[Dailydrool] old timer and Ellie

[Sabrina Nicholls]

I've been on the Drool since the 1990s. I started with Brendan and 
Calhoune, who came with the names Sydney and Ralph when I adopted them 
from Basset Hound Rescue of So. California; they were 1; I didn't like 
those names, so I called them double names Syndey-Brendan and 
Ralph-Calhoune, until they got used to the new names. Calhoune was the 
dog of my heart, so perfect and gorgeous (82 solid pounds with ears 
appropriate to his size). Sadly, he died of auto immune hemolytic anemia 
when he was only 8. Tessie was 10 when I fostered her while her owner 
was in rehab. The owner split, the Basset stayed - and kept her name. 
Buddy was 9 when I adopted him, and kept his name. Now I live with Ellie 
and Gumbo. I chose the name Ellie, didn't like her given name; she was 
2. I adopted Gumbo at 5 and loved his name. I'd never met a Gumbo. Gumbo 
is a therapy dog; he tutors third grade students. Each semester, he 
spends 15 minutes a week each with four kids chosen by their teachers. 
He's been at it for five years now, so all the kids from third grade up 
know him. They sometimes call him Dumbo, until corrected. Gumbo is 10 
now but loves his work. Some of the girls wake him up when they turn the 
page so he can see the pictures.

Ellie is 13. Two weeks ago, she had a stroke but she's doing okay. At 
dinner time Ellie, my food hound, wasn't in the kitchen. I found her 
wandering around the backyard, in circles, looking disoriented. When I 
called her she looked up but kept walking around. She wasn't steady on 
her feet. I led her inside to her food. She walked right past her dish, 
and I knew something was very wrong. She is blind in one eye from 
glaucoma and I thought she might be blind, but she reacted when I 
reached for her good eye. Then I thought it was her back, but she shook 
to get rid of her drool and I knew she wouldn't do that if her back 
hurt. So I thought it might be a stroke. Off to the vet, who is open 
until 11 p.m. The vet pointed out that Ellie's eyes were moving from 
side to side. She said it was a brain event - possibly a stroke, a 
tumor, possibly widespread cancer, or meningitis. The vet did blood work 
and x-rays; everything looked good. Ellie was given steroids and valium. 
The next day, it was off to the veterinary neurologist. She was 
wonderful. She spent 45 minutes with us, examining Ellie and explaining 
things to me. Ellie was third in line for an MRI. Diagnosis: stroke. The 
vet said Ellie would continue to improve over time; it could take six 
months. Chances of having another stroke are 50/50. Ellie is eating and 
walking, but she sometimes wobbles on her feet. The strangest thing it 
that this girl, who used to grab cookies out of my hand violently, was 
grabbing and missing the cookie; then she'd panic. I have learned to 
insert it into her mouth. Also, she rests upright, not on her side, and 
doesn't roll on her back for belly rubs. The regular vet says it could 
be vertigo. Trying to be patient.

Sabrina, Ellie and Gumbo