find her center.
• If your dog knocks over a water bucket, refill it. If your dog finishes off almost all the water in a bucket, refill it. If your dog pees in a bucket, refill it. If your dog makes a bucket filthy, refill it. Just refill the stupid buckets.
• Be nice to people! Most dog park people are super friendly and willing to talk, especially about their dog. Don't be a Debbie Downer.

 UPDATE 4/5/12
Jess brought to my attention a couple of crucial tips I had forgotten, and I thought of another couple as well:

• As soon as you are in the park, remove your dog's leash. Few things are more anxiety-inducing in a dog than being swarmed by a bunch of fellow canines and being restricted in her movements. Not to mention you, your dog, and other dogs can all become entangled. Leash up to lead your dog out when you're done for the day, or if you're one of the lucky ones, allow your dog to follow you to the gate and leash up just before exiting.
• Do not pick up your dog unless it is absolutely necessary. Other dogs will ambush you, and it will make your dog a target. She has legs; let her use them!
• Remove all harnesses and head collars upon entering the park. Dogs love a good handle when wrestling, and leaving these items on your dog can put them at a disadvantage during play and put them at an increased risk of injury. You also don't want to let their walking tools get trashed by a friend gnawing on them.
• Avoid dressing your dog in clothes. If you've ever seen a dog bark at someone wearing a baseball cap, you know that clothing can change a dog's perception of others. Clothes can also turn your dog into a target.

Finally, a word of warning. Even if you do your very best, there is a chance your dog will be in a fight. While it is true that dogs are pack animals, it's not natural for them to deal with a large group of ever-changing individuals. If your dog is attacked or is part of a fight, first diffuse the situation (yell in your best James Earl Jones voice, clap your hands, dump a nearby bucket of water on them. Call for help. Breaking it up yourself is a last resort, but if you have to, enlist help and attempt to grab the dogs by the back end instead of their collars to reduce the risk of a bite. Breaking up a dog fight is extremely dangerous and there is a good chance you will get bitten in the confusion). Assess your dog for injuries. If you can take the time, get contact information from the other dog's owner so that you can make sure their dog is properly vaccinated. Take your dog to the vet to get checked out. Sometimes dogs fur can hide puncture wounds, and some fights can also result in serious internal injuries.

Brugge's worst injury to date after a literal run-in with a picnic table. Yes, my dog is a spaz.

Every trip to a dog park is a calculated risk. For that reason, some owners do not go to them at all. There have been times after witnessing particularly scary situations when I have questioned my own decision to frequent them. Additionally, it is a sad fact that if your dog is a breed that is prone to discrimination (Pit Bull, Doberman, Rottweiler, German Shepherd), think carefully about your attendance. Your dog could be the sweetest dog in the world, but if it is attacked by say, a golden retriever, and forced to defend itself, guess who everyone will blame? For that reason, a local pit bull rescue has even put it in their adoption contract that their adoptees are not to be taken to dog parks. 

To minimize the risk, it is also a good idea to go during an off time. Weekday mornings are a good idea because most people are working and/or would rather take their dog in the afternoon or evening. Weekend afternoons are the busiest. Weekends are also when a lot of newbies and infrequent visitors attend. Generally, the environment is much higher energy, the dogs are more amped up, and there are more people who are clueless about proper dog park etiquette on weekends.

Last, but not least, don't let your dog overdo it. If your dog isn't used to long periods of vigorous exercise, limit her time at first and let her build up endurance. Make sure she drinks plenty of water. Monitor the temperature and avoid going midday during the summer if it is sweltering outside.

Whew! Sure is a lot to consider, isn't it? Still, if you're vigilant, follow the rules, and practice the tenet of Know Thy Dog, a dog park can be a lot of fun, and result in dirt-filled smiles like this one!

Photo Courtesy of Bronco's Mom. Also, if you look closely, Brugge isn't sporting her rabies tag! Rule breaker! Steven had taken it off her collar to switch and lost it, and this was before we could get to the vet for a replacement. Always carry proof of vaccines with you in case the same happens to you!

