4/4/22 – Great news for Alfie: he’s gone to his new home!
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Alfie is a 12-year-old Westie boy who is with Wonky Pets Rescue in a foster home in Swadlincote, Derbyshire.
Alfie had been suffering with typical Westie skin, eye and ear infections which soon cleared up with antibiotics and medicated baths. He needs his ears cleaned regularly to keep them healthy but he is profoundly deaf so his ears may have been left infected for some time.
Alfie’s fosterer noted that Alfie was drinking a lot, so he had blood tests when he went to the vets for a dental and castration. Bloods came back normal apart from a low glucose level. After weeks of monitoring and many different tests to rule out various conditions, the final test gives a probability of him having quite an unusual condition called Canine Insulinoma which is a malignant pancreatic tumour that inappropriately secretes excessive insulin, resulting in low blood sugar levels. Alfie does not display any of the usual symptoms associated with this condition though and is very fit, well and happy in himself.
The condition can sometimes be surgically helped but it comes with some pretty high risks of damaging the pancreas and can lead to pancreatitis or diabetes, so, given Alfie’s age and current wellbeing, Wonky Pets have agreed with their vets that this is not the right risk to take for him. The 2nd option is medical management, which is really straightforward with the right diet (high fat, high protein and complex carbs) fed small and often to stimulate the body to produce more insulin, along with daily steroids. Even with a dog showing clinical signs (which Alfie isn’t) this treatment can take them on for another 18 months to 2 years, by which time Alfie would be at least 14.
If all the medical stuff hasn’t made you stop reading, let us now tell you about the little man himself! He is a happy chap in foster; he loves lying in the garden on a nice sunny day and loves to chase a ball. He is a typical Westie who likes the sound of his own voice even though he can’t hear himself! His fosterer has found him very amenable to having his baths and ear drops in, and he lets her trim the fur around his eyes and feet with no issues. He loves to join you on the sofa to watch TV.
He absolutely loves his food and treats and has no issues around food with people, but he does react to other dogs when food is around. He will ignore other dogs when out on a walk unless an off-lead dog comes running right up to him and he them becomes scared and will try to react to the intruding dog. He does not like other dogs in his personal space at all.
He sleeps downstairs quietly at night in his crate and he travels in the car on a seatbelt restraint. He doesn’t like being left alone in the daytime and will bark and has been known to demolish the odd bed or two in protest so he will need a home where someone is around most of the time.
Alfie will be best as the only dog in the home and he cannot live with cats. He isn’t suitable to live with resident children under 14 years. Younger visiting children would be fine.
He is being fostered in Swadlincote, Derbyshire but can be rehomed further afield to the right home subject to homecheck. Alfie is by donation only so there is no fixed adoption donation. He is neutered, microchipped, vaccinated, flea and worm treated and will be rehomed with 5 weeks free pet insurance.
Could you offer this little chap the loving retirement home that he needs?
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Contact Wonky Pets Rescue as follows:
Email: wonkypetsrescue@gmail.com with details of your home offer and your contact details.
Please mention that you saw Alfie on the Oldies Club website.
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