Francine

Introducing Francine! If you look up "sweetheart" in the dictionary, there's probably a picture of her. She's truly a darling little pup who loves to curl up on a lap and watch the world go by. Francine was surrendered to us due to ongoing medical issues, including frequent seizures. We immediately took her to our veterinarian for a diagnosis and have initial information to share, though we are still waiting on a neurological consultation to learn more. She has a rare condition called hypoparathyroidism, in which her body has a difficult time regulating calcium and phosphorus levels. As a result, her extremely low calcium levels are causing seizures. Currently, she is on a common anti-seizure medication to manage her seizures and a calcium supplement to help regulate her levels. In the short term, Francine will need weekly calcium testing and it's possible that she could be weaned off the seizure medication if her calcium normalizes. However, because of her condition, she will likely need lifelong - but less frequent - calcium testing to ensure her levels are where they should be. Additionally, we suspect that Francine has a neurological condition that Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are predisposed to. This condition involves a mismatch between the dog's skull and brain size, resulting in small pockets of fluid. In her time with us, Francine has displayed several symptoms of this condition, but only a neurological consultation will confirm it, which has been scheduled in the coming weeks while we work to balance her calcium levels. These symptoms can be treated with medication, but surgery may also be an option. Our team will know more soon, and in the meantime, this darling girl is in a foster home where she can be monitored 24/7. One thing we know for sure: Francine is a total lovebug! Please submit an inquiry if you're interested in learning more about Francine or setting up a meet and greet!