Animal Profile
Sir Lake
Hello, my name is Sir Lake . My animal id is #248449. I am a male brown dog at the Manhattan Animal Care Center. The shelter thinks I am about 10 years 1 weeks old.
I came into the shelter as a stray on 2/26/2026.
Sir Lake has been placed in the at-risk list for medical reasons. He has several co-morbidities associated with advanced age, but his hypothyroidism concerns us the most. Hypothyroidism can cause neurologic issues and generalized weakness. The disease requires careful monitoring after starting thyroid supplementation. He requires care and attention that we cannot provide.
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This pet needs emergency placement. Please click here to go to our emergency placement page for more information. Sir Lake has been placed in the at-risk list for medical reasons. He has several co-morbidities associated with advanced age, but his hypothyroidism concerns us the most. Hypothyroidism can cause neurologic issues and generalized weakness. The disease requires careful monitoring after starting thyroid supplementation. He requires care and attention that we cannot provide.
My medical notes are...
Weight: 81 lbs
2/27/2026
DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 10 years based on dentition/ ocular changes Microchip noted on Intake? Scanned negative History: Stray, reported hard of hearing. Subjective: QAR Observed Behavior - tense initially, warms up with time, food motivated. Has soft tail wags and allows all handling for exam, muzzled as a precaution and did well. Is there evidence of suspected cruelty? No Objective: T = P = WNL R = WNL BCS: 5/9 EENT: Nuclear sclerosis OU, ear pinnae is crinkled internally likely from prior healed aural hematomas, mildly stenotic canals AU, no appreciable odor or discharge noted AU, no nasal noted but scant ocular discharge at medial canthus OU. Oral Exam: Adult dentition, moderate tartar-- limited exam performed due to muzzle PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: Externally WNL, intact male, 2 scrotal testes MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, relatively healthy hair coat but shedding profusely in intake room and focal alopecia at tail base. CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: Externally WNL Wood's Lamp Exam: not performed Assessment: Senior intact male Allergies- r/o environmental vs. other Nuclear sclerosis OU Chronic otitis externa Moderate periodontal disease Does not appear reactive/responsive to sounds so could possibly be deaf/have hearing loss but difficult to determine Prognosis: Fair to good pending bloodwork Plan: Intake tasks + exam Await sort CBC/CHM/TT4 in house Await sort SURGERY: Permanent waiver due to age
2/27/2026
CBC - nsf CHM- nsf TT4 0.7 ug/dL (1.0-4.0) A: Unremarkable CBC/CHM Hypothyroid- r/o sick euthyroid vs. true hypothyroid P: Monitor in care Add on cTSH
2/27/2026
Serum collected and sent out to Idexx
2/27/2026
[Spay/Neuter Waiver - Age] It is the policy of ACC not to perform surgery on any animal over the age of 8-10 years due to the higher risks incurred in a shelter setting. The veterinarian is hereby issuing a permanent spay/neuter waiver, from the spay/neuter requirements of the City of NY due to the estimated age of this animal. ACC does recommend you consult with your veterinarian to determine if surgical sterilization is appropriate.
3/1/2026
Thyroid Results: cTSH is elevated 0.65 (0.05 - 0.42 ng/mL) Increased canine TSH values may occur in dogs with untreated primary hypothyroidism. Sick euthyroid dogs are expected to have low normal TSH concentrations. Secondary or tertiary hypothyroidism (pituitary or hypothalamic lesions) are reported to occur in less than 5% of hypothyroid dogs. Levothyroxine- 0.022 mg/kg q 24 hrs or divided SIG: 1 tab po q 12 hrs x 4 weeks then retest thyroid panel (T4 level 6-8 hrs after giving tablet)
Details on my behavior are...
Behavior Condition: 2. Blue
Date of intake:: 2/26/2026
Spay/Neuter status:: No
Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray (No Known History)
Date of assessment:: 3/1/2026
Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Moderate Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: Inconclusive Leash walking comments: Pulls moderately on leash, no reactivity toward people and when stuck in the kennel room does not react to dogs. Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Distracted Call over: Approaches with coaxing Sociability comments: Explores the room, does not respond to verbal cues but is highly interested in treats, handlers toss treats due to reports of Lake taking treats hard, allows brief petting but begins lip licking. Soft handling: Tolerates contact Exuberant handling: Tolerates contact Comments: Becomes briefly tense but allows all contact with neutral body Arousal Jog comments: Follows neutral bodied Knock Knock comments: Approaches readily Toy Toy comments: No response
Summary (7):: 3/6/26: Sir Lake is laying down quietly, soft body in his pop-up crate. He stands when handler opens, presents leash. Sir Lake is sniffs the leash, allows easy leashing. Sir Lake exits with soft body, very mild pull, relieves himself in hallway. Sir Lake is walked on sidewalk, he approaches handler when handler turns him toward, and allows all petting with soft body. On sidewalk Sir Lake walks with loose leash, soft body. Sir Lake takes a treat offered gently. When returning to MACC, Sir Lake pauses in front of crate, however follows treats tossed into the crate without issue. 3/1/26: Sir Lake is lying at the back of his kennel. When the door is unlocked, he gets up and comes forwards with a neutral body. He takes treats. He dodges the leash but is leashed with a treat. There is a pile up of dogs in the hallway, so he remains in the kennel room with the handler for 1-2 minutes and does not react to the other dogs. He pulls moderately out of the building. He pulls moderately on the street. He relieves himself. He takes treats with a moderately hard mouth. He pulls moderately back in the building and is brought to the assessment room (see notes). He hesitates at his kennel, so treats are tossed and he goes in.
Date of intake:: 2/26/2026
Summary:: appears to be deaf and aloof. Allowed handling and to be MC scanned
Date of initial:: 2/27/2026
Summary:: tense initially, warms up with time, food motivated. Has soft tail wags
ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Sir Lake so we cannot be certain of his behavior in a home environment. However, he will need daily mental and physical activity to keep him engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in additional to physical exercise, to positively direct his energy and enthusiasm.
BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: Level 2
Recommendations:: No young children (under 5)
Recommendations comments:: No Young Children (Under 5): Due to Sir Lakes poor bite inhibition when accepting treats and handling sensitivity we recommend a home with no young children.
Potential challenges: : Mouthiness/poor bite inhibition,Handling/touch sensitivity
Potential challenges comments:: Mouthiness/Poor Bite Inhibition: When offering treats to Sir Lake it is reported that he will take treats with hard pressure. This is a behavior that should be extinguished through training alternate behaviors and lack of reward (ex. walking away whenever Sir Lake's teeth make contact with skin). Please see handout on Mouthiness. Handling/Touch Sensitivity: During his assessment handlers noted that Sir Lake would become slightly tense or lip lick when being pet or handled. It is important to always go slow and give Lake the option to walk away from any social interaction. Lake should never be forced to approach anything that he is uncomfortable with or to submit to petting or handling. It should always be Sir Lake’s choice to approach a new person or thing. Lake may do best in an initially calm and quiet home environment and should be given time to acclimate to his new surroundings. Please see handout on Handling and Touch Sensitivity.