At 10 months old, this gorgeous purebred shepherd puppy joined our rescue family when she was just 4 weeks old and only 3 lbs. Otti was found "wandering the streets," which is difficult to imagine since she was hardly mobile, treated for dehydration, and sent home to us because she was too young to be at the shelter.We had so much fun picking out a name for her and showering her with love; her foster family has chosen to call her Otti, as she reminded them of a baby otter when she arrived. She also had a small injury to her ear, which healed right away after she was given antibiotics to prevent infection!Her daily routine until she was fully vaccinated at 4 months was filled with the cutest activities: eating, pooping, and sleeping, all while enjoying plenty of snuggles. A lover of toys, her fuzzy bed, her three housemates, and her people, Otti grew up with excursions in her stroller, accompanying her folks on errands and outings, including heading to work with one of her foster family members when no one could be home with her. When not in her pen, she loved to sleep right next to a resident dog or by her humans' slippered feet. She’s now completely crate- and potty-trained, walks well on leash on her frequent walks, and still adores her mates and her family. And still snuggles right in. Just as we were about to take her bio live for adoption, we noticed that she was beginning to tail-chase, which can be caused by early weaning or anxiety, and shepherds are a breed prone to this behavior. We immediately consulted a behavior-focused trainer and followed up with the Board-Certified Behavior Team at the UC Davis Veterinary Teaching Hospital. With their experienced eye, they diagnosed Otti with anxious behaviors, and her foster family immediately implemented the protocols established by her behavior veterinarians, along with prescription medication. Her anxiety has diminished, and her tail-chasing has lessened significantly and appears when she's super excited.Otti’s love of toys and teething led her to swallow one of her favorite fuzzy toys, a retriever-style. Labs and goldens are more prone to swallowing toys. This led to abdominal surgery and her spay at the same time. Otti has recovered, and long, fuzzy, soft toys are banned at her house. Still, Otti managed to swallow another toy and had a second abdominal surgery. While recovering from her second surgery, we began to suspect that her pica might be related to malabsorption issues, and her tests came back as positive for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). Dogs with EPI cannot properly digest and absorb nutrients because the pancreas does not produce enough digestive enzymes. Otti has just started on the enzyme supplement added to every meal to help break down nutrients so she can absorb them. We're excited to see whether solving this piece of the puzzle may also help with her tail-chasing, as we're all discovering the gut connection to other behaviors.Otti needs a forever family who appreciates her sweet disposition, her affection for her dog mates and her humans, her snuggles, and her playful, happy adolescence. She is potty trained, crate trained, rides easily in cars, and has excellent household manners. Have you checked out our YouTube channel? We would greatly appreciate your support by subscribing, liking, and commenting on the videos we share of our adoptable shepherds in action. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and our newest Threads account, where we post plenty of news and updates about our shepherds.As a foster-based rescue, ShepHeroes is always in need of fosters. An overwhelming number of shepherds in our local shelters need our help for a fresh start. Would you share your home and part of your life to help shepherds find new families? You provide the love, and we'll provide everything else! Saying "yes" today truly saves a life. We appreciate your consideration.
