Here's our newest one, little Pip ... and by little I mean 3.5 lbs (1.5 kg) little! He arrived Saturday a week ago, brought by Gale Lang's TLC Pet Transport. Pip came to us from Atlanta Beagle Rescue, which has sent us many blind Beagles over the years.
Now, I know what you're thinking.
You're thinking, "Son, I know Beagles, and that ain't no Beagle."
We'll concede the point. He's a Chihuahua alright. But Michele from Atlanta Beagle Rescue had seen him in a local shelter and asked if we could take him. She offered to pull him and have him fostered until we could get transport arranged. When we saw what his eyes looked like, we couldn't say no.
So he spent a couple of weeks being fostered by Morgan from Altanta Beagle Rescue, who named him Pip -- which fits him perfectly! We have no history on him other than he was picked up as a stray ... but how does a tiny dog who can barely see wind up as a "stray" in Atlanta, Georgia?
Our ophthalmologist, Dr. Sarah Hoy, graciously agreed to fit him into her schedule last week when she was doing the recheck on Max. Here's a photo of her vet tech Patty doing the initial screening exam while vet tech Rachel holds Pip:
Sarah found his left eye was totally blind, both from a long untreated corneal ulcer (the scarring is still very visible) and from a hypermature cataract. Pip had no visual responses in that eye, and there isn't anything we can do now to restore vision.
His right eye still has vision, though he has a developing cataract in that eye as well which will eventually cause him to go blind.
Pip also has a condition affecting both corneas called corneal endothelial degeneration, which Sarah says is commonly seen in Chihuahuas, Dachshunds and Boston Terriers. She described it this way:
"This means the pumps on the back surface of the corneas have deteriorated and no longer can keep fluid out of the corneas, which leads to edema or a blue-gray cloudy appearance to the eyes. Without treatment, the eyes will become bluer over time and the long-term risks with chronic corneal edema include recurrent corneal ulcers and discomfort."
The treatment options, she told us, include corneal transplants or a procedure called a Gundersen flap, in which a piece of the conjunctiva tissue is grafted onto the cornea. The graft helps "dehydrate" the cornea by allowing another way for the fluid to get out.
And, of course, there's still the issue of the cataract in his remaining visual eye, which means cataract surgery at some point.
Pip is also scheduled to see our internal medicine specialist, Dr. Tanya Donovan, next week for an ultrasound and cancer screening. We found a lump on his neck a few days ago that is worrisome. He's really thin and yet doesn't seem to have a great appetite, so that's also a concern. We don't know how old he is, though the gray on his muzzle suggests he's got plenty of miles on his tires.
Morgan had given us a heads-up about how Pip "communicates" -- by wailing like a human infant. She told us, "He sounds almost exactly like a baby, so you and Alayne can enjoy the sounds of an infant in the house without the worries of a college education. :)" Holy cow, the first day he was here Pip started wailing from the living room, and it sounded like a baby who needed his diapers changed. In a way, it was: Pip was letting us know he needed to go outside to do his business!
This little guy is just a doll -- he is sweet, affectionate, and only wants to lie in your lap or, better yet, snuggle against your neck. He is wonderful with all the other dogs. There are times when he's curled up in his basket bed that he looks just like a newborn deer fawn -- though I suspect a fawn is a bit quieter!
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Weekly Winner for Week 5 -- And $1,000 For The Animals!
Yes, we were the most recent weekly winner, and thanks to you, we just won $1,000 through the Shelter Challenge! Thank you so much!
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Please Vote for the Farm!
The new Shelter Challenge started Monday, April 9 and ends at midnight on June 17. Grand prize in this round is $5,000, plus $1,000 for weekly winners and $1,000 for state winners. There are also other categories ... please see the Shelter Challenge website for details.
*** We are now LISTED UNDER OUR NEW NAME, ROLLING DOG FARM. State is still NH for New Hampshire. ***
Please remember, you can vote every day ... consider bookmarking the voting page to make it easy.
We just won $1,000 as a weekly winner for Week 5 of this current contest, and thousands more in the previous contests. The Shelter Challenge really does bring in a lot of money for the animals here!
You can vote in the Shelter Challenge here.
Thank you for your votes!
Precious and I so hope his health will improve now that he's under watchful and caring love!
