new to the forum and to cairns!

[chugga]

Hi folks,

we pick up Charlie the 8 year old rescue cairn tomorrow - does anyone have any helpful advice/tips/assistance that might help us and Charlie to adjust to each other!!

Charlie has been in a dogs home for approximately 4 months and was previously with an elderly lady who didn;t realise he had cushings disease (i suspect he had a skin problem that she treated with her own steroid based cream instead of taking him to the vets as the posibility of a tumor causing it has been ruled out) Charlie has medication everyday but i'm interested in what supplements people give their cairns and what i can do to help his balding coat grow back..... do you think i shouldn have his coat stripped back quite severely or should i try and "regrow" it before getting it tidied? He's real sweety and i want to try and do the best for him that i can

Thanks

sarah

[Nikki]

He's adorable!!! I give my dogs fish oil for skin issues and small dog vitamins they think their treats lol. maybe just strip him a lil to tidy him up until the hair grows back. But I am not a stripping expert.

[Idaho Cairns]

I would probably give the dog a month or two to adjust to the household before I started any heavy grooming regimen--unless I had advice to the contrary from a vet. I'm no expert on skin conditions and Cairns, we have been lucky in that respect--again, follow the lead of your vet.

Cairns are flexible, give them a little room to get comfortable with your home and you should be fine. We have rescued two adult Cairns and the first few days had us wondering if we did the right thing but a little mutual respect on both the dogs' and our part went a long way to making them into really great dogs. Don't overreact to anything you see right out of the chute--the dog you have at first isn't the dog you will have down the road.

I think it is commendable that you are rescuing a Cairn with health problems--bless you for that kindness.

[Nena]

Charlie is beautiful, so great of you to take him in. Let us know how everything in going. I also would wait to groom until you all get to know each other. If he has not been groomed much he will probably not be fond of the experience. But as you all get to trust each other I am sure he will understand you don't mean him harm by groom. Mine does not like being groomed but she knows that we are going to do it no matter what.

I also use Missing link wellness blend for better coat, it has omegas, probiotics, and vitamens they need. They also make a product for older dogs that helps with joints. I have used it for almost a year and no skin problems so I recommend it.

Again so good of you to take in this wonderful dog and give him a good home. I plan to rescue an older cairn too. How did you come to rescue Charlie?

[pkcrossley]

what a cutie, you are going to be rewarded so many times over for taking him in.

i agree with nikki, fish oil (or in my case omega3 spray-on supplements) do wonders for skin and coat. regular grooming will be important to keep the old fur off his skin, but i would certainly go gently, as others have suggested.

8 years old is a lovely age for cairns, they have their hyper years behind them, and i find that these dogs develop a very deep, soulful side as they age. from his picture charlie looks well along the spiritual development path. he is going to understand what a lucky guy he is, and he is going to be your partner once he gets his footing and feels secure. transitions are difficult, and idaho's comment is so important: don't assume that what you see immediately is what you've got. all cairns respond to leadership and love, and i think you are in for a real treat with charlie once he has rooted himself.

[JimS]

Congratulations Sarah, on finding and contracting to take care of your new friend.

I just brought my approximately 2 yr old rescued Cairn home about 3 weeks ago and this forum has been very helpful. Terrific and knowledgeable folks that do love their Cairns.

My guy will have his first grooming experience this friday... at least the first since he's been with me. He's not been crazy about being combed but I have set up a makeshift grooming table and I comb him for about 5 minutes nightly, talking softly to him and providing his favorite treats when he sits still for 10 seconds or more. I think/hope this will make it easier for the groomer this friday. She won't be stripping him. I'll endeavor to undertake that job as needed later.

Your lil guy is really a cutie. Sorry I don't have any advice about his skin. Your vet should probably be the place to start.

Welcome to the forum. It's a good place.

[cairnrescueleague]

Make sure he's on Trilostane for the Cushings rather than Lysodren. Lysodren can have some nasty side effects, Trilostane not so much. Welcome, and good luck!

[Hawkeye]

Welcome, Charlie is a real cutie and is lucky to have found you!

I agree with Idaho Cairns in taking your time on grooming. Let him get comfortable with his new surroundings first before getting into any special grooming. He has a lot to discover in his new digs.

I have just recently starting giving my dog fish oil for his skin (have to let you know how that goes as time goes on). I have found brushing during "quite time" in the evening works great. I also like to give my two body messages/rub downs. This soothes them and makes them mellow.

Good Luck and keep us posted on your progress.

[chugga]

Hi Folks, thank you so much for your replies!

We are UK based and we found Charlie through the Dogs Trust, some of our friends had rescued dogs from them and we decided that our family was missing a special someone..... then along came Charlie!

He's been with us 5 days now and he's finding his feet... he has his own seat on the sofa and loves his afternoon nap!

He had his first trip to the vets today for a check up and she was delighted with him, she's happy that he seems to be doing well on his medication (vetaryl aka trilostan)We are very lucky that the dogs trust sponsor all his treatment related to the Chushings, we pay the first

[BetsyNoodle]

Sounds like Charlie has found the very best forever home. Bless you for taking this wonderful pup in.

[Idaho Cairns]

I will simply reiterate my earlier comment--bless you for taking in one of these wonderful creatures and giving it a warm and loving home. I know if you give this little guy a chance you will find, as I have, that the loyalty and loving personality of the Cairn Terrier will be all yours to enjoy in the future. Cairns "get it" pretty quickly when they have a good home. Enjoy and stay with us--keep us informed because a lot of members and visitors here contemplate rescue and your experience is valuable.

[josie&holly]

Hi from another UK based member. I think Charlie looks so cute............. you will gets lots of help on this Forum.

[chugga]

Charlies trust is building day by day and already I have managed to teach him to sit for a treat and to shake a paw - he's even started to come ans it on our laps!!

Thank you all for your kind words, we love Charlie so much already and it lookslike he's starting to love us too

[sanford]

Dear Sarah,

Thank you for opening your heart and home to Charlie. He looks like a completely loveable chap! I adopted my cairn when he was 10...2 years older than Charlie and I can tell you that the things the other folks on this site said about older Cairns are true. I now have a Cairn/partner who's going on 16 and every day with him has been a joy. He was over his "frantic" years when I got him, but was still full of lively energy and cairn playfulness until about a year ago. Although he's slowed down now, we still are able to enjoy every day to the fullest, only at a slower pace. Your years ahead with Charlie will be great ones and I wish you much pleasure in them!