Guest blog by Nurse Melissa Guila

Fun loving puppy seeks adoring companion for walks, trips to the beach and snuggle time. Loves camping, hiking, playing in the snow, dog parks, and lots of tug.

Sweet Indy

Meet sweet Indy. She’s playful, cuddly, adventurous, and so easy to fall in love with when she smiles and wags her whole body, not just her tail!

She was nearly 4 months old when she was brought to me at work. Whining and confused, she melted in my arms, and did not want to be left alone. I was not too surprised that she ended up in my care, since her previous owner was a good friend of my boyfriend’s, and from the very start, we all knew he wasn’t ready for a pet - an 8 week old, vulnerable puppy above all! When he told me he was thinking of finding her a better home, I volunteered to help him. Just looking at those watery, heartbreaking eyes, I could only sympathize with how hard it was to let her go. When he became strong-willed enough to give her up, he had to have a family member do it for him.

Kristin immediately said she would help me and I can bring her to work with me every day. I was both excited and scared: she had been recently diagnosed with roundworms (and later found out she also had coccidia) and was not at all potty trained. Luckily for her first night in my care, Michael was planning on an all-nighter at the clinic, and was pleased to have Indy for company. She warmed up really quickly, and you can only imagine how many awesome photos were taken! (Imagine no further - take a look at these!)

Leaving her at the clinic overnight gave me enough time to plan how I was going to handle a new puppy with what already feels like a jungle at home. We have 2 indoor cats, variable Keoke and ferociously territorial Scooter. We also have an outdoor cat, Lizzie, that was abandoned by our neighbor, and has since attached herself to our back door (Scooter actually has a crush on her, but she can’t stand him, so she chooses to stay outside). And then there’s my 7-year-old Miniature Pincher, Billy. He is so used to visitor’s dogs and seeing them at work with me - but bringing a clingy puppy home? He was definitely worried.

Over two months later, everyone but Scooter and Keoke (although truth be told, I have caught Scooter and Indy sleeping together) has adjusted to her playful spirit:

Scooter usually only likes to torture Indy

Keoke in high places - not amused with Indy

 

Indy thinks Scooter is play-chasing her around, as he is swatting and spitting at her.

Keoke watches the commotion from high places.

Lizzie adores Indy, rubbing her cheeks and tail on her when she’s calm.

Billy babysitting Indy on a run through the leaves

 

And Billy has become the best dog-sitter on my list - Indy has even made him more playful, and they play tug together all the time!

My plan has been to keep her until her puppy wellness was complete, she’s spayed, her manners improve and, of course, until I find her the perfect home.

Her puppy vaccines and de-worming are complete and she has recently been spayed.

Although she has come a long way with potty training, she still needs some reminding.

She adores and looks up to Billy, but needs a lot more socializing time with other dogs - she sometimes tries to climb up me like a shy kindergartener on their first day of school, before becoming increasingly confident to play.

She is very responsive to verbal instructions and body language for her training; we just need to be adamant and consistent.

Playing at the beach

And now, after realizing her fur was not growing back from a small hotspot, we’ve discovered she has Demodectic mange. This is caused by a type of mite that most dogs have, but can have an outbreak if their immune system is suppressed - which was her case in the beginning. She is now taking a daily, oral, liquid anti-parasitic medication. Her skin will be rechecked after one month of treatment, and if it is all clear, will continue the medication for one more month. It is not contagious, so I have not had to worry about Billy’s healthy coat.

Indy loves the snow!

We have taken her camping, hiking, to the beach, to a dog park, and to the Lucky Lab – and I think we’ve equally had as much fun. She is, in my eyes, the perfect size, and probably won’t exceed 40 pounds. She has finally gotten used to the rain (good for a Portland dog!), and LOVES the snow. She hardly ever whines anymore. She has become a really focused fetcher – even at the dog park (still needs work on the catching part though). Indy is great in the car and has enjoyed the few road trips we’ve taken her on.  She is definitely not a boring dog, and I hope with all my heart she never will be. If my kitties weren’t so grumpy with her around, she would have already found her permanent home with us.  
 
If you know of anyone who might fit the bill for the perfect home, please have them contact me at mguila@mttaborvetcare.com, and tell me a little about their lifestyle. Thank you Kristin, Michael, Katie and Daniela for all your support. Thank you to Jake and my critters at home. And a warm thanks to all our scared furry patients who had to endure her whining in the beginning.