This adorable little girl arrived a couple of weeks ago, and we kept her "under wraps" because we had so much going on. Meanwhile it quickly dawned on us that this senior was a whirl of activity and inquisitiveness who followed us around, wanting to know what we were doing, why we were doing it, and what we were going to do next -- because she intended to be there.
Now, she doesn't appear to be that assertive in the photo -- the camera flash was going off and it makes her nervous -- but Aurora is a bundle of energy who is timid one moment, then scurrying around the floor, doing play-bows and wanting to mix it up.
She came to us from Atlanta Beagle Rescue, who had pulled her from a West Virginia shelter where she had been described as a "sad, old blind dog" who was stressed out and not eating. Morgan from Atlanta Beagle Rescue told me in an email, "Turned out Ms. Aurora may be old, but not sad and not really blind." They had to remove her right eye because of corneal ulcers, but she can still see from her compromised left eye.
Morgan added, 'She is very active and plays with the tennis balls, then surgically removes the squeaker." (That sounded very familiar to us.)
Despite Aurora's cuteness, and despite having had her since last July, Atlanta Beagle Rescue had not been able to find anyone interested in adopting her. Hence the email asking if we could take her.
You can see how troubled her remaining eye looks in this next photo:
Thus Aurora made the trip to Burlington two weeks ago to see our ophthalmologist, Dr. Sarah Hoy, as well as our internal medicine specialist, Dr. Tanya Donovan, for a geriatric screening.
Here she is getting the slit lamp exam:
And here she is, happily hanging out with vet tech Patty in between diagnostic procedures:
In the summary of her findings, Dr. Hoy wrote, "Aurora presented today with a sighted left eye that has severe corneal edema centrally. There is no corneal ulcer present today, however she will always be at risk for recurrent corneal ulcers due to the persistent edema in her cornea. The edema (fluid) can coalesce into bubbles of fluid that rise to the surface of the cornea and rupture causing new superficial ulcers. The mild redness to her eye may suggest an inflammatory component to the endothelial problem underlying the condition."
That underlying condition is either corneal endothelial degeneration, corneal endothelial dystropy, or corneal endothelitis. At this point there is no way to know for sure which is the specific cause, but the outcome is the same: Aurora is at risk for continued development of corneal ulcers in the future. The treatment plan for now is a twice daily application of cyclosporine ointment for the rest of her life, and careful monitoring of her eye.
Then it was off to see Dr. Donovan for the usual, starting with the physical:
Aurora may only have one eye, but that's all you need to give "the eye" to the doctor:
(Click on photo for larger version to see the look she's giving Tanya.)
After some X-rays, the next stop was the ultrasound room. Here Tanya is scanning while vet tech Katie and fourth-year vet student Jennifer S. hold Aurora still:
The rest of her organs looked fine, but on the echocardiogram it was clear the mitral valve in her heart is undergoing changes -- some thickening -- and thus she will need to start taking heart meds. Her bloodwork and urinalysis all came back normal.
Just as I was finishing writing up this post on Sunday afternoon, I headed downstairs to the kitchen to put some bread in the oven and saw Aurora asleep in her basket again:
Aurora says, "I don't know who Goldie was but she was on to something here."
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Shelter Challenge Contest -- Please Vote for the Farm!
The latest Shelter Challenge started Monday, January 7 and ends on April 28. Grand prize in this round is $10,000, $3,000 for second place and $1,000 for third place, 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.
*** You will find us listed as Rolling Dog Farm. The state is 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 in the 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!
Thank God for Rolling Dog Farm. Welcome sweet precious Aurora. Your sad days are far behind you!
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | March 19, 2013 at 02:02 PM
Welcome dear *Aurora*...my what a pretty name you have and what a beautiful little girl you are!! xox
Posted by: Valerie | March 19, 2013 at 12:08 PM
Bless her heart, she's adorable!
Posted by: Dawn | March 19, 2013 at 11:18 AM
What a sweet sweet girl. She looks at home already. Thank you for taking her in and giving her a wonderful life.
Welcome Aurora! We look forward to hearing about your adventures out in the yard if spring ever gets here.
