MTAR - Gift of Sight

Gift of Sight

Every year we have more and more dogs who arrive here with eye problems.....

They can be suffering from many different conditions including:

Dry eye - This is a condition where the dogs eyes stop producing tears resulting in sore often infected eyes. This can be managed with eye drops given regularly aslong as it is caught before damage to the eye has occured.

Eye infections - This is usually treated sucessfully with antibiotics but again as with dry eye, if damage has been done to the eye by long term untreated infections the eye may have to be removed.

Trauma/injury - Dogs may arrive with an injury to the eye, recent or old, this may result in eye removal if there is alot of damage.

Entropian - This is when the dogs eyelid is inverted and the eyelashes rub and irritate the eye, it is a very uncomfortable condition which can be treated with an operation.

Congenital issues - Some dogs are born with eye abnormalities, some aren't treatable for instance microthalmia (small eye) and Persistant pupillary membranes (cloudiness in the eye not caused by cataracts), some pups arrive with congenital cataracts which can sometimes be treated.

Cataracts - Years of poor eye care means the ex-breeding dogs that come to us have a higher rate of cataracts than your average pet dog. These are usually treatable as long as there is no other damage to the eye.

Glaucoma - This is an extremely painful condition that very often results in a dog's affected eye/s being urgently removed.

Cataract operations are routinely needed at Many Tears and unfortunately these operations are one of the highest expenses we incur each year.

The initial cost to see if a dog is eligible for cataract surgery is usually £80-£120.
The cost of the operation is £1800-£2000 and this does not include the cost of the drugs and eyedrops.

...........but the change to the dogs life is priceless so please donate if you can

If you do not have a PayPal account and would like to donate, please send a cheque to Many Tears Animal Rescue, Cwmlogin House, Cefneithin, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire SA14 7HB and write
Gift of Sight on the back of the cheque.

Ex-breeding dogs have usually never left the breeders before and the transition to becoming a pet dog is a huge adjustment for any dog to make but for the dogs that cannot see it is much more confusing and they can really struggle - so it is so important to help them by giving them the Gift of Sight if we can.

THESE ARE JUSTSOME OF THE DOGS WHO HAVE BENEFITTED FROM THE GIFT OF SIGHT FUND AND YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN THESE DOGS WHO HAVE CHANGED FROM FRIGHTENED AND LOST TO HAPPY AND ENJOYING LIFE.

IF ONLY .....................................................................ARDITH

CORAL .....................................................................ORACLE

ALICIA ......................................................................TRUST

ROSE ........................................................................CLOUD

Since 2014 we have given over 70 dogs the Gift of Sight and we are hoping that the funds will continue to be donated to help those dogs who arrive here in the future so they are able to be given this very special gift.

COULD YOU FOSTER A DOG WHILST IT IS GIVEN THE GIFT OF SIGHT?

WE DESPERATELY NEED FOSTERERS WHO CAN FOSTER BLIND DOGS AND TAKE THEM TO A SPECIALIST FOR SURGERY.

We use opthalmologists at Rowe Vets in Bristol and Grove Lodge vets in Worthing, West Sussex

Currently, there are only a few fosterers that foster the blind dogs, this involves giving eye drops, taking them to see an Ophthalmologist to see if their sight can be helped by surgery or not, taking them to surgery and helping with their recovery post op.

If you would like to foster a Gift of Sight dog but do not live near these locations, we are happy for you to approach veteranery Ophthalmologist Specialists (not a general vet who has an Ophthalmology Certificate) near you. if they could match the price (the vets we use currently operate on both eyes if suitable for £2000 per dog) then we could consider using them for the surgery.

If anybody is interested in fostering a blind dog or dogs for Many Tears, then please get in touch with the rescue direct or fill out a foster form.

Here is an idea of what its like to foster a blind dog by Sally one of our fosterers.
How do the blind dogs cope in a home environment?
Here at my home we have blind and seeing dogs, they all get on together, the blind dogs follow the seeing dogs and learn the layout of our house. Sometimes you wouldn't know they were blind! Their other senses like hearing and smelling are heightened and you'd be surprised how they cope. As long as you don't move the furniture around constantly to confuse them, they cope really well. I would suggest very young children wouldn't be ideal around blind dogs, but older sensible, dog savvy children would be fine.

What care do I need to provide after the operation?
They will have a buster collar on for at least 2 weeks, so that they don't scratch their eyes with their claws or paws. They are not allowed to be walked for these 2 weeks. You would need to take the dog back to the specialist normally a week post surgery, just to make sure the stitches aren't rubbing the eye etc. This is normally a quick consultation and it actually takes me longer to drive to the specialist (an hour), than it does for them to be seen!

What medication do you have to give the dogs, is it difficult?

Pre surgery, you need to put one set of drops in the dogs eyes 2 weeks prior to surgery, and I have never had a problem with doing this.
Post surgery, they will be on antibiotics, painkillers, anti-inflammatories normally twice a day, but we just put these in ham, cheese, cream cheese etc and they think they're having treats. They are also normally on 3 different types of eye drops for the first 2 weeks. Again these are tolerated well, but you will have to be around most of the day, as they need these drops at different times during the day, although you can do morning, lunch, teatime etc.

Can the dogs see straight away?
The dogs can sometimes see blurry things immediately or sometimes their eyesight appears over the next week. You'll know when they can see, they act differently and it's amazing to see the change in the dog.

Do you take them out for walks?

Pre surgery some blind dogs will come out for walks on harnesses (they feel more secure on these), but some are too scared and are quite happy pottering around in the garden. Post surgery they can start getting used to regular walks. You just need to make sure they can't catch their eyes on brambles etc, and you do have to be careful not to walk them near sand, dust or on really windy days.

Why do you foster blind dogs?

It is SO rewarding see these shut down, scared, blind dogs evolve into cheeky little monkeys who run around and act like a 'normal' dog. A recent foster dog was very shut down, didn't want to do anything pre surgery but then post surgery she was a different dog. She would go out our cat flap to have a run round the garden, was off lead on our walks, flying round the fields.

SCRATCH CARDS
Many Tears Scratchcards are now available to raise money to help give our dogs the Gift of Sight. Ask your friends, family and work colleagues to "buy" a square for £1 and write their name and phone number in that square. When all squares are sold, scratch off the silver segment to reveal the winner. Give the winner £10 and the remaining £10 goes to Many Tears. It's something you can do to help that will not cost you anything except a little effort and it's fun.
Send your name and address by email to janewhittaker44@btinternet.com and she will happily post a card to you. Every £1 helps - no obligation to complete the card.

News & Events

This Group is set up for fosters can share their dogs, and adopters can post about their new additions. Please come and join us.

The Bristol Buddies are a team of talented people who create some lovely items to sell to raise funds for Many Tears

We take in many dogs each year in need of eye operations to give them the Gift of Sight. If you would like to make a donation and see some of the dogs who have benefitted from this CLICK HERE.

At Many Tears we try and fix broken hearts. Of course, as always, this costs money. If you would like to help us mend some broken hearts and see whose have benefitted from this fund CLICK HERE

A simple and easy way to help Many Tears is to sponsor a kennel for as little as £1 a day. CLICK HERE for more information.