Entered: 01/09/2011
Status: Rainbow Bridge
Age: 6
Color: Black/White
Weight:
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Goochland, VA
Health: UTD, HW-, benefiting from medication for hypothyroidism, treatment for Lyme disease complete
Temperament: Unsuitable for adoption
Update 03/10/11:
The gains Charlie made while in foster care seemed to insure his progress toward a new beginning. His health and physical condition improved; he adapted to his foster home well. Unfortunately, as his personality fully emerged, it became clear that he could not be made available for adoption.
Update 02/13/11:
It is amazing the difference that having normal thyroid levels can make in a sweet boy. With Charlie’s levels corrected by an inexpensive daily pill, his hair is coming in shiny and soft. His ears and skin look great. His foster mom believes this should take care of the ear and skin issues that have plagued him in the past.
Charlie continues to be an absolute sweetheart in his foster home. He likes to chew on Nylabones and play with toys. He loves an opportunity to go for a ride or to cuddle with his foster family. He is going to be the perfect addition to some lucky home!!
Original:
Charlie came to MAESSR when he growled and snapped at the new baby in his home. His family was totally heartbroken, but they felt they could not take a chance with their little girl.
This family had worked extensively with vets to determine the cause of Charlie’s recurrent skin and ear infections. They did food trials to the point that it was determined it was not food allergies. The family did do the allergy testing. It came back with a strong reaction to mites and a moderately strong reaction to a vast assortment of outdoor plants. Allergy shots were given for over a year before it was determined that it really was not helping. At that time they decided to go the “preventative route” and see what happened. They were giving Charlie methylpred every other day and treating his ears with Mometamax as needed. He has not had any further outbreaks since March 2010.
During Charlie’s visit to the MAESSR vet, they decided to test his thyroid levels to see if that could be causing some of his issues. His levels did come back low so he will be started on an inexpensive supplement. He was also found to be Lyme positive, but is not symptomatic. He is being treated with an antibiotic for the Lyme disease which should not cause any complications in the future.
Charlie is great with older children and adults. He also does well with the multiple dogs in his foster home. If the resident cats run, then he will chase to play with them, but he won’t hurt them. If cats are calm with him or swat him, he just sniffs them and then doesn’t chase and accepts them walking around him. He is not possessive of his toys or food.
This sweet boy loves to ride in the car and is an excellent passenger. He also has been an excellent student who has an extensive repertoire of commands. Charlie responds to sit, stay, come, down, shake, roll over, crawl, and heel. He enjoys going on walks and runs, playing in doggy daycare or a dog park, and chewing on his Kong. When he plays ball, Charlie will bring it back a couple of times and then he is done fetching; he just takes off with the ball or toy. He enjoys rawhides, nylabones, rope toys, milk bones and treats of any kind.
Charlie has no anxiety problems except during a really severe thunderstorm. Then, he shakes and comes to you for comfort or goes into his crate or under a bed. When he needs to go out, he comes and sits by you, whimpering, or he does a little dance.
Although he is generally good at the groomers, Charlie does not like to have his nails trimmed and needs to be muzzled. Due to his allergies, he had yeast infections on his paws so he is sensitive about his nails being cut.
Charlie is a wonderful Velcro dog – 39 pounds of pure sweetness! Make him yours!