A few of you have been in touch to ask how Bruce is doing. Because of a horrible bacterial infection (which was beginning to affect the bones in his foot) he had his thumb amputated a week ago. The wound seems to be healing up well, and since our vets sent his thumb away for microbiology, we’ve discovered the exact nature of the infection. He’s now on an antibiotic that will hopefully finally clear it up. I won’t share a picture of him at the moment (he’s a bit sorry for himself in his cone) but here is a happy shot of him in front of the Buachaille, during one of our photoshoots for the last book.
Tom and I are both much better and hope you are enjoying the festive season. I’ll be back shortly with a look back at the past (very exciting) year, and a wee look forward to the next one!
KDD & Co 
So sorry to learn about Bruce’s foot. I hope that he is able to return to romping and his usual vigor very soon.
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My friend’s lab had a similar foot infection. Heal well Bruce! My lemon-of-a-pug (two foreleg surgeries, one broken hip, one eye surgery (keeping the eye for now)) stands (despite it all) in solidarity with you.
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Glad to hear Bruce is doing better. And a comment on the new blog format: I may have missed this, but I am finding it hard to get to “the bottom of the page” to “turn” it or leave a comment. On a particularly commented-on entry, it takes a long time! Is there an easier way to manipulate entries that I’m missing? Thanks–
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Dear Bruce,
So sorry to hear you’re wearing the cone of shame. Be sure to ram your humans’ shins with it often, and you’ll feel better. I wore one after my knee surgery – I had torn a tendon, but now I run around as well as ever. Get well soon!
Your friend,
Rudy
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My Border Collie Clover, who is a great fan of Bruce’s, sends visions of sticks and squeaky toys, and well wishes for a quick recovery!
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Ohh poor Bruce Tally and Sadie your Alaskan Friends are wishing you a speedy recovery!
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So sorry to hear about poor Bruce’s troubles, and VERY glad he is on the mend. Please give him a kiss and some skritches from Seattle. Best wishes for the New Year!
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So sorry to hear about Bruce, glad you and Tom are doing better. Best wishes for a Happy New !
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So glad Sweet Bruce is doing better š. It hard on us human patents when our fur babies are under the weather. Best for the new year!!
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All the best to you! Thanks so much for sharing your creativity, you have inspired all of us. Looking forward to reading your blog in 2016!
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Hello Bruce from Grizzabella. Even though I am a cat, I still wish you well. The cone is the worst. When I was a kitten, I mistook a cactus plant for a stuffed toy. I ended up with cactus needles in my belly and had to go to there vet EMERGENTLY. I was in a cone for three days and the rustling noise it made frightened my sister Elsa so she kept hissing at me. Talk about adding insult to injury. Anyway, get well soon, and I look forward to your next blog post.
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Poor Bruce, poor you. So glad you are all on the road to recovery. May the new year bring health and happiness, and lots of gloves on the trail.
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Je souhaite Ć Bruce un prompt rĆ©tablissement et une longue vie !
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Bruce, you handsome beast, please heal quickly and continue to be the best dog to Kate and Tom, they need you! Happy New Year to all.
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Furry hug from Downunder Bruce!
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Wishing Bruce good health and much happiness & goodwill to you all!
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My 3 labs and I are sending healing prayers to Bruce from the Carolinas. Can’t wait to see him back out on the beautiful Highlands again. Cheers to a healthy and happy New Year!
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Poor baby. Give Bruce a hug for me.
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I do consider myself a friend of Bruce and am so glad to hear that the news is not so bad. I was quite fearful for a moment there. I hope you all are feeling 100% soon.
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We have found manuka honey spread thinly on infection helps also, it needs to be the proper stuff ( we in nz hope you can get it in Scotland) . Anyway it cleared up a very nasty post infection wound very quickly. Nothing else had worked, might be worth a try for Bruce. All wellness and happiness to all of you, Ann
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A kiss for Bruce’s poor foot from across the sea. Do you know Henry le Chat Noir? Perhaps he is Bruce’s polar opposite. Henri says even though he has no opposable thumbs, he yet opposes everything. I think that Bruce, though now lacking a thumb, eagerly anticipates everything life & his family bring his way. Happy Hogmanay to all!
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Poor Bruce! Glad the type of infection was finally discovered and is now being treated.
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So glad to hear that Bruce will be ok! He is such a handsome dog!
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Wish all soon recovery!
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I am so glad everyone is doing well! Hopefully Bruce won’t be in the cone of shame very long, I was dreading reading your post fearing it was bad new, so glad it wasn’t terrible news!
May the new year bring health, happiness and all things woolly and wonderful!!
