Axel, the deputy dog

Rarely do dogs show their true colors during a veterinary hospital visit. Outgoing dogs may become timid, gentle dogs sometimes growl or nip, and normally obedient dogs frequently feign deafness (one of the reasons I rarely request anything from my patients before offering them a treat-being tolerant of me and what I’m doing with them is a trick in and of itself). This out of character behavior is why it’s always so fun for me to catch a glimpse of my patients’ genuine personalities when in their “own element.” Never has this been truer than with Axel, a five-year-old Belgian Malinois. Not only is Axel a beloved family member, he is also an employee of the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department. He and his best buddy Sheriff’s deputy, Adrian Mancilla have been partners for approximately two years. I first met Axel approximately nine months ago when he was a 50 pound dog living in what should have been a 65 pound body. Adrian reported that, although Axel’s appetite and enthusiasm seemed normal, he had been vomiting a few times weekly. Diagnostic tests revealed that the cause of Axel’s vomiting and dramatic weight loss was inflammatory bowel disease, a syndrome in which noncancerous inflammatory cells infiltrate the lining of the intestines.

Fortunately Axel has responded beautifully to a combination of medication and a novel protein diet. He’s regained his missing 15 pounds and is back in full force on the force! I recently had the thrill of witnessing this first hand while attending a competition for law enforcement dogs from all over California. The first leg of the competition was basic obedience, followed by a rather daunting agility course including elements such as ten-foot vertical fence. Axel was a superstar and endeared himself to the spectators when, upon being released from the last agility element, he literally jumped into Adrian’s arms for a bear hug- his reward for a job well done!