This may be the most unique profile you ever read. Yes, we say
READ. Why? Well....we aren't going to show any pictures of this dog until you have. Intrigued yet? We hope so. Read on!
The reason we want you to READ first is to get a good understanding of who this dog is....and
NOT what he looks like. He is absolutely, positively adorable, and everyone instantly falls for him...but he is not for everyone. In fact, he is not for most. He has some serious health matters that most people won't take the time to read about or understand, much less be able to handle appropriately, simply because he's too cute. And these health matters are relatively easy to handle for the right person with the right attitude. Most just see tons of cuteness in front of them and instantly disregard everything else. He & DREAM can't afford for that to happen. We've spent a lot of time and effort (and financial resources) getting Dusty Britches back into good health, so we hope to truly inform you of him & his needs FIRST and then show you his photos later. We promise, you'll like them. So, let's dive in.
Dusty Britches is a long-haired, neutered male, ~5+ years old (turns 6 in May.) Sweet as pie. Softest hair & most soulful eyes you've ever seen. He's a petite little guy. ~10 lbs, fluff and all. He came to us after his mom passed & his dad was no longer able to provide sufficient care for him. We quickly realized something was just not right with Dusty. He was constantly retching, massively anxious, and undiagnosed until he arrived at DREAM. To further complicate his matters, the anxiety also triggers his regurgitation. The vets confirmed our suspicions...he has both Megaesophagus (aka M.E.) and separation anxiety. Good news is he now has meds for both of these conditions. It's taken us a long time of working with Dusty to get here, but he's been so worth the effort.
What is Megaesophagus? Good question. It's just as the name describes....Dusty Britches has a section in his throat (or esophagus) that is too large and causes some liquids and food to collect there, and not passing directly to the stomach. Dusty Britches has a team of specialists in this disease help to figure out where his irregularity is located (lower esophagus), that it is a mild situation compared to other M.E. dogs, and that it is now being well managed with 2 medications taken twice daily. Sildenafil helps constrict his throat muscles (making the enlarged place tighten up / get smaller prior to meal times) and Metoclopramide helps speed up digestion once food is in his stomach. These 2 meds have immensely improved his overall condition and have greatly minimized the amount of regurgitation he endures. The cost of these 2 meds is ~$12/month. M.E. also requires a fairly strict diet. Consistency is key. New foods or treats can aggravate his condition. We will share what has worked successfully with him, once we get to that stage with any applicant.
Why is it important to control the regurg? Aspiration Pneumonia (aka A.P.) is the answer. It's something M.E. dogs become highly susceptible to. If he coughs up food that then enters the lungs, A.P. will occur...not "if" but "when" is always the case with foreign items entering the lungs. The substance, such as food, saliva, vomit, or medication, brings in bacteria which can cause the infection, and that bacteria quickly spreads. A.P. can be lethal if not treated, hence our desire to avoid it at all costs. And guess what? Since getting his meds figured out, we have not had any instances of A.P.
Now let's chat about his separation anxiety. Dusty can be a nervous little guy at times...so much so that our vet recommended medication to help ease his worry. Dusty has proven once he bonds to you, he absolutely will adore you and HATES to be left alone. And his meds have helped this condition a bunch, but he has a lot of learned behaviors too. With that, we are seeking that loving & patient person who is willing to continue to work with Dusty on his behavior in a positive manner. DB would do best with 1 owner, or a partner that doesn't mind being "shunned" by him. Dusty just has a hard time bonding with more than 1 person at a time. He won't be aggressive to the others in a home - he will simply bark on occasion and run back to his 1 person. We've had him in multiple foster homes and he does well in all of them, but again, he relies on just 1 person in each home. And a crate at home is out of the question. He absolutely will not tolerate it, and it further aggravates his M.E. The only place he sits quietly in a crate in is at the vet's office. (Thank goodness for that - as he's spent much time there while he's been with us.) Fun fact - he's an EXCELLENT car rider. The car is a huge motivator & calming agent for him - he adores getting to go, lays right down, loves to sit while you shop or dine (proven Maxxinista - tee hee), and shows way more patience being in the car than he does waiting for someone to come home. But he can't go with us 24/7 & sometimes just has to stay at home. We give him a large hallway or bathroom (not the entire house), some soft music, and a soft bed to lay on. Sometimes he howls and cries. Sometimes he flings himself at the front door, but neither of these happens always. Sometimes, he's quiet & patient and just lays in his bed awaiting our return. Yep, we've seen it all on the Dusty-cam. ☺! To help Dusty with his anxiety, he takes another med for this. It too is twice daily, like the M.E. meds. It's a 1/2 tablet every 12 hours of Clomipramine and costs ~$40/mth.
More fun facts about Dusty Britches. Dusty has a Bailey Chair (google it) that his foster parents made for him. Dusty is super easy to train b/c he is highly food motivated. He is also incredibly smart and eager to please. He took to his new chair with the greatest of ease. Dusty also knows a "wait" command. We use it for meal time so he doesn't rush the bowl. We also use it at the door to go outside. He LOVES to rush out the door to run thru the fenced-in yard. (He'd love for you to teach him more commands.) Dusty does enjoy sleeping in the big bed with his humans, even the partner he might be afraid of when out of the bed. He gives the best morning snuggles and wake-up kisses. Dusty really isn't into toys, but does love a good walk. Dusty also enjoys adventures like hiking or boat rides. Despite his anxiety, he really does love to go places with his people. Dusty just wants to please his person and get lots of reassurance that he's doing a good job. He now knows a "wait" command and we use it in many scenarios...like meal time, so he doesn't plow right into his food, or at the front door when we need to leave, so he doesn't try to go with us. He is known to run straight to the car door and beg to get in. Can you tell we've had a lot of fun with this boy, despite all we've had to work on? This boy is absolutely guaranteed to make you smile and want to give him the biggest hugs ever. He knows how to grab your heart and hold on tight.
So...why do we share all this with you? It's because we want to set Dusty Britches up for success in his forever home. If you feel he is the type of dog for you, you don't mind the monthly financial commitment to his meds, you don't mind a little clean up from his M.E. and a little anxiety...then please apply for Dusty Britches. Once we receive your application and get thru the pre-screening process, we will then make contact with you, share lots of pictures, and start our next rounds of talks to see if he's still as good a match as you think he might be. We believe he's worth it, and for the right person, they will too.
If you are interested in adopting Dusty Britches, you can fill out an application right on our website! Go to our
online adoption application. Dusty Britches' adoption fee is $500.
All adoption fees go directly to veterinary care for DREAM dachshunds. Dusty Britches will go to his / her new home microchipped, spayed/neutered, heartworm tested, up to date on vaccinations, and with all other medical needs addressed.
Almost every dog's veterinary expenses exceed our adoption fees; we are a non-profit.
DREAM is an all-volunteer rescue group. We focus on the metro Atlanta area and can assist throughout the state of Georgia.
Since our rescue is entirely run and staffed by volunteers, our ability to travel long distances for adoptions is somewhat limited. We focus on Georgia, but if you are in a neighboring state, we might be able to work something out - we'll expect you to do your part.
DREAM does not recommend purebred dachshunds for families with children under 5, or families planning to have children during the dog's lifetime. Dachshunds are often not patient with little kids, and kids can accidentally hurt a doxie's back.
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