Daisy May - @ Tailends 06.05.06 – 02.09.07

Daisy was brought over from Ireland, where she had been living in a field shelter on a farm with a number of other dogs. Many of the dogs were considered to be in such a poor state that they were put to sleep. However four greyhounds were rescued and taken to Northants Greyhound Rescue, run by Mandy Hooker. They arrived in a filthy state, covered in excreta. The elderly brindle bitch, now known as Daisy May, was so terrified of people that she could not be bathed at the time, so she was cleaned up as best as they could while trying to reassure her. The dogs had lived in miserable conditions and now needed good homes as soon as possible. However Daisy was so frightened of people that it was not going to be easy, especially as she was an old girl. She needed the company of a number of other dogs where she could feel secure and learn to adjust to living in a home.

Mandy brought Daisy May down to Tailends on Saturday 6th May 2006. We knew she was absolutely terrified and we had to make sure everywhere was secure and that she was not frightened any more than she was already. Thankfully she got on well with the other residents and gradually became friends with a large fawn chap called Charlie. He is a little simple but likes to have the attention. Soon she played with him, especially first thing in the morning while they are both waiting to go for their first walk together.

Daisy May was taken to the vet on 9th May where she was checked over and weighed. Her general health was fine, though her hips were affected by arthritis. Her coat was very thin in places and scurfy. However we knew that with good food, vitamins, fish oil and glucosamine and chondroitin supplements, she would soon have a nice shiny coat and hopefully some relief from the arthritis.

Daisy soon showed signs of improvement. She learned to relax more and formed good solid relationships with the other dogs here. She was, however, very frightened of sudden noises, bangs or raised voices and was particularly wary of men.

Daisy enjoyed her food and walks. She slept in a bedroom with Bluebell and Alison at night and when she woke in the morning she was full of beans and danced around looking forward to her walk on the beach. Every day I could see her growing in confidence, but it was a slow gradual process. I found it best to let her have some space to be on her own if she wanted to and let her gradually join in as she chose. She sometimes went into the magnatherapy crate which she regarded as a “bolt hole” in difficult times such as thunder storms or when somebody visited.

Daisy had a malignant mammary tumour removed in January 2007. Our vet was cautiously optimistic that all the cancer was excised. Daisy May was content at Tailends but occasionally I saw that haunted look in her eyes when she was out on a walk and heard voices or a strange sound and started to feel insecure. The dreadful experiences which Daisy had lived through would continue to affect her for the rest of her life. It was very sad that she could not relate to the outside world, but Tailends was probably the best situation for her as it is very quiet with very few things to scare her. She was a very disturbed girl who had been psychologically damaged by her experiences at the hands of cruel men. However she was also very sweet and affectionate with people she trusted.

Daisy had surgery on Friday 25th May 2007 to investigate and remove the affected adrenal gland causing her Cushing’s disease. After preliminary x-rays, blood tests, scans etc the delicate procedure was successfully carried out by Simon Thompson at the new Charter veterinary hospital at Roundswell. She was also kept in overnight on a morphine drip and came home with Judy (who was also having surgery) on Saturday. Daisy was soon showing positive signs of improvement. She no longer drank excessively and ate more normally. This surgery was necessary to save her life.

Daisy had further tests to check that the Cushing’s disease was now cured by the surgery. However we became increasingly concerned that she was not making the recovery which we had hoped for and it was decided to check for thyroid insufficiency. The result showed that her thyroid levels were extremely low. She was given a course of thyroxin which had to be increased twice to 1.6mg twice a day. The thyroid levels did not come up to a level which was acceptable and Daisy was still very lethargic and became unwilling to exercise. Her weight, which had gone up to around 38kilos, started to reduce drastically. She lost 2kilos in just ten days. Daisy May was admitted to the veterinary hospital on Friday August 31st for blood tests, chest and abdominal x-rays and her mouth was cleaned up as it had been giving her pain and she was unable to eat. The blood tests showed nothing abnormal and the x-rays were generally clear apart from some spondulitis in her neck. Daisy was kept in overnight on a drip and came home on Saturday September 1st. She was restless during that night and although we gave her the medication as advised she did not seem to be improving as I had hoped. I lay down with her to reassure her. Eventually she fell asleep – or so I thought at first. Tragically it was the sleep from which she would never awake and our dear Daisy May died at around 4am on Sunday 2nd September. I am devastated at losing her. There was something else going on which we did not identify and now never will. We believe, and our vet agrees, that she was very likely suffering from a brain tumour which would not have shown up in any test except an MRI scan. I am desperately sad that I failed Daisy. I so wish we could have made you better my sweet girl but it was not to be. Daisy has joined the greyhound angels flying unseen over the beach where we walk with her friends. We miss her terribly.