Nadia, an approximately 6-year-old female basset hound, came to GGBR in June 2023 from the Kings County Shelter where she was an unclaimed stray. Her skin was rough, itchy, smelly and she was missing hair over much of her body.

In addition, immediately upon intake, Nadia was diagnosed with pyometra, a serious infection of the uterus, requiring emergency lifesaving surgery. 

The dark coloring on Nadia's face and lower body is not her coat; it is her bare skin. Even after two years of treatment, no significant hair growth has taken place. Her dermatologist believes that the long term damage done to Nadia's skin will likely prevent her hair coat from ever coming back; she will probably always be as bald as she is now.

Allergy tests show that Nadia is allergic to the naturally occurring yeast on her skin, as well as to several environmental allergens. The allergens include the "usual" ubiquitous ones, like house dust, cat dander, commonly-present skin yeast and a few types of pollen. Nadia did NOT show any allergy to fleas, but she is, apparently, allergic to mosquitos and she is highly allergic to ants! She requires no special diet.

Nadia follows an oral immunotherapy protocol, which consists of daily oral administration of a liquid preparation of her “top 12” allergens. In addition to the daily immunotherapy, Nadia takes a Ketoconazole tablet and Cyclosporine capsule three days/week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday). With her symptoms now under control, we will start to reduce the frequency of the tablets and capsules, to find the minimum dosage that will still keep her allergy symptoms controlled. However, immunotherapy and some level of medication, particularly during certain seasons of the year, may always be required for Nadia.

Personality-wise, Nadia is friendly, but a little standoffish with strangers. She is very friendly and affectionate with the family. She gets along with other dogs in the home, but is reactive to other dogs when on a leash, and will growl and lunge at them. She has begun some training to address her leash reactivity, but has not yet overcome that issue. An adopter who wishes to take Nadia for walks in public will probably have to be prepared to continue with her training. Otherwise, Nadia would be best in a a home where she does not require frequent leash walks.

In the home, Nadia is somewhat possessive of her personal space with her doggie housemates. She growls at other dogs (and even at the cat), if they walk near where she is lying down. Her warnings and objections can sound fierce, but she has never caused any harm, even when her space is rudely violated. 

Nadia is housebroken, but generally just stands by the door, or acts restless, when she needs to go outside. If no one lets her out, she has been known to have an accident. Her foster home does not have a doggie door, but access to a doggie door might be the perfect solution for Nadia.

It should be noted that Nadia has recently become a determined counter-surfer, so nothing remotely edible can be left anywhere within her reach, on tables, or counters. 

Nadia sleeps all night in a dog bed and she also accepts sleeping in a crate. Because of Nadia's recent late-night counter surfing forays, her foster home has started putting Nadia in a crate before they go to bed.

After two years in her foster home to get her allergies under control, Nadia is now prepared to find her forever home. She would love a home where she gets a lot of affection and attention. She loves sleeping in the sun and, in fact, seems to seek out warm conditions. She is very adept at wrapping herself up in blankets, so that she is completely hidden, as pictured in one of the accompanying photos.

Nadia is very food motivated. She has a good appetite and she loves treats. Nadia could live in a home with, or without another dog. If she shares a home with another dog, that dog has to be willing to respect Nadia's personal space, particularly around her bed.