Tip

Meet Tip

Say hello to Tip, a sweet youngster who is very special to us. She can’t wait to find those special people who will welcome her into their lives with joy! In Tip, you’ll find a best friend, an energetic playmate and a curious and lovable companion!

While receiving care at AWS, our vets noticed that Tip has poor balance and walks in a wobbly fashion. This is likely to be affected by a genetic or congenital cerebellar disease, as the cerebellar is the part of the brain that is responsible for balance and placement of one’s body. The symptoms of cerebellar disease in Tip are related to having impaired balance. Tip is wobbly in her gait and may stumble more than normal and may just overall seem a bit clumsy. It is unlikely that these signs will progress in Tip, however there is no way that we can know this for sure. While she has been in our care, her signs have been stable.

Tip also has abnormalities to both of her hips that may be suggestive of hip dysplasia. Hip dysplasia is a common congenital condition in large breed dogs in which the hip joint does not fit together as neatly as it should. At this time, Tips’s hip no longer seems to be bothering her but follow up with her regular veterinarian will be important to monitor for any future lameness and discuss any further recommended diagnostics and/or treatment.

Despite these setbacks, Tip is a playful and jubilant young shepherd that loves to play outside and be around other dogs. In Tip’s dream world, she could play endless fetch with her favorite brightly colored tennis balls. She loves to explore and stay active, and even with her wobbly gait she loves to run through the yard and go on walks with her harness!

As part of the adoption process, you will speak with a veterinarian before bringing Tip home. If you are interested in adopting, please call our Adoption Center at (207) 985-3244 to schedule a time to meet Tip.

To learn more about cerebellar disease and/or hip dysplasia, click here and search “cereballer disease” and/or “hip dysplasia”.