To See Yoda,

Painful it is.  It's sad to see a Frenchie--a breed meant to be clownish, devoted companions--so suspicious of a loving gesture, so slow to respond to friendly overtures, and in such unthinkably poor physical condition.


She came to us from a shelter.  She was obviously once a breeder dog and she was so neglected that a mammary tumor had grown large enough to make it difficult for her to lie down comfortably and a tumor on her private parts made it hard to sit comfortably.  Those tumors are gone and the stitches just came out.  Now she's able to sleep in the same ridiculous position any other Frenchie enjoys.

She went this past week to have a dental exam, and the vet said her jaw had been broken and never set, and that the resulting healed-over injury was causing most of her dental problems.  Imagine that:  you are so bound and determined to wring every dime out of your breeding stock you won't even  have tumors removed and broken bones repaired.  We don't think it's too much to call people like that monsters.  Stupid, cruel monsters.

Her foster dad says he's never known a dog who didn't like it when he lies down beside her for a cuddle or pulls a dog over onto his lap to rub her ears or tummy.  He's started bringing Yoda onto his lap for 15 minutes every evening, but that's about all she can take at this point.

Though she is still a bit untrusting, Yoda has come a long way in the last month.  She's learned to enjoy hanging out with the gang at her foster home, she's had a couple of major surgeries, and she's learning what toys and tummy rubs are about.  She's eating good food, sleeping well, and she's getting accustomed to life in a house with people and other dogs.



If you are as touched by her progress as we are, pat yourself on the back.  You made Yoda's progress possible.  Without our supporters and volunteers and the rescue-friendly vets and their techs who offer rescue discounts, we couldn't do it.  Yoda would have been euthanized and never known a loving touch beyond the shelter workers who cared enough to let us know about her.

 

Your donations make these changes in Yoda possible.  Many thanks and much appreciation for your compassion and caring coming your way from

The Frog Princess (and Yoda!)

PUPDATE! PUPDATE!  Last night Yoda snuggled with her foster mom!  And played with visiting grandkids!  And put up with an exuberant doxie/sharpei (?!) cross who came to visit!  Things are really looking up for Yoda!
Plus!  Also!  And!  Lookit here:  Yoda tells off the vacuum.  http://youtu.be/E3uR-wG5pQE

Heart Dogs

In this photo, you can see FBRN newcomer Coraline playing with FBRN old-timer Paulie Walnuts. They have more than just their brindle-pied coloring in common.

Both have serious heart defects.

Just about this time last year, Paulie Walnuts' foster mom became his forever mom. She has experience monitoring his heart problems and she has an excellent cardiac veterinary specialist for him. When we got the call about Coraline, a very young puppy with pulmonic stenosis, our volunteers swung into action; Coraline flew with a volunteer who works as a flight attendant across a big swath of country, then made a short road trip to her new home.

Coraline's vet visit revealed that she has a set of serious problems, including severe pulmonic stenosis, a condition that causes thickening of the heart muscle as the heart works hard to push blood through a too-narrow opening. She will have to take medication. She will have to limit her playtime and excitement. She will probably not live as long as most Frenchies, and there is a risk that she could succumb suddenly. She'll be a hospice dog for several months until she has grown enough that the doctors can better see the architecture of her heart and know whether she is a candidate for a surgery that might help prolong her life.

Bulldogs and boxers suffer pulmonic stenosis (PS) fairly frequently, as do a few other dog breeds, including Westies, labs, and Chihuahuas. It is often discovered during an early vet visit, but many dogs with mild PS are undiagnosed and have no symptoms. Dogs with moderate to severe PS may experience exercise intolerance, fatigue, and fainting as some of the symptoms of the condition. Some dogs can undergo corrective surgery involving a balloon catheter to enlarge the narrow opening. In Coraline's case, there may be further structural defects in the heart and coronary artery that would take that option off the table. In a few months when she has grown a bit, we'll do another echocardiogram to see whether she is a candidate. If not, she'll remain in hospice care with Paulie Walnuts.

