IOWNA LINK

7 Y.O. Female
Special Needs

Iowna Link came to BTTR on January 13, 2010 as an owner surrender. She arrived that evening, and we realized she was going to have to see the vet the next day. Our intrepid volunteers Myra and Bill got her in at the Virginia Beach Veterinary hospital the following day. (THANKS Va Beach Vet Hospital for working her in so fast -- they always go the extra mile)

The doctor took one loook at this little girl and called a local eye specialist, who agreed to see Iowna Link that day on an emergency basis. Iowna Link has advanced glaucoma. Her left eye was in such bad shape that we have no real options. She is going to have to lose the eye.  Glaucoma is painful, as pressure builds up in the eye. This tiny little beagle has been in pain for quite some time... it took awhile for this to happen. Two vets examined her there, and she received drops in her eyes for about 20 minutes as they worked to relieve the excess pressure in the eyes... but the pressure remained way too high until they finally had to administer shots to each eye, which brought the pressure to at least temporarily acceptable levels. You could tell she felt better right away. Her eyes look better, the left one isn't protruding as far out as before, and you can actually see a pupil in the right eye now (before her pupil was so dialated that you could not see the iris of her eye). She does not blink when you come near her eyes. The vet says the vision in her left eye is completely gone. The vision in her right eye is probably gone, but we are working with them to try to save any vision she may have left. She's on three kinds of eyedrops till her re-check on January 21st. At that time, we will find out if she has any vision left in that eye. Her left eye and possibly her right eye will be removed at that vet appointment.

If Iowna Link has to have both eyes removed, we are looking at about $1600 more dollars. If one eye is removed, then about $800. We have no idea what it will cost to rehabilitate the right eye, if it can be salvaged.

Understand, please, that this dog was loved by her owner. He did not realize the extent of her illness, or that she was in pain.

We have to pay for any necessary surgery -- pay in full -- on January 21st. If there is any donation you can afford to make on Iowna Link's behalf, to help us help her, please click on the donation button below. You do not have to have a PayPal account to make a donation - just a credit card or an ATM debit card. You can also simply mail us a donation. Please indicate "Iowna Link" as the purpose of your donation (or whatever purpose you want for your donation). Thank you on behalf of Iowna Link and all the other dogs here.

Iowna Link is fully vaccinated, heartworm negative, on heartworm and flea preventative. She is TINY - maybe 11 pounds.