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Last night when I got home from school (around 11:00pm) I walked back to the "dog room" to let the dogs out.  I crate most of the dogs, but Brutus and Molly stay out and I put an ex-pen up in the doorway.

I don't know where he found it, but Brutus got a hold of an ink pen 

When I first saw the mess, I automatically thought Molly did it because she's ruint like that and has done naughty things before.  In fact, I'm still wondering if she set Bru up...anyway, Brutus was the only one with ink all over his legs, so it was probably him.

This is what I walked into:
 
Ink footprint...
 
Nice little mess....
 
Dirty legs....
 
"I didn't do 'nuffin mama...I swear!"

Gotta love 'em  

I took the three most well behaved dogs I have out the other day for a photoshoot.  I just wanted to share some pictures with ya'll.

First, Molly, my English Setter.  I'm not sure how old she is, as she was a rescue.  But my guess is between 5 and 8 years old.

Brutus is going to be five in October, which isn't *that* old for a Dane, but isn't *that* young either.  I took these pictures last night and I know some of it is from the flash, but when I look at his pictures, he looks so much older than he does in person...

He's still a pretty boy, though

Well, Belle, the demodex dane I've been fostering went to her possibly new home today.  They are going to take her for a trial run and see how everything works out.  Please keep fingers and toes crossed that this will be the perfect home for her!

Oh, and the lady is experienced with demodex, so thats a plus, also!

[color:"red"]WARNING: THIS THREAD COTAINS GRAPHIC PICTURES!!!  [/color]

I decided to go the way I almost never go.  I guess there is a reason for everything.  I brought along a couple of pieces of toast for breakfast-I almost never do that either.  I pulled up to a stop sign and this little skinny black dog came up to my car.  He was hungry and looking for a hand out.  I felt badly for him, but when he turned his head I knew I had to get him, so I gave him my peice of toast to get him in the car.  It looks as if he had been attacked by another dog or something and it nearly ripped one of his ears off.  It is very badly infected and the ear canal is definitely affected.  I'm not sure if we can save him, but we'll try.  He is probably around 6-8  months old,his adult teeth are in but his "boy parts" aren't totally mature.

He's on antibiotics and is comfortable for now.  We are going to get another vet to evalutate his ear, most likely he will loose it because of the ear canal being so badly infected.  He'll probably need an ablation on that one ear.  Once his fever comes down, we'll sedate him and clean it up really well and take a much better look at it as well.  If he pulls through, he is going to have a long road of recovery ahead of him.   I need to think of a name for him, even if he doesn't make it, he still needs a name.

I'll update when I can.

A couple of months ago, Brutus started pooping a tiny little turd (well, tiny for a Dane) sometime during the night while he slept.  I didn't think much of it- maybe I didn't let him out long enough to do his business, etc...

However, he started doing it more frequently.  He's done it just about every night for the last couple of weeks.  He doesn't do it while napping through the day, only at night and I'm certain he doesn't do it consciously, as he is nearly perfectly housebroken.  It is only one little peice like I said before.

I asked one of the doctors at work today about it (I wanted to ask Dr. Anne, but we were pretty busy this AM, so I didn't get a chance to, so I asked the newly graduated vet) and he says it is possibly an early onset of Wobbler's.  He said he thought all along that Brutus's gait was a little strange.  I'm going to take him in tomorrow and possibly do some x-rays.

A little history on Bru- he was adopted from the shelter at 9 months old.  Don't know what happened in life before that, but was most likely fed puppy food.  For the first few months when I had him, I didn't know any better and fed him Pedigree adult.  After that, he was switched to better food.  (Nutro Natural Choice->Chicken Soup->Canidae).  He will be 5 in October, so he's no spring chicken for a Dane, but he isn't old.  He is on Cosequin maintainence dose.  He only gets DHPV (no lepto) vaccine every three years and Rabies annually, which unfortunately is the law here.  He never gets them at the same time.  He is on the low dose of interceptor every 45 days and gets frontline monthly to every 45 days (as needed). 

It could be something as simple as loss of anal tone, but when the vet mentioned Wobblers, I got a little more concerned.

Those who have Dane's with Wobblers and have had them since before they were diagnosed, what were some of the first signs?

Thanks!

Any thoughts on this? 

Hi all!  My gang and I are a little late on this, but we hope everyone had a great independence day!  God bless America