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Vinnie was such a happy girl. She seemed to
appreciate having someone of her own, a good bed to sleep in, and especially "Ooh such
good food" as she loved to eat and still does to this day. She did so well right from the
start that when we went to the Victorian Christmas parade in Manistee two days after I
got her, Vinnie went and she walked every step of the parade with that little tail going
a mile a minute, "right in her glory!" Of course, she had a Santa coat on like everybody
else, and just seemed "SOOO PROUD!"
She continued along with her new little sister Annie to go to Greyhound Meet and Greets and
help tell the story of those terrible things called puppymills. About two years ago I noticed
that she also had a cataract coming in the other eye, and it started to be noticeable that she
wasn't seeing as well as she did but she never let it bother her. On top of that her hearing
was starting to give out, and within the next year that was completely gone as well.
She continued to be just the most loving little thing
you ever did see. Then a year ago just before Christmas we got up one morning and she was
keeping both of her eyes shut and they were full of matter, the most telling part of the
whole thing was her tail was not wagging. I think that was the first time I had seen her
not wag that "oh so proud tail". We went to the vet that morning and found that she had
glaucoma in the one eye. We started her on medications, it helped for about a week and
the pressure came back. Back to the vet, he raised her medications, same old thing a week
later, and the pressure went up again. He had told me if that didn't help we might have
to remove the eye and sure enough the third time I took her back he changed and raised
the meds again, and said that was all he could do.
He had told me not to worry about an appointment if
it got to the point where it was really bothering her again just bring her back and he
could take time in between surgeries later in the day to take it out. I took her back two
days before New Years day and wouldn't you know they had three or four vets out sick that
day and were terribly busy, he gave me something to help with the pain and told me to
bring her back the next day and I could pick her up New Years day, which is what we did.
Within two days she was her old self, she could see a little out of the other eye and she
was back to wagging that tail a mile a minute. But over the last 5 or 6 months the other
eye has gone completely and on top of that the leg has gotten so bad that it just slides
out of under her quite often. I think she has had a stroke or two, it has happened late
at night and seemed to hardly faze her so when she went to the vet the next day he said
yes he was sure she did but there wasn't much we could do only watch her.
She is still happy as can be most of the time. The biggest problem is if she doesn't trip me up
it will be a wonder, she is always right under my feet. I now have a bumper on one side of my
bed and make sure my feet are between her and the other side so she won't walk off. She just
walks on the rest of the dogs, but she is still happy, so everybody just tries to keep from
getting stepped on, and I try not to step on her!
Up until the last six weeks she would still go clear
to the back of the yard and stroll around just enjoying herself. I can no longer let her
do that as I am afraid she will fall in wheel ruts put in my yard by a well rig. On top
of that she gets lost so easily now, and I end up having to go get her. I feel so bad
because she has had so little time to really enjoy her life, but at least she's had a few
years of love and enjoying life, and will continue to do so as long as she is happy and
enjoying herself. She is now over fourteen years old, and aside from the noticeable
problems seems to be in good health.
Story of Vinnie - by Louise
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