Body Mod for Dogs

Call me a teetotaler, but I don't have any tattoos or piercings. Not for lack of trying really; my ears have been pierced twice, but have a strong desire to heal so that I can't wear adorable earrings. Maybe third time will be a charm. As for tattoos, I simply cannot commit to an inscription or image for the rest of my life. The dogs, however, are a different story.

In the days before microchips, owners used to tattoo their dogs as a form of permanent identification. That's mostly fallen out of favor (it's a much more involved process than microchipping, and more painful as well). That's still not to say that tattoos have completely fallen by the wayside in pet ownership and rescue...

See that little green line? That's Brugge's tattoo. Yep, you read that right. My own dog is inked. People ask me about it all the time when we're out and about at places like the dog park, "What's that on her belly?" When I tell them the answer their facial expressions usually range from shock and derision to a grin meant to express kudos. I can't take credit for it though, she came that way when I rescued her. The shelter from which I adopted her tattoos their dogs to denote that they have been altered (altered meaning spayed or neutered). It provides an easy way to tell the animals have been "fixed" should they end up in a situation that once again lands them in a shelter. Typically, the animals get a quick line, but I have heard stories of shelter staff snapping up an animal as their own right after intake, and then requesting a shape for their tattoo, like a heart or a smiley face. Kinda cute, right?

Well, there is a less cute form of dog body modification going on around here right now. Poor little Tim landed himself in a bit of trouble on Saturday morning. See, it's not always easy to manage three dogs in cones, especially when they delight in freeing each other from the plastic and gauze (which is super fun to play tug with, by the way). Saturday morning, Steven took Brugge out for her morning walk and left Tim and Willem behind, seeing that they were still sleeping peacefully. Since I've been a wee bit sleep-deprived as of late (mostly due to factors not involving the dogs), he decided to sneak out without waking me. It was a sweet idea, and his intentions are good, but when the dogs hear the chime for the alarm system after opening an exterior door, they are at attention. I snoozed for 5 to 10 minutes before the rustle and play snarls of the boys woke me up. In that time, Willem had pulled the gauze securing the cone on Tim off, and Tim's cone had fallen off. I shot out of bed, scooped Tim up, and immediately inspected his incision.

"Uh oh." Where there had been tail ends of sutures poking out, there was now nothing. Obviously it wasn't completely devastating, because he was still held together. I waited for the vet's office Pawfect Match uses to open; mercifully, they're open on Saturdays. I explained the situation, and they told me to bring him in so they could have a look. It turned out he had completely removed his outer stitches, but his internal stitches were completely in tact (whew!). To be on the safe side, they added a surgical staple for a little insurance. It comes out after ten days, and in the meantime we are affectionately calling it his belly button ring (even though it's not really around his belly button).

So, sometimes body mod isn't such an act of rebellion. It's more like a product of an act of rebellion around here. I'm proud to report that other than the one indiscretion Tim is doing extremely well in his healing process, as is Willem. Their incisions look great, and they are their happy-go-lucky, playful selves. And, now that they're fully vaccinated and neutered, they are 100% ready for their forever homes! Could it be with you? ;)

A Photo Friday; Coneheads

Another long day, another late post. I debated whether or not to post today, seeing as most people will be kicking off their weekends by having fun away from  their computer. Then I decided just to do a quick post. Then I had the idea for Photo Fridays. I'm not sure what kind of a schedule it'll be on, but every so often I'll do a "Photo Friday." Basically a snapshot with a beefed up caption. What do you think?

 Due to the boys getting neutered and attempting to lick their incisions, and a particularly nasty allergy flare resulting in an infected paw on Brugge, everyone ended up in the Cone (or BiteNot Collar) of Shame. This photo is from Wednesday night, but the landscape around here is going to remain pretty much the same for another day or two. Fortunately, they're all considerably less mopey and starting to try to get into trouble now, a sign of a return to normalcy. This morning, in the span of 15 seconds, Brugge pulled off Willem's cone, and Willem undid the bow and pulled off the strip of gauze securing Tim's cone, which then fell off. We continue to live by the motto "Never a Dull Moment!" around here. I should get that in needlepoint or something. Have a great weekend, everyone!

The Most Expensive Cheap Blanket Ever.

