Eyesight for Miss Camilla - Surgery Fundraiser

In November 2019, I noticed Camilla's right eye looked slightly hazy.  I brought her to our regular vet who thought it was nuclear sclerosis (a blue haze that develops in aging dogs) and therefore not a concern.  I went to another vet for a second opinion and was given a referral to Western Canada Veterinary Eye Specialists.   There are only a few eye specialist in Canada, so although we had to wait a month for an appointment, we were fortunate that a specialist was close by! 

We met with Dr. Keller at Western Canada Veterinary Eye Specialists.  And after multiple appointments and many tests, Camilla was diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes.  Dr. Keller suspects Camilla was born with cataracts because her eyes are smaller than normal for her breed.  Its heartbreaking to think that Camilla has always had cataracts, they've just gotten worse over time and are now significantly affecting her vision.  Camilla's right eye is categorized as an "immature cataract" and her left eye is "incipient cataracts."  Although her left eye isn't as bad, the specialist said the cataract is covering just over 50% of her lens. 

Cataracts:  A cataract is an opacity within the lens.  Many cataracts start small and progress through several stages, eventually coming to involve the entire lens, causing blindness.  Cataracts can only be removed with surgery.   There is no medication that will return the lens back to a clear structure.  

Luckily, Camilla passed the pre-surgical testing and is a candidate for cataract eye surgery.  I was quoted $7,000 (Canadian Dollars) for the cataract surgery for both eyes and told to budget $2,000 for required aftercare appointments and medication.  Camilla is at a slightly higher risk of developing glaucoma after surgery due to "mild goniodysgenesis" in both eyes, so I am anticipating additional required appointments. She will also need bloodwork prior to surgery. This is why I've made the GoFundMe goal $10,000.  



I was devastated to learn just how bad Camilla's eyesight really is.  Camilla is truly an example of how resilient dogs are.  Camilla has accomplished so much in her short 6 years of life and for her to do so with limited vision just amazes me.  Unfortunately, the cataracts are now at a point that it is affecting her quality of life.  

Camilla is one of a kind.  She is loud, feisty, talented, so inanely sweet, and does everything with 300% enthusiasm! She lives for exploring hiking trails and running around the agility course.

Camilla is my agility dog and has won top placements at Regional and National agility events.  She also competes in several other dog sports (barn hunt, disc, dock diving).  I would hate for Camilla’s sport career and outdoor adventures to be cut short due to cataracts.

For anyone that knows me, they know how much I adore Camilla.  The cataract surgery would allow Camilla to continue doing what she loves and allow her to see clearly for the first time in her entire life.  This surgery would also give me and my best teammate many more years competing and hiking together.  And I would be eternally grateful for that. 

The health and happiness of my pets is my #1 priority and I sincerely appreciate any support in making this surgery possible for Camilla.  Please share Camilla’s story and consider donating to our GoFundMe.