Posted by: Chloe | March 19, 2013 at 10:33 AM
So many times shelters say such things and worse about an animal. Then, you bring it home, put it on a healthy schedule of food, medical care, excersise and LOVE. and it flourishes! Just amazing what care and love will do to animals...and people.
Posted by: D Daniel | March 19, 2013 at 08:22 AM
What a precious little girl! So glad she feels right at home and has definitely found a place in your hearts too!
Posted by: Leila K. - Western Wash. | March 19, 2013 at 01:57 AM
Welcome to RDF, Aurora! Your life will be wonderful now! She is beautiful, I love her coloring.
Posted by: Ann | March 19, 2013 at 01:39 AM
How lovely that the new addition fills your hearts near the spot left empty by Goldie. She looks like a real sweetie.
I'd be interested in knowing what the average eye-count per animal is, considering how many dogs are below the standard number. When I was able to take in handicapped animals, I used to figure out the average eye- and leg-count every now and then.
Posted by: Moon Rani | March 18, 2013 at 10:11 PM
So glad Aurora made it and is doing well. I LOVE this little spunky girl!! I had told Morgan that if I hadn't already had a full house Aurora would have been mine! She's a fabulous example of the resilience and fight of the beagle personality. Give her some love from her Atlanta family! And thank you, Steve and Alayne, for taking another one of our special beagles! ABR loves RDF!!
Posted by: Michele | March 18, 2013 at 10:04 PM
Sad, old blind dog my b&*t! She is adorable, endearing and as a beagle, just the smallest, tiniest, itty bittiest bossy! I am so happy she has landed at RDF.
Posted by: Mary H./Washington state | March 18, 2013 at 05:35 PM
That's so sweet that she's following in Goldie's footsteps in so many ways. She sounds like she has already made herself at home and is greatly enjoying her new life. Welcome Auorora! That's a great name, too.
Posted by: Tonya Allen | March 18, 2013 at 05:26 PM
What a sweet girl and as always, the care you take of her is exemplary... may she sleep in the basket for many days and nights to come!
Posted by: Jessica, NL | March 18, 2013 at 04:40 PM
Such a sweet-looking girl! I'll bet Goldie sent her to you and told her how good her life would be! Thank you so much for giving her her furever home!
Posted by: Shirley and dachshunds Sunnie & Dieter | March 18, 2013 at 03:04 PM
Wooo wee, welcome Aurora!!!!! Life is good now!
Posted by: Penny | March 18, 2013 at 02:51 PM
"sad, old blind dog"-- That's fighting words!
I share the view that Goldie must have been cosmically involved in bringing sweet Aurora to you. We know know Goldie is irreplaceable, but a fond memory is always priceless. Wonderful news that Aurora is home now.
Posted by: Margaret | March 18, 2013 at 02:04 PM
WELCOME HOME AURORA WELCOME HOME
Posted by: Eric | March 18, 2013 at 10:40 AM
She's a beautiful old gal. "Aurora", it's a new dawn for you, Honey. I'm glad she reminds you of someone that you both loved so much. It sounds like she is working very hard to fill the space that Goldie left in your hearts. I'm so glad you all found one another!
Posted by: Kathleen Rivard | March 18, 2013 at 10:19 AM
Welcome Aurora!! When I saw the first picture, my first thought was "that sure looks like Goldie!" She must be channeling Goldie to be sleeping in her favorite spot.
Posted by: Laura, Levi & Timmy | March 18, 2013 at 10:04 AM
What a sweet looking girl! Thank you for giving her a loving home in her golden years. She is truly blessed.
Posted by: Kathy Hertzel | March 18, 2013 at 09:30 AM
Isn't that sweet that Goldie sent Aurora to you to fill in for her! Welcome, Aurora.
Posted by: Janet in Cambridge | March 18, 2013 at 09:03 AM
Welcome Aurora! She certainly looks like she made herself at home rather quickly. She seems content to be at a place where she has her own basket/bed. (and given the choice, what makes them get into a bed they have to step up and into over a bed on the floor??) She's going to be very happy and will get the attention she deserves. She may be old and nap more than some of the others but I don't think that's going to slow her down. Wait till the wam weather comes and she sees how big the yard is! And that evil eye glance at the doctor is priceless. Thank you for taking her in.
Posted by: Barb Ribinski | March 18, 2013 at 08:28 AM