UPDATED BIO 09/07/2013: Gizzy is a 9.5 year old 9.5 lb little boy who is being fostered in Beechgrove, TN.
Greetings UYR FANS! It’s Gizzy reporting in with an update on how I’m doing.
Things are going pretty good for me but I did have a couple of “challenges” in August. I noticed that my spiffy new harness started getting pretty snug…..I thought Foster Mom must have shrunk it in the dryer but that’s NOT what happened…….keep reading…….. I also developed a loud honking cough that scared me a lot (and Foster Mom too!). This meant another trip to the Dog-tor. I actually started the weird cough while at the Dog-tor so he got to see it first hand. He said I have something called a collapsing trachea……it isn’t serious but sometimes it can sound like it! While I was there I got weighed and I had gained a whopping 3 pounds since coming to UYR in March…….Yikes! Foster Mom says I am now officially a CHORKIE! (her name for a Chubby Yorkie……). Because of my weight gain, he tested my thyroid and it isn’t working like it should. For this reason I am now taking thyroid medication twice a day. Not too bad since I already take my seizure medicine twice a day and I just swallow both tiny pills right down inside a tiny piece of treat……not enough to make me fatter though! The vet says my extra pounds should come off on their own and that when I lose weight it should also help my collapsing trachea. I am such a good boy I don’t understand why I keep having all these problems! Oh well, I think we have everything under control for right now.
Unfortunately though my vet bills keep mounting…….would you consider giving even a VERY SMALL donation to help UYR keep taking such good care of me? I’d be happy to send you love of puppy kisses for even the tiniest amount. And THANK YOU SO MUCH for those who have already helped me!!! You have my FUR-EVER LOVE!
UPDATED BIO 08/05/2013: Gizzy is a 9.5 year old male Yorkie who weighs 9.5 lbs; he is being fostered in Beechgrove TN.
Gizzy was quite talkative recently, so FM recorded what he had to say:
Gizzy here. I am getting a tiny bit sad that no one has wanted to adopt me yet. After all……I am SUCH AN AWESOME YORKIE! I sure hope that just because I have a couple of medical issues, am “mature” (NOT OLD!), have big ears and an extra pound or two that this won’t scare potential adopters away. All those things don’t make me unlovable…..they just ADD to my CHARACTER and CHARM! Perfect is soooooooooooooo BORING!!!! My Foster Mom tells me how great I am ALL the time……and that I just need to be patient because that special person is out there searching for me RIGHT NOW…..they just haven’t found me yet. I say “Well HURRY UP and FIND ME ALREADY. I am RIGHT HERE!” I love my Foster Family, but I do look forward to the day when I find my FOREVER home.
I am such a happy and playful boy. I love to “talk” too……one of my MANY SPECIAL talents! I have a special language I use when I want to have a conversation. It sounds like a little “grunt” but I am very chatty and I don’t give up until you give me your full attention. I mostly talk when I want you to throw my squeaky bunny or bear and play with me, but sometimes I just like to hear myself, you know, since I’m soooooooooo awesome!
So I guess you are all wondering how I am doing health-wise. As you know from last time, I am all done with my heartworm treatment and am completely NEGATIVE. The Dogtor increased my seizure medication to twice a day and that has really helped me. I have only had 3 seizures in the last month! I also want to say a SPECIAL THANK YOU to UYR and my Rescue Angels for helping pay for my large medical bills. Not only is getting through heartworm treatment NO FUN, it is also VERY EXPENSIVE! Treatment is all behind me now but those pesky Medical Bills have a tendency to linger! Please help out if you can……even a tiny bit helps so much.
My life here in Tennessee is very good. I have 5 canine Furr Brothers and Furr Sisters and 6 feline ones. I love them ALL very much and am just as happy snuggling up with a 90 pound Irish setter as another Yorkie or a HUGE black Tom Cat. I am an EQUAL OPPORTUNITY Yorkie and I give my love freely to ALL CREATURES! My Foster Humans just adore me and shower me with love, treats, outfits and toys. Foster Mom and Dad bought me a new collar that has peace signs on it that I JUST LOVE! Foster Mom also calls me her little Bunny Boy because I have rather LARGE ears……and she even bought me a special Bunny costume to wear! She says I look “adorable” in it but I think I look ADORABLE in ANYTHING (or nothing at all!)!
