Ofcharka is a special dog, not an Ofcharka that is the breed, but a livestock guardian dog just the same. His mix is Anatolian Shepherd, Akbash, Pyrenees and Maremma and no one knows where the black colour comes from exactly. He was one of 11 pups, 10 white and then him, and both parents were white. I did find a sometimes black guardian dog breed with the same kind of markings as Ofcahrka, a Karakachan, but Ofcharka does not have that breeding in him that I am aware of.
But Charka, or Sharky, as I fondly call him, is not well. He has a skin infection that causes him to scratch his skin all the time. He has lost lots of his fur and the fine down that was matted underneath is very thin. It is good we are going into summer.
I have asked the veterinarians around here if I could bring a blood sample and skin scraping in, but they said no, I have to bring the dog. That is impossible. When Charka got porcupine quills in his face last year, we gave him enough tranquilizer to put a cow to sleep and he still fought every time I came near. Finally in the wee hours of the morning I gave up and went to bed. I was unable to coax him anywhere because he is too smart and knew something was amiss, plus he was in pain.
Finally a bunch of young men and I took two large area carpets and forced him into a kennel and I shut the door, then they lifted the kennel onto the back of the truck and I took him to the vet's. I believe Charka would bite even me if I tried to force him to do something he does not want to do.
But he is the gentlest, most submissive of all the dogs in every other way. When I call him, he usually comes and lies down on his back. He loves to be petted and sings when I come home after being away. Charka is first at the gate to greet strangers and me, and he usually wags his tail and is more of a nuisance wanting attention than a guard dog, but I have seen him not wag his tail and not be happy when a certain truck came to the farm. The driver quickly turned around and drove away. Dogs know things.
I sent a message to a dog rescue hoping they could help me with Charka. I think he has a yeast infection on his skin and he and Jade, who has yeast in her ears which Charka continually licks, are sharing the problem back and forth. Jade has been to the vet's many times and gotten prescribed medicines for her ears, but they never work because Charka is still licking them all the time. I want to help Charka, but am at a loss as to know what to do. The vets will not come to the farm to treat a dog either. Poor fellow.
Last summer I mixed Borax and hydrogen peroxide in water and poured it on him and it did fix his problem temporarily. As we move into warm weather I will do that again, and hope it will cure him and then I can treat Jade's ears and they will stay clean . I love my dogs very much and am sad to know they are not happy and uncomfortable. But darn, those who can help just won't .Darn!
Charka is a great dog. He is going to be 5 at the end of this year and I have a feeling his breed will not be long lived. He already has white whiskers around his face, like an older dog. He is alert and active and guards the house and yard with extreme dedication. I love that big boy!
But Charka, or Sharky, as I fondly call him, is not well. He has a skin infection that causes him to scratch his skin all the time. He has lost lots of his fur and the fine down that was matted underneath is very thin. It is good we are going into summer.
I have asked the veterinarians around here if I could bring a blood sample and skin scraping in, but they said no, I have to bring the dog. That is impossible. When Charka got porcupine quills in his face last year, we gave him enough tranquilizer to put a cow to sleep and he still fought every time I came near. Finally in the wee hours of the morning I gave up and went to bed. I was unable to coax him anywhere because he is too smart and knew something was amiss, plus he was in pain.
Finally a bunch of young men and I took two large area carpets and forced him into a kennel and I shut the door, then they lifted the kennel onto the back of the truck and I took him to the vet's. I believe Charka would bite even me if I tried to force him to do something he does not want to do.
But he is the gentlest, most submissive of all the dogs in every other way. When I call him, he usually comes and lies down on his back. He loves to be petted and sings when I come home after being away. Charka is first at the gate to greet strangers and me, and he usually wags his tail and is more of a nuisance wanting attention than a guard dog, but I have seen him not wag his tail and not be happy when a certain truck came to the farm. The driver quickly turned around and drove away. Dogs know things.
I sent a message to a dog rescue hoping they could help me with Charka. I think he has a yeast infection on his skin and he and Jade, who has yeast in her ears which Charka continually licks, are sharing the problem back and forth. Jade has been to the vet's many times and gotten prescribed medicines for her ears, but they never work because Charka is still licking them all the time. I want to help Charka, but am at a loss as to know what to do. The vets will not come to the farm to treat a dog either. Poor fellow.
Last summer I mixed Borax and hydrogen peroxide in water and poured it on him and it did fix his problem temporarily. As we move into warm weather I will do that again, and hope it will cure him and then I can treat Jade's ears and they will stay clean . I love my dogs very much and am sad to know they are not happy and uncomfortable. But darn, those who can help just won't .Darn!
Charka is a great dog. He is going to be 5 at the end of this year and I have a feeling his breed will not be long lived. He already has white whiskers around his face, like an older dog. He is alert and active and guards the house and yard with extreme dedication. I love that big boy!
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