eileen

Eileen is a petite beagle from the south who was found injured along the side of a rural road. Her broken leg had healed, and she found her way to Happy Life. She is about 4 years old and weighs 18 pounds. She is a very sweet girl who loves to cuddle and gets along with other dogs, enjoying playing with low to medium energy dogs close to her size.

Upon examination at our veterinarian, it was determined that Eileen has impaired vision. A consult with an ophthalmologist determined she has bi-lateral congenital cataracts covering about 3/4 of the back of her lenses along with vertical nystagmus (rapid, uncontrollable eye movements). She has better vision out of the side, but things coming right at her can startle her. She also has difficulty with nighttime sight. She is understandably a little timid and cautious although very friendly and affectionate. She does much better with another dog she can follow and cuddle up to.

Shortly after arriving, our southern foster noticed she was often uncomfortable at night, sometimes screaming in pain and having difficulty getting comfortable. So, another consult with another specialist, this time orthopedic. Eileen actually has several fractures from being hit by a car back in November. They are healing and remodeling and it is difficult to determine the exact cause of the discomfort. She is doing well on pain medication and the hope is as the fractures continue to heal, medication will not be needed. Her tail fracture has left her with no feeling in the tail. At the moment it is not causing her any difficulties, however, if it becomes problematic, she may need it amputated.

Although Eileen seems to have the cards stacked against her, she is a sweet, happy, affectionate little beagle who doesn’t let her medical issues stop her. She gets around fine, using the dog door and ramp to get inside and out. Her ability to navigate stairs is unclear. She happily snuggles up to the other dogs or a person. She needs an adopter who will be willing to provide her the care and support she needs not only now, but in the future as her medical issues may require more intervention.

"Caring for you isn’t a burden, it’s a promise — to walk beside you through every challenge, tail wags and all." - Anonymous