A LETTER MY MOM WROTE

Hi Wendy,
I thought I'd give you a little update on Minnie.
Minnie had to have heart test before her surgery. They also did a echo on her heart too. It seems she has mital valve heart disease and its fairly a bad one. The vet said that they rate heart murmurs from 1 to 5. Minnie has a 4. They said this could had developed as a result of over breeding her and a poor diet and /or heredity. But, it will never go away now and eventfully she will die from heart failure. Her heart also beats slow.
Minnie has severe periodontal disease and a large bladder stone.
She had surgery and of course it was dangerous for a small dog with severe heart disease to have any kind of surgery. We were afraid of her not making it through it. The vet spayed her at the same time. So she had a 3-way surgery. They said that if it looked like her heart would not make it through all of it .. That the would postpone the dental.
But she had the bladder surgery, spayed and dental all at once and she came though like a champ! I can't tell you how very relieved I was. I cried like a idiot when they told me that she came through the surgery.
The bladder stone (which was BIG!) had been in her for so long that a polyp had developed and made her bladder wall very thick. They sent the polyp off for testing because it could had been cancer. (another worry) . But since it was negative, they said it was because of the length of time the stone had been there. That stone had been there for years. What pain she must had been in all this time !
They cleaned and removed some of her teeth. Also put a stitch in 2 of them to save them. Minnie also had a hole in her mouth where a tooth used to be . The hole went all the way up into her sinuses. The vet said it's a wonder she didn't get pneumonia! I never knew they would get that from a hole in their mouth. Wow, the things you learn.
Wendy, she was in so much pain for 3 days, it broke my heart. David was home and did everything and I just stayed by her side every moment. I couldn't leave her!
Minnie today ? Well, let me brag a bit here. You would not recognize her coat. It was dry and stiff and brittle. Now its the softest coat, It feels like cotton its so soft! She's become very playful with my other dogs and treats my little brown dog (Tootles, you seen her), like her long lost puppy. Minnie thinks she the 3rd in command in our pack now. ( 5 dogs) I was wondering what order she was going to be. LOL. She sits and stands on command. Runs and plays with the other dogs. Eats like a pig!!! I have to watch her weight.
She hates the cats and will try to bite them.. What a joke because she has no top teeth and can only gum them. Minnie is very obsessive of me. I don't think that insecurity will ever go away. When she is on my lap , which is most of the time, she tries to keep Tootles and Sparky away from me by barking and growling.
She also has become a good singer . That's the voice you hear in the recording I sent.you. Its the cutest thing. She throws her head up and back and just sings it out. LOL.
All my dogs sleep in crates in my bedroom at night. They each have their own crate, except for Miles (my other Chihuahua), who sleeps in the bed. I don't close the crate doors, they stay open all the time. At night around 10:00pm to 11:00 PM, I tell them its bedtime and they all go to their own crates and stay there all night.
Minnie is 100% potty trained, but because of her bladders thick wall, I leave a pee pad out for her at night. She can't hold herself that long. She pushes the door open during the day time and goes outside by her self now. If she can't open the door to get back in, believe me...she will let you know !!!! LOL
Minnie has had such a hard life. It breaks my heart when I think of it. Thank God you got her and I adopted her.
Wendy, I'm writing this email to thank you for Minnie. Even though I know she will not have a real long life, she has bought much joy into my life. Everyday is something different with her. David is a captain on a freighter ship and is out to sea for 3 months and here for 6 weeks. That's a hard schedule. Minnie and my other dogs bring me a lot of comfort and companionship. I am home 24/7. They guard me, love me , entertain me and are my dear companions of course.
When weather is not too hot, they go to the field near us and run and play unleased. Minnie stays by my side always . She doesn't run with the other dogs because she is slowly going blind.
I know, with all she has been through, you would think things would get better for her. Wendy, Minnie has had a hell of a life before she came to us. But , its better now. She has me and lots and lots of love and attention, good food and vet care. Minnie will be on medications for the rest of her life. She takes Enalapril for her heart and a diuretic to keep the fluid off her lungs. But , she is able to do everything my other dogs do (except I don't' allow her into much heat outside ) and is a happy little lady
Thanks Wendy, for bringing this little love muffin into my life. She means so very much to me.


Crystal

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