This past weekend was just incredible. Not really in a good way, but not completely devastating either. More just in a "did all of that stuff really happen or was it a dream?" way. It was the kind of weekend where you sit back afterward and don't moan about everything that happened; instead you just say, "I'm glad that's over and I made it through... even if it was by the skin of my teeth." And, in her usual fashion, Brugge was an integral piece. She set the events of Friday and Saturday in motion.

She looks so innocent when she's sleeping.

Steven and his brother went out of town Friday afternoon to visit his dad in Tennessee for Father's Day weekend. He had been out of town when I first found TWill, so I figured a weekend alone with the dogs would be doable... maybe even "no big deal." Famous last words. Friday was nonstop. As you may have read, I was dealing with a piddle accident on a dog bed. I had also dropped Steven off at work so Eric, his brother, could pick him up from there and head out. Add to that regular dog duties and job hunting, and I had a busy day before even heading over to Phydeaux. I put the boys in their "room" (the guest bathroom), Brugge in her crate (because she still can't be trusted without a level 8 to 10 dog-proofing sweep of the house, which I did not have time for on this particular day) and headed out to meet Jessica at Phydeaux. We had both gotten 10% off coupons for participating in the SPCA of Wake County K9 3K Dog Walk earlier in the Spring, and Jess still had hers to use.

We perused everything from toys to bowls to beds to collars and leashes to toys again and finally to treats. Mickey and Florence (her two dogs... Mick is her permanent dog, and Flo is the foster that betting people would put good money on being a Foster Failure) made out like bandits. If you're a dog owner, you know the thrill of buying dog stuff. It's possibly even more intoxicating than buying kid stuff, but then again, I don't have a human kid yet. Jessica's and Eric's friend (and Eric's coworker), Charlotte had met us there too. Jess and I love introducing people to Phydeaux. It's right up there on my list of Most Fun Stores Ever, along with Target and Ikea.

Anyway, we were all going to go to dinner after, but Jess got called into work. We made plans to meet up after she got off for frozen yogurt, and Charlotte and I ate together and had a great time. Then I ran home to feed and walk "the zoo," as I call them. I was in a hurry since that whole process can take some time, but after the walk and getting everyone's food (and meds, in the case of Brugge) ready, I paused to watch them eat. I separate all the dogs, but I still supervise to make sure they all give each other space to enjoy their food.

I looked down at Brugge and noticed her stomach looked a little big. Wait, no, it kind of looked really big, but in a subtle way. Subtle enough that Steven wouldn't probably have noticed, but I certainly did. And it looked bigger on her left side than her right. I felt her stomach, and she shrank up a little as I did so, which I had learned during a bout of gastritis was a sign of pain or discomfort. She also burped when I prodded at her, which seemed to make the extra bubble on the left go down a little. "Oh no... could this be bloat?" Bloat, which can also be called (gastric) torsion or gastric dilatation-volvulus, is a life-threatening condition where the stomach fills with gas. In most cases with dogs, it is not just gastric torsion (a belly full of gas), but also gastric dilatation-volvulus, where the stomach twists as well, preventing gas from escaping. Surgery is often required, and there prognosis for a dog suffering from bloat is not usually good, but is better the quicker you catch it.

No one is certain what causes bloat, but risk factors include being a deep-chested, large breed, playing or other vigorous exercise just before or after a meal, eating only one meal a day, eating a small kibble size, and eating too quickly. Brugge is a Doberman mix, we think tempered with Lab, and Dobies are a deep-chested breed. Fortunately, Brugge's chest is deeper than usual, but not so deep as a true Dobe, so there is less risk.  Feeding meals from a puzzle toy can be a great way to curb bloat because it forces the dog to slow down (and it's good a good form of stimulation to boot, but that's a topic for another time), but I didn't have time at this particular meal. Brugge is usually a moderately paced eater. She eats all her food right away, but doesn't really inhale it. However, with the fosters around she has taken to gobbling up her food and running to watch them eat so she can lick their bowls when they're done.

Would you say that's the face of a troublemaker?

I called my standby emergency vet's office like I have seemingly hundreds of times before (including the time where she ate half of a discount club case of Clif bars where they taught me how to induce vomiting three days after we adopted her). They have usually just allayed my fears and never suggested that I bring her in unless I really wanted to. This time was different. When I explained the situation to the receptionist, she said to definitely watch her, but if it were her own dog, she would bring her in to be safe.