I get to go lots of places and I like that. I like to ride in the car and go to the park with my fur brothers and fur sisters. FM is working on building up my stamina after I finished heart worm treatment and sometimes I take a rest on this nifty Bone Bench they have there. FM thinks I am a tiny bit on the chubby size but I think I am JUST RIGHT…..and SO SOFT AND CUDDLY (who wants to snuggle with a bag of bones anyway????). I’m probably not supposed to tell, but sometimes Foster Mom takes us to Sonic after the park and let’s me have the beef patty off of a Junior Burger…….YUMMIE!!!! But she makes sure I have earned it first.
Well, that’s about it for now. Please stay tuned in here as THE ADVENTURES OF GIZZY continue………….
UPDATED BIO 06/23/2013: Gizzy is a 9.5 year old male Yorkie who weighs 9.5 lbs; he is being fostered in Beechgrove TN.
Today was a BIG DAY for Gizzy! He had is very last heartworm check after being treated by UYR for heartworms and he has GREAT NEWS to share! He is heartworm free! Yippee! Gizzy came to UYR with multiple medical problems due to neglect by his former owners, but his heartworm disease was definitely the biggest threat to his health. After enduring 3 long months of treatment, he can check that one off his list. His badly-infected teeth are a thing of the past after a good cleaning, 3 extractions and antibiotics.
Gizzy loves toys and has quite a collection! He has 3 bears, two turkeys, and a pheasant; but his favorites are his multiple bunny rabbits that squeak and fit nicely into his little mouth for carrying. For a link to a video of Gizzy playing with his bunny,
Click here.
Gizzy loves his humans as well, and wants to follow them every step of their day. That means if you get up at 2 a.m. to get a drink, you will have his furry little body right on your heels. He pays attention to your every move, every noise, and NOTHING gets by him that doesn’t command his immediate attention and curiosity. If he wants to play and his human isn’t paying him sufficient attention, he emits this adorable little “grunt” until you pay attention. He also has a tiny but adorable little snore when he sleeps.
Gizzy loves to have lap time with his human and loves to cuddle. He will lay his little head on your shoulder and snuggle up in your arms for hours if you let him. He also loves to give kisses to his humans and his yorkie foster sister. He gets along great with other dogs and cats, too. Gizzy loves to go places and recently had an outing in the family camper. He is a great little traveler and loves to have new experiences. As mentioned before, he acts like a dog much younger than his 9.5 years! However, there are a couple of things that potential adopters should know about this smart and playful little fella.
Gizzy has an unknown seizure disorder; his seizures will likely continue but can be controlled to a certain extent by medications. While the medication definitely limits the frequency and intensity, it isn’t likely that he will ever be completely seizure-free, so he needs humans that are willing to accept this and learn how to recognize and manage the seizures which are relatively mild ~and from which he recovers quickly. They usually start with him starting to tremor and lick his lips. His legs will get very stiff, and if he is standing, he will have difficulty walking and will appear to stagger. If he is lying down, he will extend his legs out straight in front of him. His head will bob around from side to side. The seizures rarely last over 2 or 3 minutes and he is usually fully recovered within 5 minutes and back to his normal self as if nothing has happened. He is often thirsty afterwards. For a look at what his seizures look like,
Click here.
Gizzy has a small bladder and needs to be taken out to go potty every two hours to avoid “accidents”. When he goes out, he must have adequate time outside to fully empty his bladder. which usually means going on numerous trees, bushes, spots. His new home needs to be one where there is at least one stay-at-home person to take him out frequently.
PLEASE NOTE: Gizzy’s foster family loves him to pieces, but they want him to have a forever home that loves him as much as they do. Gizzy is playful and acts like a 3-4 year old yorkie and has many years left to give happiness and love to his new family. Please don’t turn away from him because of his age and seizure disorder ~ all animals deserve a forever loving home that will always be there for them.
