He is at a foster home in SF, USA. Please contact @woofiesrescue (Instagram) for adoption inquiry.
breed: Saparee and Jindo Mix
color: Brown
gender: Male (spayed on 2022.04.02)
age: 1Y (est. DOB 2021.09.01)
BW: 14.7kg
2021.11.30 DHPP(1), Corona(1)
2021.12.21 DHPP(2), Corona(2)
2022.01.04 DHPP(3), KC(1)
2022.01.18 KC(2), Flu(1)
2022.01.25 KC(3), Flu(2)
2022.01.26 Rabies
2022.03.16 Antbody test: CDV poor, CPV excellent
2022.04.05 DHPPL(4)
2022.04.19 DHPPL(5)
2022.08.10 Antibody test: excellent for both CDV (5.5/6) and CPV (6/6)
2022.09.14 Planned to join "Woofies Rescue" in SF
Last Revolution (3-in-1 dewormer) on 9.1 (planned; next 10.1)
Last ParaCop (internal dewormer) on 8.15
BACKGROUND
Bijan was admitted to the pound as a month old puppy in early October, 2021. He grew up at the pound for 5 months until we rescued him on March 2nd, 2022.
We noticed a few problems as soon as we interacted with Bijan. First, he was very thin (only 7.2kg, 16lbs) as a 6 month old puppy. Second, he had vision problem. He bumped into household items a lot, sometimes even to the same items. Later we found that the retina of his right eye is malformed and almost non-functional. We don't know how much vision his left eye has, although his left retina seems normal by look. Third, he has some developmental problems in his brain. Initial MRI scan showed cerebellum and corpus callosum with somewhat smaller volume than normal. The 2nd MRI done a few months later showed no further problems, though, indicating his brain problem is not degenerative. Fourth, he had entire body seizures. This might have to do with the inflammation in the brain revealed by his 1st MRI. The analysis on his CSF did not clearly show the cause of brain inflammation. He has been on anti-seizure medication which stopped his seizure entirely. The inflammation disappeared on his 2nd MRI. Lastly, he had behavioral problems; he used to circle in one direction repeatedly and had trouble in walking up the stairs. These behavioral problems including were probably due to his long confinement in a small wired cage. He stopped showing these behavioral problems soon once he started living free in a normal environment.
After the use of anti-seizure medication, his seizure stopped completely and he gained weight quickly. He has improved a lot since. Bijan no more looks like a thin malnourished puppy who seemed to be a moody introvert. Instead you will see a happy normal puppy. You will have difficulty in noticing his deficits. In the familiar environment, Bijan is happy, friendly, playful, mischievous, loving and cuddly. But in a new place, he is full of anxiety and may refuse to walk, probably because of his vision problem.
Bijan IS...
Bijan is a happy sweet boy. You would think he is normal if you see him in his familiar place. However he is afraid of going to new places (probably because his vision is not intact). Thus it is difficult to bring him out of the house for any purpose (walk, vet visit etc). We think he could live a normal life, loving and loved, with understanding and acceptance by his owner.
SOCIABILITY WITH PEOPLE
Bijan is very friendly with people. He will run toward you with happiness if you call out his name with enthusiasm. He wants to stay and be caressed by you. He wants to sleep by you. (I have to discourage him jumping on to my bed. He has to be satisfied with sleeping by my bed).
SOCIABILITY WITH DOGS AND CATS
Bijan is very sociable with other dogs. He is good with any non-aggressive dogs, male or female, young or old. He will chase after and wrestle with the right partner all day long; it is a lovely scene to watch. Bijan avoids dominant, potentially aggressive dogs. Bijan is not aggressive at all. He is sweet and gentle.
ENERGY / ACTIVITY LEVEL
High
THINGS TO KNOW FOR A LIFE TOGETHER
House broken? Yes. But he won't ask to let him out if he has to go. You need to time his schedule. With the right interval, he prefer to poop and pee outside.
Training? Being done (okay with "sit" and "wait". But if you hold too yummy food, he may become impatient; good with "come")
Leash training? Not done. He is afraid of being led to unknown places (probably because of his visual deficit). Thus we have not tried to walk him at all.
Shedding? Low
Barking? Low
Appetite? Very good
Separation anxiety? Unknown (There are other dogs at all times.)
Mischief? Chewing rubber slippers
SPECIAL NEEDS
Bijan has visual deficit. His right eye has positional strabismus and its retina is malformed and probably non-functional. Thus correcting the strabismus is not going to improve his vision. We don't know how functional his left eye is. Its retina looks normal but its function could be abnormal (for example, the connection from the retina to the central part of the brain could be mis-wired). He seems to see well rough patterns but he is very cautious with his footing when he is led to new places. This may indicate either that the residual vision from his right eye causes double vision or that his left eye is mal-functional. Thus training can be a little challenging.
Bijan had grand mal seizure (entire body seizure with the loss of consciousness) from the day we rescued him. His seizure happened from near midnight to early morning for 3 consecutive nights. We have had him on anti-seizure medication from March 6, 2022, which has been successful in suppressing his seizure 100%. On his first MRI scans done on March 16, 2022, he had inflammation in his brain here and there. The analysis of his cerebrospinal fluid did not clearly indicate the cause of inflammation. On his 2nd MRI scans done on August 5th, the brain inflammation disappeared entirely. Thus we are currently weaning his anti-seizure medication from twice/day to once/day since August 8, 2022. He has not had a seizure so far. We hope to wean his medication entirely in a month or so. We recommend to give anti-seizure medication when you expect a lot of stress for him (ex. before and after the flight). We can email his medical records to his adopting family upon request.
IDEA HOME
Bijan does not look or behave like a dog with deficit when he is in familiar surroundings. But he will benefit if he is with someone who has understanding of his seizures or visual deficits.
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Bijan's stray dog notice. He already had strabismus in his right eye. His right eye is pointing side way when his left eye looks ahead.
We were not told about his disabilities at the time of his rescue. But his visual problem was clear as soon as he was out of the crate because he kept bumping into house hold items (sometimes repeatedly into the same items). Then from the day 1, he started having seizures at night (from near midnight to early morning).
Bijan's weird circling behavior that we think due to his long confinement to a small wired cage at the pound (from 1 to 6 months old). He stopped this circling behavior soon after his rescue.
Bijan stayed at a doggy hotel for 3 months from May to July in 2022 due to lack of space at the rescuer's home. The photo was taken on June 26, 2022.
Bijan came back to the rescuer's home on July 30, 2022.
Bijan is good in making friends. He plays really rough and hard with a right partner.
Bijan seems to be scared to step forward in a new place because he cannot see well and the noise overwhelms him. Thus walking ahead of him and talking constantly to him might be good when you walk him on the street.
Bijan is stressed at a new place.
Bijan is a happy boy in spite of his issues in health and behavior. He is loving and wants to be with people most of the time. He prefers to sleep near people too.
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