MamaAndi
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Hamster is ready to find his forever home and start rolling with his new homies! He is a typical silly puppy, but he does have special needs and will only be adopted to a family able to take on his life long care both emotionally and financially.
Hamster was surrendered by his breeder due to hind limb ataxia that presented at 11 weeks. He was born normal and walked normally until 11 weeks. At that point, he began having neuro/motor deficits in the rear limbs. After a neuro consult, it is suspected he suffers from vertebral stenosis secondary to vertebral anomalies. He is currently too young to have a surgical recommendation or intervention at this time. Generally, surgical intervention, while difficult, is best suited for dogs greater than 10 months of age. He is currently on a trial of prednisone and seems to be responding well to it. He can take several steps in a row before he kind of teeters off to one side. He can stand himself up on his own and always does so when he eats. It's important he stand up while eating and drinking to help prevent muscle atrophy in his hind legs.
In the future, if his condition worsens, he may require an MRI and surgery. If surgery is performed, it will only prevent further damage, it won't correct damage that is already done. MRI and surgery may amount to several thousand dollars within the next year or two. The worst possible scenario is that the stenosis may occur in his neck and he'd have to be euthanized. However, the good news is it also might never progress from where it is now. Medium news: he might have backend paralysis and require his owners to provide bladder and bowel expression. He'd need a cart to get around in.
Please be sure to tell us in your application about dogs you've owned with special needs. Let us know whether you have the financial means to pay for neurological check ups and possible surgery and testing. We recommend that you discuss the condition Hamster has with your vet and get his advice on Hamster and his condition before you apply.
Other than his medical concerns, Hamster is a typical puppy who loves people of all ages.
Hamster loves all of his foster siblings, all of the people he meets, and generally every single thing about every single day. Since he's still so young he's quite the busy bee. He's fascinated by his name tag, and if not kept occupied by appropriate toys, he'll make his own chewing on the fringe off the rugs or gnawing on the table legs. He's a super happy little clown who keeps everyone entertained.
Hamster loves all dogs regardless of size or gender. He is a puppy though and can be relentless in his attempts to get others to play with him, so he'll need to live with dogs with similar activity levels or ones who will put up with a pestering puppy. While he hasn't quite caught on to squeaky toys, he loves interacting with the animals in his foster home, both the cats and the dogs. He also likes hanging out in the backyard and generally being wherever his people are.
Hamster is crate trained and 90% housebroken when kept on a schedule, which is great for only 4 months. Since he's so young and tiny, he has to have someone come home for a mid-day potty break because he can't hold it a full 8 hours yet.
Hamster would thrive in pretty much any type of home. He would be fine for a first-time Frenchie owner, it's just important his new family understand his physical limitations and potential financial and lifestyle requirements his permanent treatment might require. He lives with cats and dogs and loves all of them and he's met a cockatiel and did fine with him, so a home with additional critters would be fine. Hamster would do best in a home with a fenced in backyard that has very easy access.
Because of his vertebral stenosis, he's not capable of walking any distance on a leash. He's also not capable of climbing stairs, so if someone without a fenced yard were to apply, they'd need to explain what accommodations they could make, such as a stroller, etc. to get him from his home to potty breaks outside. He also isn't able to gain appropriate traction on tile or wood floors, so he'll need a home with carpeting or with enough area rugs to allow him to maintain his mobility.
As long as he has a midday potty break (this is a must) he would be fine with someone who works outside the home. It's important for him to stay as active as possible to prevent muscle atrophy in his hind limbs, so he should not be crated for long periods of time or carried everywhere. A person that could stay home with him during the days would be great. He would also be great in an office setting. He's not very vocal and he'd love meeting new people every day. As long as he was given a few toys/nylabones to entertain himself, he'd be golden.
Since it is suspected that Hamster suffers from vertebral stenosis secondary to vertebral anomalies, he will need to be followed by a Neurologist with the expectation the adopter follow through with recommended diagnostics and treatment.There is no guarantee one way or the other that he will or will not need an MRI and surgery. This will all depend on how he develops and his new owners will need to be prepared for this.
Wanna adopt?
Please visit the French Bulldog Rescue Network's website and fill out an application. Click the Frenchie you are wanting to adopt, and you will find an "Apply For Me" button on their information. Please be sure to read their adoption process. Here is the link:
http://www.frenchbulldogrescue.org/adoption-info/available-dogs2/
To view more Frenchies from FBRN, follow this link:
http://frenchbulldognews.com/forumdisplay.php/38-USA-French-Bulldog-Rescue-Network
Please let them know you found them on French Bulldog News!
