Chippewa was adopted 11/27/16 by the Riddering-DeHart family (Georgia).
Date(s): 4/12/16. Album by Terry. Photos by Terry. 1 - 18 of 18 Total. 2646 Visits.
1 This little man is Chippewa.
2 He weighs just 9 lbs.
3 He is around 7 years old.
4 Although Chip is a Chihuahua-Rat Terrier mix, he is calm and mellow and does not have the stereotypical excitable nature of either breed.
5 Chip first came to rescue unable to see because of a bad eye infection, eye ulcers, and deposits on his corneas, all due to severe dry eyes (keratoconjunctivitis sicca).
6 He was immediately started on lubricating eye meds plus medications to clear up the infection and reduce inflammation and cyclosporine to try to stimulate tear production. Finally, he had corneal surgery to debride the tissue build-up and promote new epithelial growth to heal the ulcers.
7 After getting his stitches out after the surgery, Chip was a new man, dancing across the parking lot, able to see for the first time in goodness knows how long.
8 He enjoyed watching the world go by at an outdoor restaurant.
9 But he has had continued challenges with his eyes because of the lack of tear production. Despite lubricating drops/gel several times per day, dryness is still a problem for Chip. But he is a very tolerant and easy-going fellow, and he does not resist having his meds put in at all.
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11 Although he may occasionally join in if the other dogs are barking, he is generally very quiet. When he wants to let you know that he is ready to go outside or to come back in, he will give a bark or two in a voice that is surprisingly deep and not the least bit "yappy."
12 He does not get onto furniture. He likes it if you lift him up onto furniture to be beside you, and he is very comfortable there, but he won't get down by himself, probably because he can't see well enough to be confident jumping off. That makes it easy to put him somewhere and trust that he will stay there!
13 Checking out the neighborhood goings-on.
14 We went camping in the woods one weekend. Chip did great. He was calm and quiet on the ride, alert and eager to go for hikes, and undisturbed by the change in schedule and all the strange sounds and smells.
15 Eager to go hiking. He walks great on leash, intuitively extricating himself from leash entanglements and neither pulling nor lagging behind.
16 Such a sweet boy!
17 Despite needing eye drops multiple times per day (undoubtedly for the rest of his life), Chip is a totally easy-to-care-for darling.
18 I want you to want me. I need you to need me. I'd love you to love me.