P.S. It's good what you post stories on FB. That's my reminder to vote!
Posted by: Brenda Brackmann | May 22, 2012 at 06:29 PM
Pip, you brought a smile to my face. Thanks!
Delighted I could kinda bring you a hug from afar by that blankie. Be healthy. You are in the most wonderful care now :)
Posted by: Margaret | May 22, 2012 at 05:29 PM
Oh gosh, he's just adorable! Looking forward to hearing how everything turns out medically.
Welcome home to RDF, Pip!
Posted by: Ann | May 22, 2012 at 03:53 AM
So glad he made it and that his cuteness overpowers the baby wailing! He did that the whole time in the car when I drove him from the shelter to Morgan's. I figured Morgan and Andy would never speak to me again! Thank you for taking Pip and giving him the love and care he deserves!!
Posted by: Michele | May 21, 2012 at 09:40 PM
Happy for the new arrival to your home. The inspiration behind my finding and following your blog, Slapshot passed away today at the age of 14.
He went blind more than 7 years ago and it was hard to tell he was blind he navigated the world so well. His body was willing to go the distance but dementia took it's toll.
Enjoy the Rainbow Bridge Slapshot, We shall meet again on the other side.
Posted by: Meghan Burns | May 21, 2012 at 06:20 PM
What a darling little guy.God bless all the people that mad it possible for you to find your forever home!
Posted by: Mae - Jefferson City | May 21, 2012 at 05:20 PM
Welcome Pip! First it seemed as if he might have a bit of an identity crisis, with the whole beagle-fawn-infant thing, but then I realized he's just another one who does things His Way. :)
Posted by: Tonya Allen | May 21, 2012 at 04:43 PM
What a precious little creature. Pip, you have arrived in a wonderful place. Your little baby-self will be so well cared for.
Posted by: Angela | May 21, 2012 at 11:36 AM
WELCOME HOME PIP WELCOME HOME
Posted by: Eric | May 21, 2012 at 10:59 AM
What a sweetheart!
Posted by: Barbara Techel | May 21, 2012 at 10:12 AM
God bless little Pip and the caregivers who rescued him and will treasure him.
Posted by: Mary H./Washington state | May 21, 2012 at 09:44 AM
Pip seems be have been accurately named. He's got wonderful ears! I hope you don't find heart worm in the mix while he's getting his physical. Thank God Roo doesn't "wail". She just lets out those sharp little yaps to let me know I'm not living up to her expectations and I have about 5 seconds to straighten myself out! :) Pip is really a cutie and like him, Roo will curl up like a newborn fawn, i.e. when she isn't velcroed to one of my body parts!
Posted by: Kathleen Rivard | May 21, 2012 at 09:38 AM
Welcome home, dear Pip! You're in the ideal place (and with the ideal people) to deal with your many health issues, that's for sure!
I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers, little one!
Alayne & Steve: thank you SO much for helping Pip. I hope he's going to snuggle against your necks for many, many years to come.:-)
Posted by: Carla Polastro-Nigro | May 21, 2012 at 04:18 AM
I'm thinking alllll good thoughts for Pip! what a little sweetie!
Posted by: Penny | May 21, 2012 at 12:10 AM
My blind mare has the graft on her cornea that you described, she got it to treat a lipid plaque on her cornea from so many years of steroid ointment. Keeping it in place permanently means that when her eye flares now I can still use good ole neo/poly/dex.
Welcome Pip and good luck!
Posted by: DarcC | May 20, 2012 at 11:04 PM
I hope Pip and Wilber become soul-mates. The two little guys look like they were made for each other. He is a cutie. Don't tell Grand Duchess Widget that you got a non-beagle from one of your go to beagle rescue places. She'll be in a snit for weeks. of course being in a snit is Widget's default position.
Posted by: Bob | May 20, 2012 at 08:34 PM
Oh, what a little doll baby! I pray for positive outcome on his exams and that he has a lot of life left to share with you and the other critters.
Posted by: Leila K. - Western Wash. | May 20, 2012 at 08:17 PM
Oh Pip is so cute!!! Cracked me up that he sounds like a baby! Thank you for all the GREAT care you have already given this little one. We are so grateful for your committment!
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | May 20, 2012 at 07:34 PM