Pulmonic stenosis is not a death sentence for most dogs. It can often be mild, requiring no medication or treatment, and moderate cases can be managed with medications like Atenolol, a heart medication for people and dogs that helps the heart pump efficiently, and they can benefit from daily supplements of fish oil. Regularly scheduled check ups with a specialist can help identify whether a dog with PS is maintaining or perhaps could benefit from medication, a change in daily activity, or treatment.

Please keep a good thought for Coraline as she grows. Her future is uncertain, but FBRN volunteers and our supporters know that our foster mom (and Paulie Walnuts!) will work hard to be sure that every day will be a good day for Coraline.


She may be but a mite but she's a mighty mite observes

The Frog Princess

Enchilada

The most delicious little morsel has just this second--and we mean *just* this second--come to FBRN! 


This red-haired beauty was purchased by someone from Craigslist and surrendered to us. 

We are very sorry to report Enchilada has heartworm.  These things happen in Texas and virtually every other state in the union these days.  If your dog isn't taking heartworm preventative, it's time for a trip to the vet for a test and to start on a good preventative.  The treatment for heartworm can be dangerous and debilitating, so if you love your dog, do what's right!

Back to Enchilada--we don't yet know much about her personality, but she is a very happy looking froglet, don't you agree?  Would you believe this petite senorita is only 13 pounds?  We were also shocked and surprised!  Look for her introduction on the website soon.  And if you like, you can throw her a few coins, a little dinero, to help pay for her vet visit! 

Ai, yi, yi!  Heartworm!  Es no bueno, declares

The Frog Princess

Ginny Makes a Way

Since Ginny's femoral head surgery earlier this year, she's been exercising and getting used to her new way of walking.

Part of her exercise has included some water walking.

Ginny's mom came into the back yard yesterday to find that Ginny has decided that with her condition, she needed a "walk-in" tub.  And since Ginny is a "do-it-yourself" kind of dog, she did it herself.

"Look whut I did, Mama!"

"I fixed it all by myself!"

"Are you proud of me?"

"Well, I'm pretty proud of myself!"

"Whaddaya mean, 'bad dog!'?"

Poor Ginny.  Some people just don't appreciate initiative and creative problem-solving.  But that group of people does not include

The Frog Princess

Vacation!

All over the hemisphere, people are packing up, slathering up, pinking up, and drinking up because it is vacation time!

Crush is no different.  He and his foster family sneaked off for a little sunfun time in the Florida Keys before he had his patella surgery this past week (he came through just fine!)

Here are some photos of Crush and foster family, including foster sister Lulu.  His foster mom wrote to us about the vacation:

"Crushie was awesome in the car, except when we stopped at the grocery store to pick up some provisions. J. left the car running and jumped out to grab some things and the rest of us hung out watching our Mickey Mouse videos when LuLu jumped into the driver's seat to see where her daddy went. She handily opened all the car windows and when Crush caught wind of it, he promptly jumped into the passenger seat and tried to make a break for it.

But I saw everything as it was unfolding and grabbed him before he could escape. Needless to say, he spent the rest of the ride in the back seat with me at all times!

The puppers had an awesome time and even got their little tootsies wet in the bay. Unfortunately, I had them both on leashes so I didn't have a free hand to take any pictures of it. But they LOOOVED it! They saw lots of iguanas and even a parrot, too!

We all had a great time and Crush was absolutely awesome in every way! He is definitely a laid back, Keys kinda dude!"

He's completely Dude-like, and we think the boy needs a pair of board shorts and rubber beer bottle toy to complete the effect.

We're very glad to hear that his patella surgery went so well and he's getting around already--though we also hear he is hard to keep quiet for the 6 weeks of recuperation he'll need.  If you'd like to sponsor him as he recovers, surf over to his foster page and send him a kind word and a couple of bucks.  He'd love to hear from you, and it would make his foster mom's day, too, thinks

The Frog Princess

Ginny update!

