Bella April 2010

Bella had another good month in April...the biggest and best thing being: NO TUMMY SICKNESS. We are going on a good 3 months of no tummy problems so it's seeming more and more like she is just the most allergy-prone dog EVER. As in, she is allergic to EVERYTHING. The food she is on now is one of ONLY TWO foods that she can eat, that she isn't allergic to, based on the allergy profile of her littermate/brother. We didn't run an allergy test on her at the time because she was so sick, the vet wasn't even convinced it was just allergies, and not to mention, the first 10 months of her life we tried all kinds of "allergy" diets and had pretty much ruled out allergies. Turns out that even though we were ruling out certain things at the instructions of the vet, she pretty much really is allergic to everything so even if we ruled one thing out, she was allergic to something else in what she was eating.

So, in this case, as sort of a last glimmer of a hope, it was the better idea to just a) stabilize her and then once stabilized, b) try the food that matches her brothers' allergy profile. He just so happens to go to the same vet and the vet thought, Hmm, "what if?" THANK GOD she had that thought. Why? 3 months later? A VERY strict diet (aka no treats other than food kibbles) and she is healthy and happy. It's the longest stretch of a healthy dog we've ever had with her and it's SO much more fun for all of us!! I still can't believe that everything we've been through is seemingly just an extreme case of allergies. Crazy. The vet even said she hasn't seen anything like this. Oh well, for now, Bella is healthy as can be (and no sinus infections or pink eye this month either!)

Here she is cuddling with her buddy Calvin, one of the obese kitty twins (who, I think, have lost weight since last year...they have been on a diet, too, which they dislike).

And trying to cuddle with him again.

Along with the healthy dog comes TONS AND TONS of boxer energy. As in, "If you don't run me, I will DESTROY every toy I own, I'll show you." Exhibit A, above.

And exhibit B.

Surprisingly, she loves this monkey so only holds him in her mouth and doesn't destroy him. It's pretty cute. So, the world of Miss Bella is going well. No illnesses and just lots and lots of play time. She is a happy girl.