Help Zuko Get Surgery!
Donation protected
Please help my baby!
I rescued Zuko from AARCS back in September, after his left eye was enucleated due to untreated glaucoma. Unfortunately as it often does, glaucoma took hold in his right eye as well, and even though I vowed to help treat it, it looks like I might now be losing the battle. I check his intraoccular pressures routinely, and even after receiving 3 different eyedrops 3 times daily, he has had two consecutive IOPs at dangerously high levels.
For anyone not familiar with it, glaucoma can be a painful and debilitating disease, and the increased eye pressure not only causes immense discomfort but it also damages the eye to the point of causing blindness. I have taken Zuko to an ophthalmologist who took a look at his eye and has confirmed that he already has some retinal deterioration and optic nerve damage. His vision at this point is limited but even as low as it might be I want to save it for as long as I can!
This is where his surgery comes in - He is a candidate for cyclophotocoagulation therapy, a laser surgery where some of the fluid producing cells of the eye are destroyed. This helps to better maintain his eye pressure, and hopefully make him less reliant on drops (the longer you use them, the less effective they are.) There is a 75% success rate and I want to give him every chance I can before I ultimately have to make the final decision to remove his other eye and leave him blind.
I have been quoted around $1,600 for his surgery, but I am currently a student paying my way through university so...Money is tight. Any help that anyone can offer will be appreciated more than I can ever say.
I rescued Zuko from AARCS back in September, after his left eye was enucleated due to untreated glaucoma. Unfortunately as it often does, glaucoma took hold in his right eye as well, and even though I vowed to help treat it, it looks like I might now be losing the battle. I check his intraoccular pressures routinely, and even after receiving 3 different eyedrops 3 times daily, he has had two consecutive IOPs at dangerously high levels.
For anyone not familiar with it, glaucoma can be a painful and debilitating disease, and the increased eye pressure not only causes immense discomfort but it also damages the eye to the point of causing blindness. I have taken Zuko to an ophthalmologist who took a look at his eye and has confirmed that he already has some retinal deterioration and optic nerve damage. His vision at this point is limited but even as low as it might be I want to save it for as long as I can!
This is where his surgery comes in - He is a candidate for cyclophotocoagulation therapy, a laser surgery where some of the fluid producing cells of the eye are destroyed. This helps to better maintain his eye pressure, and hopefully make him less reliant on drops (the longer you use them, the less effective they are.) There is a 75% success rate and I want to give him every chance I can before I ultimately have to make the final decision to remove his other eye and leave him blind.
I have been quoted around $1,600 for his surgery, but I am currently a student paying my way through university so...Money is tight. Any help that anyone can offer will be appreciated more than I can ever say.
For years I dreamed of Zuko, and now that I have him, I want to do everything I can to protect him and help him. He is my heart dog, my best friend, and the sweetest, happiest dog who has overcome so much. He has such a bright outlook on life even though he only sees it through one eye...And with your help I can keep it that way for as long as possible.
Organizer
Brittany Burgess
Organizer
Calgary, AB