Nacho, a beautiful chihuahua mix, was turned into a shelter in Virginia in early January 2024 after her owner was no longer able to care for her. After just a couple days in the shelter, she was pulled by the Blind Dog Rescue and is now in a Virginia BDRA foster home. 

Nacho was seriously ill when she arrived at her foster home. She was taken immediately to the vet and it was determined she has diabetes. She is now on insulin injections twice a day and she is doing much better (the insulin (Novolin N) costs about $25 every six weeks). Her glucose levels are not often in range, and the vet says it may be hard for Nacho to be able to keep her glucose within range, but she shows no sign of concern at this time even when out of range. Periodically (every few months), she may need a glucose curve completed, which can be done at the vet or be done with a continuous glucose monitor at home. 

She was very thin when she arrived at her foster home but has gained some weight and now weighs 9.5 pounds. She looks terrific! She can see some although may bump into things too; she does have bilateral cataracts and dry eye, and she is on Optimmune once a day (Optimmune costs about $55 and the tube lasts for about two months). She can hear well. She has a grade I-II heart murmur that requires no treatment. She is good with getting her insulin injections and her eye medication. 

She was taken to the vet recently for her spay and, once she was under anesthesia and her belly was shaved, there was a scar just where a spay scar would be. The vet felt she has been spayed because of the scar and also because she has no mammary development which would have been typical for a dog who had not been altered. So, she got a dental done instead; she had her teeth cleaned and 7 teeth pulled and made it through the procedure like a champ. 

Nacho has been settling into her foster home. She has learned the routine pretty quickly! She loves to eat; she is generally a quiet dog but just before mealtime she gets loud and, when she knows the food bowl is coming, her tail wags so hard as she turns in a circle. She is a little sad, though, that she is not allowed snacks since diabetic dogs should just eat twice a day – because she loves to eat! She sleeps quietly through the night in an indoor pen. She is housetrained. She doesn’t mind the leash. She likes to be outside to walk around and smell all the smells unless it is raining. Then she would rather be inside! She can walk up and down the two steps that connect the deck to the yard but could have trouble walking up and down a flight of stairs; at her foster home, she is always on the first floor. When she is going to be picked up, sometimes she still flattens herself toward the floor but, after a couple reassuring pats on the head, she stands up and enjoys being carried around! The person who adopts Nacho should be prepared to go slowly with her, especially at the beginning, until she knows the routine and the people in her home. She now loves attention from her foster parents, and especially loves her head and her belly rubbed. She also doesn’t mind sitting in a lap either! And she is excited to sit on the sofa in the evenings with her foster mom along with three of the dogs that live in her home. 

Nacho generally ignores the other dogs in the home but she has not liked it if one of them (they are blind) bumps into her bed when she is in it. She also does not like it when they bump into her before mealtime when all the dogs are excited and moving around. So, she is kept separate from the other dogs in the foster home, although sees them outside and may even get very close to them, and she ignores them. She also ignores them when she sees them at the gate that separates her room from their room. Nacho’s foster parents think she could be fine in a home with other dogs who can see (so they would not accidentally bump into her or her bed), but there is no guarantee of that, so she would be best as the only dog in the house. And she would love being the only dog so she would get all the attention! And, while she loves attention, she is also just fine taking a nap when her foster parents are busy. She loves to bury herself under the blankets so you can’t even tell she is there. 

She is interested in the smell of the family cat but does not try to chase her, and does not bark at her or seem upset about the cat. But Nacho has a very good nose on her, and can tell if the cat has walked by or if a strange dog has been in the yard and will walk in the direction of the smell. 

Nacho would not be good in a home with young children. Young children tend to move quickly and unpredictably, and she would not be happy about that. 

Nacho is ready now for the perfect forever home! If you think you might be able to provide the perfect home for Nacho, fill out an application today! If you have questions about what it might be like to live with a dog with diabetes, please speak with your vet. Please know it is not hard! And Nacho is worth the effort! And remember the Blind Dog Rescue can work out a transport to get Nacho to you (within a reasonable distance).

Spayed/Neutered:  Yes

Breed:  Chihuahua Mix

Mixed Breed:  Yes

Age:  Senior

Weight:  9 lbs.

Size when grown:  Small 

House trained:  Yes

Good with other dogs:  No

Good with cats:  Yes

Good with children:  No