Alfie

Alfie, a 13-year-old Bichon, came to Old Dog Haven after his longtime owner entered an assisted living facility and could no longer care for him. He was passed along to another home, but they quickly realized they could not afford the medical care he needed and reached out to Old Dog Haven for help.

We were thrilled when a first time foster home welcomed this sweet boy into their family.  Alfie arrived with quite a few concerning medical issues that required attention. He had a moderate heart murmur, elevated liver enzymes, and a recent diagnosis of Cushing’s disease. As a result of his Cushing’s, Alfie lost much of the hair on his body and now wears pajamas to keep his skin safe from the sun.

Shortly after arriving at Old Dog Haven, he underwent a much-needed dental, where eight infected teeth were extracted, as well as minor surgery to remove a lipoma on his hip. He saw both his regular vet and a dermatologist, and began special medication to help manage the symptoms of his Cushing’s disease.

Six weeks after settling into his new home, his family noticed concerning changes. Alfie seemed lethargic, drinking excessive amounts of water, and had started to lose his appetite. A vet visit revealed that Alfie had developed diabetes, and he was rushed to the emergency hospital. His condition was serious enough that he had to stay overnight for IV fluids and insulin to safely bring his blood sugar levels back under control.

Alfie responded well to the emergency care and was stabilized, but his diabetes will require intensive ongoing management. He is now on twice daily insulin, three additional medications, prescription diabetic food, and wears a glucose monitor so his foster family and vet team can track his levels in real time.

Managing both diabetes and Cushing’s disease has been especially challenging but luckily, Alfie takes it all in stride. He loves taking short walks around the neighborhood where he gets to show off his variety of flashy pajamas.  His mom describes him as a wiggly, joyful dog who loves to talk and sometimes grunt when he is really happy.

At night, he snoozes upside down in bed with all four feet in the air, and when he’s awake, he rarely leaves his mom’s side. He is a loving, quirky boy, who is now surrounded by people who understand exactly how special it is to share life with an old dog.

Update: Sadly, Alfie’s Cushing’s worsened and then diabetes was diagnosed. He suddenly went blind last weekend and lost all his ability to function or know where his people were.  His family is extremely grateful to ODH for providing expert medical care and the resources to help Alfie ease into his next big adventure.