Freya - Sponsorship Only!

Meet Freya

Attention pointer loving people: meet Freya, our senior girl with the spirit of a Norse Goddess! Yeah, okay, so she's not REALLY a goddess, but she is Freya and she does welcome adoration, in the form of pets, scritches, half-snuggles, and... treats! Definitely treats.

Our lady has had 13 years of learning so far in this life, and she's a "wise" and wisened soul. She came to GPPR from a complicated situation, one where her resilience, determination, resourcefulness, and smarts served her well.

A consequence of her survivor spirit is a smidgen of... sass, and a bit of naughty. She knows how to dump a trash can by grabbing the edge of the bag with her teeth. She knows how to open the lid of a closed toilet. She still counter-surfs. All results of having had to fend for herself in her former home. We've dubbed her alter ego Loki... especially so when she sneakily swipes a toy from one of her foster sisters!

Trickster behavior aside, Freya is very sweet, happy, curious, and in spite of everything still loving. She loves to be with "her" people. She loves her three foster sisters, one who is a typical younger pointer (you all know what I mean, she's crazy) and one who is also a senior citizen. She even loves our cat, Shadow, though I'm not sure the feeling is mutual: Shadow doesn't deign to show herself often but when she does Freya slowly follows her like a, well, shadow.

More than anything she loves her "girls", the 15- and 17-year-old humans who live here too and the 9-year-old who lives next door.

Freya is a magical mix of GSP and something yet to be determined. She does not have a shorthair coat, nor a short hair on her anywhere. She's fluffy and soft and very calming to pet. She's also built a little differently: broader across the back than a full pointer and equipped with a bonus toe on her front right foot! She is polydactyl and also ectrodactyl! No worries though, she's lived her whole life this way and the vet says her "lucky toe" gets to stay!

The extra fun to her foot doesn't seem to slow her down, but some slight arthritis does. She will still trot when the proper motivation presents itself, but that's her fastest speed. She likes walks, but they need to be short. She LOVES being outside, and the screen porch is a favorite napping locale.

Freya's Health Update

We finally have some answers about Freya's health! Further testing confirmed Cushing's disease, a hormonal condition in which the body produces too much cortisol. In Freya's case, the condition is pituitary-dependent, meaning it is related to dysfunction of the pituitary gland.

Cushing's can cause increased thirst and urination, accidents in the house, panting, and other changes in health. Freya had been drinking and urinating excessively, having accidents overnight, and panting much more than expected. We knew we needed to figure out what was going on.

Freya will be starting trilostane, a medication used to manage Cushing's disease. We'll repeat testing in 3 to 4 weeks to see how she's responding and help guide her ongoing treatment. We're glad to have a diagnosis and a plan, although we'll continue working with her veterinarian to make sure she gets the care she needs.

Freya also has some slight arthritis, but it hasn't stopped her from exploring, enjoying the outdoors, or even helping herself to treats off the counter! Her unusual foot and extra toe have been evaluated, and for now, there is no reason to remove the toe unless it begins causing problems.

What Happens Next?

For now, Freya is enjoying the comforts of her foster home while we observe how she responds to treatment and work with her veterinarian to get her condition managed.

Freya is available for sponsorship only while we get her started on medication and make sure she's stable. Our goal is for her to move into an adoptive home once we have a better understanding of her response to treatment. Her future family will need to be comfortable managing her Cushing's disease, providing ongoing medication and veterinary monitoring, and giving this special senior girl the care she deserves.

Freya is being fostered in Ames, IA.

Help Freya

Freya has a safe, loving foster home, and now we have a better understanding of what she needs medically. Her care will continue as we start treatment and monitor how she responds.

Your donations help GPPR provide the veterinary care, testing, medications, and ongoing support Freya needs. Every contribution helps us give this special senior girl the care and comfort she deserves.

To support Freya, please visit greatpointers.org/donate.

Thank you for helping Freya enjoy the comforts of a safe, loving foster home.