Ginny, our ginormous Frenchie who recently had double femoral head surgery to reduce her pain, is available and recovering well.  We got some great photos and an update about her from her foster mom:

"She continues to recover from her double FHO surgery. She is walking much better now, but is still weaker in the rear legs than before surgery. Her legs don't slide out as much anymore...this is a bonus, as the goal of surgery was to only alleviate pain. She no longer wears her hobbles.

Her hair is almost all grown back where she was shaved for surgery, but she may always carry her 5 inch "battle scars" on each hip. Her cherry eye repair was a complete success and you'd never know she had one.

Ginny attended a recent shelter fundraiser/adoption event and was an excellent girl. This dog is bombproof around other dogs and people. She also visited the dogpark for a new Boston terrier/Frenchie meetup that has formed, and enjoyed herself a lot as well.

She's been available this month, but has not received any applications yet. Ginny is an amazing dog but I guess the whole "diaper thing" turns people away.

She continues to recover from her double FHO surgery. She is walking much better now, but is still weaker in the rear legs than before surgery. Her legs don't slide out as much anymore...this is a bonus, as the goal of surgery was to only alleviate pain. She no longer wears her hobbles.

Her hair is almost all grown back where she was shaved for surgery, but she may always carry her 5 inch "battle scars" on each hip. Her cherry eye repair was a complete success and you'd never know she had one.

Ginny attended a recent shelter fundraiser/adoption event and was an excellent girl. This dog is bombproof around other dogs and people. She also visited the dogpark for a new Boston terrier/Frenchie meetup that has formed, and enjoyed herself a lot as well.


She's been available this month, but has not received many applications yet.

Ginny is an amazing dog but I guess the whole "diaper thing" turns people away."

Someone will recognize a great dog--it just takes a little time.  There truly is a lid for every pot, and Ginny's is out there somewhere waiting to find her.

The Frog Princess

Yes, the Harlem Shake

phenomenon is almost dried up, almost worn out, nearly passé.

But not quite.

OK, now it's over, announces

The Frog Princess

Betty of the East Coast Boops Needs a Good Thought

Betty Boop, FBRN grad of 2012 is hoping for some good vibes wiggling through the air to her.  Her mom has found a little lump on her neck and it feels like the mast cell tumor BB had removed a while ago.

Here's Betty la Boop enjoying the view on her mom's staycation earlier this summer.  Do you have some extra loving thoughts lying around that you could fling her way?

We'd take it kindly, drawls

The Frog Princess

From Yume to You!

Happy 4th of July from Yume!

Keep your Frenchies indoors and don't forget to put a collar on them with your name and address, if they don't usually wear one.  Even dogs who don't usually react can take a wild hair and streak out an open door today.

Enjoy our nation's natal anniversary, and be sure to keep all your fingers!  Remember, yours won't grow back if you blow them off! helpfully adds

The Frog Princess

PS The ASPCA has a list of things to avoid on this holiday.  Why not cast your eye over it and see if there's anything that is news to you?

Water safety!

Oliver and Marie, Frenchies of one of our new volunteers who is a Water Safety officer, want to remind YOU to be safe on or near the water this summer--and be sure your frogdogs are wearing their own flotation or water-safety gear!  You can find a variety of doggy life jackets on the web, or shop at FBRN's store.

Keep them cool, keep their heads above water, and be generous with the treats!  Them's the rules for summer fun, advises

The Frog Princess

Mossy Makes Three

Almost a year ago, Mossy (now called Max!) found a place for himself with a forever family.  His foster mom sent an update:

" Mossy (now called Max) was adopted 11 months ago and his new Mom says he's doing wonderful! He loves the baby pool they have in the yard, following his Mom around, and playing with his fur-sisters. She sent me a really cute video of him playing in his baby pool - he paws at the water than tries to bite at it when it splashes! (He used to try to jump in the shower to get to the water!). Life is good!"

How could life be otherwise when you get to sleep nestled up next to a couple of warm and friendly girls?

Snug life.

The Frog Princess