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Mate! Tough times indeedā¦ sounds to me it won’t be long before those rabbits in the hills will be living in fear again! Till then The Woodster aka Woody sends his best!
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I’m so happy to hear you are all feeling better! I received my book last week. I’ll be ordering yarn in a minute.š
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I hope Bruce heals thoroughly and quickly. Those cones are awful for EVERYONE! We discovered the “donut of despair” (an inflatable life-preserver type ring that attaches to the dog’s collar) worked very well and was much easier for our lab, Olive, to negotiate around the furniture, in and out of her crate, and through the dog door. It was also much gentler on the backs of our knees!
Thank you, Kate, Tom and Bruce for the past year’s inspiration. The Best is Yet to Come! Happy New Year.
kim
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Aaaw poor Bruce! hugs to all of you. Our pup, a cocker spaniel, had a terrible time with his cone. We replaced it with a blow up travel cushion pinned around his neck – much better as it can be inflated to just the right tightness to prevent him from reaching but comfortable enough to walk & sleep with! But then again, the wound was on his nether regions and Bruce’s is on his front paw? Maybe it will work for Bruce too:) Hope it heals quickly & completely!
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xos for Bruce. I am happy you are both feeling better.
My best wishes to both of you and, of course, Bruce for a joy filled New Year!
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So glad to hear Bruce is getting better and that you and Tom are feeling better too. Wishing all three of you a Happy New Year!
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Maia/Aussie sends her very best wishes to Bruce for a speedy recovery. Maia recently was confined to a leash due to an injury. She counsels Bruce that if a leash happens to him, that usually means life is getting slowly better and not the reverse. So stay hopeful! Free runs are a’coming.
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Glad to hear that Bruce is recovering well. I too have a Black Lab – they are such wonderful friends.
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I’m looking forward to Bruce feeling well enough to write one of his blog entries.
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Hi Kate,
Hope you’re feeling all better yourself now and ohh poor Bruce, I’m so glad to hear he’s on the mend…our own boy Bernard had to have a lump removed from his paw and our vet rang us late Christmas Eve with the results, sadly not the news we wanted…for now we’re trying to stay positive and spoiling him something rotten. Huge hugs and behind the ear scratches for Bruce x
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Sending Bruce good thoughts! So sorry about the cone thing. There aren’t a lot of options when the foot is involved.
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Wish you all Bruce a Happy(ier for Bruce) New Year.
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Dear Bruce & caregivers, Please get well soon! with love from California.
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Sending hugs and healing thoughts to Bruce. (My black lab, Durango, is a huge fan of Bruce!)
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Glad that you two are feeling better and that Bruce is on the mend! Give that sweet pup a kiss from me!
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So glad to hear that Bruce is on the mend and that you & Tom are recovered from your troubles as well. Certainly calls for a special bone for Bruce and Tom’s yummy cakes & a wee dram for the two of you on New Year’s Eve. Hugs to you all for the New Year!
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So relieved that the source of your woes has been discovered, Bruce! Won’t be long now and the blasted cone will be but a memory. And very glad that your humans are also on the mend. All of you will be starting the new year in fine fettle, I hope! Cheers and Happy New Year from the rainy Pacific Northwest!
Liz in Seattle
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Hellow, Bruce, please be good while wearing the cone of shame! Your humans have been having a tough time as well. Hope all of you are well for the New Year.
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Sure hope Bruce is back to his happy self soon!
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Oh Bruce, please feel better. We all love you. Hugs, kisses and treats for you.
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Sounds like everyone is feeling better ~ Yea! Hugs for Bruce (good you didn’t post a pix of him in one of those cones – he’d be SO embarrassed!) Happy Holidays!
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Ooo…Bruce…I hope you fully recover very soon! Me myself am getting verry old now. Can’t make long walks any more and I’m loosing my fur, beeing a labby its rather sad… I hope you can make long walks again in a couple of weeks. Paw,Colinš¾
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Hugs and pets for Bruce!
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I’m so glad to hear all of you are getting better! Thanks for the Bruce update. I agree with the commenter that he needs extra cuddles from his internet friends.
Happy New Year!
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Another hug fro Bruce from me, poor fella.
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Thank you for the information. I love Bruce. Best wishes to him from Germany.
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The cone of shame is never to be photographed according to dogs. I hope he heals fast and is back to his usual antics soon. And stay safe and dry!
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So glad to hear Bruce and you and Tom are doing better. I was worried about Bruce, give him some extra pats.
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SO sorry Bruce is poorly. Happy New Year to all.