I was already sleep-deprived, and I seem to have been hemorrhaging money on dogs lately, so I decided first to bring Brugge to Jessica's house. She happens to live in a neighborhood literally across the street from a different 24-hour vet clinic. She also knows what Brugge looks like usually, and I trusted her to give me an accurate second opinion about Brugge's looks. Brugge was still acting completely normal (goofy, playful, had pooped normally and eaten all of her dinner with the usual gusto), or I would have brought her to the emergency clinic immediately.

When I arrived, Jessica and I let the dogs play a little (it had been well over 30 minutes since Brugge had eaten... more like an hour and a half) and took them for a walk. Brugge pooped again, but as we looked at her she definitely seemed bigger than usual, and that bubble on the left was still there, possibly even bigger than before. I called the emergency vet there and they asked me a series of questions and told me I better bring her in. Jessica, who is awesome, in case I neglected to mention that earlier, went with us. They took Brugge in the back, and we nervously waited for the doctor to come in.

When the doctor came in he introduced himself quickly but genially, and then he sat down, looked me straight in the eyes, and asked "I need to know, what has she eaten? What do you feed her? Did she get into something?" Somehow taken aback, I stutter out that she's had exactly 1 cup of food, twice that day (I ALWAYS measure), 4 mini dog biscuits, and a little bit of rawhide just recently at Jessica's when she commandeered one of Mickey's bones. Sometimes being anal retentive has its advantages. "Well, I ask because her stomach is completely full. I did an X-ray because the first thing I thought of was gastric dilatation-volvulus, but it turned out that the distention you're seeing is because she is just so full." Jessica and I looked at each other, shocked. I rummaged around in my brain for anything she possibly could have eaten. I explained that I watch her like an infant because I know her potential to get into things. The vet said he would give her something to induce vomiting, and be back in a minute. He paused, "...Would you like to see what comes up?" I nodded vigorously before realizing that it was little weird to be that enthusiastic. Oh well, it's what happens when yucky stuff never really bothered you to begin with, plus you have a dog that's had intermittent stomach problems from the get go.

After the doctor walked out, Jessica and I theorized about the cause of Brugge's predicament. Did she eat kitty litter at Jess' house? No. Dog or cat food? no. We came up with nothing. The doctor returned with a dog bowl lined with a trash bag in one had, and a tongue depressor in the other. Everything looked normal at first... there was just a lot of it. Dog food, a wee bit of grass, the rawhide, what I thought was a calf ear... Then we spotted it. A triangular strip of fabric, 2.5" by 1" at its biggest. I recognized it immediately. "That's the corner of one of the fosters' blankets!" Sneaky Brugge just loved fleece as a puppy and tried to eat it, but I thought she had outgrown it. Then, when the fosters and their $3 blankets from Big Lots I got for them came along, her old habits resurfaced. I had caught her chewing on it earlier and taken it away immediately, the gnawed off portion escaping my notice.

Tim's best Zoolander impression in front of the offending blanket.

The vet went on to explain was that the wee bit of blanket had likely been blocking her stomach from emptying. He said it was a good thing I had noticed her problem, because had it gone on much longer she could have had a full-on obstruction, or the liquid could have drained from her stomach, causing the remaining contents to solidify into a brick. Both other outcomes would have required major surgery. The doctor gave me a special food for the next day in case her stomach was still upset and also a few pills to calm things back down, along with a list of anything to look out for, but he was optimistic that there was just one offending piece, and she was good as new. He repeated, "You really DO have to watch her like an infant, don't you?" in both a light-hearted and sympathetic manner. At least he wasn't judging me! I love it when a vet understands dogs can be crafty.

At checkout it dawned on me. The calf's ear. The blanket. I had taken the blanket away the day before. I had given Brugge the calf's ear the day before too. That's why there was SO much in her stomach! It had been accumulating for at least a day and a half! Good grief. I paid my $300 vet bill and headed out. And that, my friends, is the story of how a $3 fleece blanket from Big Lots ended up costing me $303. Hopefully Brugge's health insurance will cover it. I invested in it the day after she ran face-first into a picnic table and split a good chunk of skin right under her eye open. That dog just loves to keep me on my toes!