She lost her home, her family, her bearings. A rather tramatic event for an old gal with no eyesight. The good news is, that she managed to stagger into our life, even in the pouring down rain. We weren't sure she was going to make it through the night - she pretty much didn't move for 24 hours.
After an hour of phoning various community resources for animal rescue, we partnered with the Animal Shelter to get her a vet check.
The shelter paid for the exam, which revealed that Orphink is in good general health - all vital stats are stable, good color, plumbing is working, she does hear - but is definately blind as a bat. It seems to be a neurological problem, the cataracts aren't severe enough to cause the total blindness.
But her NOSE and at least ONE ear works just fine, she can track us really well and doesn't miss a morsal of food! The vet tech just about sprained her knees getting Orphink back up off the floor scale - 40 cotton-pickin' pounds!!
The vet cut those horribly long nails, applied some Advantage to take care of a few stray fleas, gave Orphink a treat (her first food since we nabbed her out of the storm), and sent her home with some special bath soap. She was a different dog from that point on.
"Even a nice warm bath is something to be thankful for. Especially when there are gentle helping hands and a blow-dry"!
Thanks, Matt! She especially loved the towel massage; if she were a cat she would have been purring.
Thanksgiving was in Salem this year. Of course Orphink went with us. With a spiffy new collar and leash, a bag of "Good Bites" for Hip and Joint (she knows what THAT crinkle sound is - steak flavored!), enough kibble for two days of vacation, her dishes, a bottle of water, doggy-doo pick-up bags, a change of bedding (just in case) for the kennel, two big towels for the bath project - it was like packing the diaper bag when the kids were little! We were amazed at how well she adapted to traveling and being in a new environment with more new sounds, and animals. She's a pretty smart little pup. She has got Gram trained already, for taking nice walks and handing out treats!
"Soft grass is best for walking on, but level paving is OK too. I may not be able to see, but I love the feel of the sun, and all the interesting smells outdoors. It's good to have a friend to walk with!"
The "Hip and Joint" goodies can't possibly work that fast, so part of her new spryness has got to be the consistent water and food, good massages, lots of attention, and getting outdoors regularly for walks. She literally springs up now, where in the beginning we had to boost that weak hind-end off the floor and steady her for a few minutes before she could walk.
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