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it is heartwrenching when pets and children are ailing! All our best to Brucie.
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I am so glad Bruce is receiving such good treatment and care. How wonderful you are! Cones too shall pass. Looking forward, as always, to your next post and sending all best wishes for the New Year.
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Oh, poor Bruce. Glad he’s on the mend and maybe you should consider dog boots for him for outside hikes and walks once he’s healed?
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Poor Brucie!! Give him hugs and scratches behind the ears for me. Glad you and Tom are better. My hubby just had a total knee replacement so understand!!
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Hello Bruce,
Sorry to hear about your painful paw… I hope you recover soon and will be able to put your best foot forward in the New Year!
Kitty
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Extra hugs and a few treats for him, please!!
Happy New Year to All.
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Well done Bruce – he’s a good dog, yes he is.
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Isn’t everyone a friend of Bruce? :-) Very glad he’s on the mend.
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Glad to hear Bruce is on the mend!!
After seeing him in all his handsomeness – he has a twin living in Hamilton ON — named Levi!
Best wishes to you all for 2016!
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Nothing like Microbiology to find the correct antibiotic!! YEA I am so pleased. Thank you for letting us know. He is such a sweet dogger!!
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Oh how worrying… I’m so glad a solution has been found and hope that the antibiotics will do the trick and he can get rid of his cone soonest. Happy New Year to all three of you, best wishes, Caroline
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Poor Bruce having to wear The Cone of Shame over Hogmanay, hope it doesn’t cramp his style too much. Have a good one
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Our Doberman had a toe surgically removed and once it healed up, she still ran like a big dog for years. Hoping the same will be true for Bruce. HEAL, Bruce! Happy to hear you and Tom are on the mend, too.
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Bon rĆ©tablissement Ć Bruce et plein de caresses .
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Hope Bruce will soon be back in fine fettle! x
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Poor you, you must have been so worried about Bruce. So glad to hear that he is getting better. Good to know that you and Tom are well again. Happy New Year,
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Very happy to hear that Bruce will be on the mend with the new medication. Glad you and Tom are better too. I’m enjoying the book and Tom’s recipes, debating which to try. Snowy and messy here (Very northern NY). Winter finally arrived in a big way. Might cast on for a bunnet hat too.
Best wishes for the new year!
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Poor pup! Hope he’s feeling better soon.
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Glad to hear that Bruce (and you and Tom) are on the mend and feeling much better! A speedy recovery for Bruce, and hopefully he will not miss that toe much.
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Hey Bruce, Kate and Tom,
Bruce glade to here you on the mend! Remember, those Cute Little Lasses Ya Chase, all love a strong braw Beastie like yourself and nothing shows that better than a few “War Wounds”. They do love to nurse Braw Warriors like yourself. I know your feeling a bit down and on the frustrated side, perhaps Kate will fix you some tatties sprinkled with a bit of cheese. We can hardly wait till you up and running around. Make sure Kate and Tom behave as well and get plenty of rest, or else you’ll tell the fine Doc. to fit them with collars as well…LOL! Our Best From Your Friends Across the Water!
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Hope Bruce is soon back walking the beautiful countryside. Healing wishes to you all from me and Mollydog x
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I was worried about him but happy to know the problem has been diagnosed. I love that guy!
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So glad to hear you’re all doing well!
Poor Bruce, at least they’ve got to the bottom of it now and he’ll be back on form soon!
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It’s all fun & games til someone has a cone on their head ;)
Here’s to a fast recovery woofer dog :)
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Please give Bruce a big hug from me! So glad you &Tom are feeling better! Have a Happy and Healthy New Year!mmall the Best!
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Oh poor Bruce, what a shame. I do hope he is back to full strength soon, give him a pat from all of us.
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I love the miracle of modern medicine and antibiotics! Sending healing thoughts to Bruce that the antibiotics will do the job and that he might get back to his search for g(love).
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Poor Bruce. Hopefully he will now go from strength to strength. Wishing you all a very Happy New Year.
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Yay!
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Ooh nasty and difficult, what a shame for Bruce. Now all the best for Bruce and congratulations to yourselves for remaining so caring in long and trying times! Take care.
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We all love Bruce and are so glad he’s on the mend finally. Have a Happy Hogmannay! (hope it’s spelt correctly)
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Oh, poor Bruce :-(.
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Awww poor Bruce. I hope he has a nice treat to make himself feel better.
Glad you guys are feeling better. Give Bruce an extra cuddle from all his internet friends.
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So glad to hear Bruce is on the mend and you are feeling better!
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Feel better Bruce. Bi certainly hope you’re frolicking in the woods soon!
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