Meet Bagel the Beagle

As I've been very open about, my son has been having health challenges. Another layer was added and then thankfully removed this week, thanks to a sweet beagle named Bagel. He's a mold-sniffing dog who stopped by our home this week. 

Another Week, Another Challenge

I’m sure we are also getting to the core of my son's health problems, and we're leaving no stone unturned. We recently had him tested for mold toxicity and the results were shocking! One mold toxin was about 20 times what a normal kid his age would test for. A second was a little high, as well. His doctor already started treatment for mold toxicity right after he took the test so that we didn’t waste any time.

She also told us about a mold sniffing dog named Bagel. He's a cute little beagle that has been trained to sniff out mold in the same way that dogs are trained to sniff out drugs or bombs at the airport. He was going to be in our town the day after we called so we jumped right in and invited him over. 

Sniffing Out Mold

I’m  so glad we had it done. We learned that our house is in pretty good shape, though we have a couple of places we need to work on. One was the seal on the washing machine which has now been replaced. Bagel also pointed out all of the plants in my son's room as having mold, though the others in the house were fine. This was a surprise, as I've always thought it was good to have plants for a toxin-free environment. Something else for me to research, I suppose!

Of course we are going to take care of everything Bagel pointed out to us, but it turns out the mold my son tested high for might not even be in our home. It's a type that can stay in a person's system long after they are exposed. Still, I'm glad to make our house a little healthier for everyone in it. 

 A Final Surprise

I learned a lot about mold this week, but there was one thing that really surprised me. It turns out that I may want a beagle for my next dog! I thought I would only ever want herding dogs like my Border Collie or my Queensland Heeler, but Bagel the Beagle really got me. Small, sweet, and smart! 

Last week's adventures may have pulled me away from work, but I'll never apologize for putting family first. I am happy to be back at my desk, though, working on my gut health research. (And yes, gut health and mold are related, too! Stay tuned for more on that.)

PS.  If you'd like more information on Bagel the Mold Sniffing dog and how it works click here.