Love at First Sight
Feb 16, 2022
No animal deserves to be overlooked. Unfortunately, that’s often what happens to homeless dogs and cats in constant pain from eye infections, injuries, and birth defects.
“Other shelters don't have the capability, and without the ability to treat them, we can't possibly alleviate their pain, and that's a primary goal—to alleviate their pain and treat more animals in Chicago that couldn't get treatment elsewhere,” said Dr. Emily Swiniarski.
Last year, the PAWS Chicago Medical Center team performed 25 specialty eye surgeries and helped hundreds more recover from eye conditions through careful medication.
PAWS Chicago is a resource to nearby shelters, always willing to take pets in need of supportive eye care when they reach capacity. This includes enucleation—the complete removal of an eye.
“Even though animals have to rest and recover, they heal very quickly. Probably even within a week to 10 days, the incision is all healed and they're raring to go,” said Dr. Emily.
Procedures like this are life-changing.
For some animals, “we didn't even know what they were like until the pain was taken away. Then, a week after surgery, they're excited and they're running and they're playing. We actually tend to notice their true personality after surgery.”
But enucleation is just one of a range of eye operations and treatments PAWS tackles regularly.
“We get asked to take cats and dogs with severe eye infections, including deep ulcers on the front of the eye. We also help when the third eyelid is prolapsed, meaning it’s upset, inflamed and angry.”
One of the most common cases we see is entropion.
“Entropion is when the whole eyelid rolls inward and it’s very painful. It causes chronic irritation to the front of the eye. We do surgery for that quite frequently on cats and dogs.”
One such case was Scone, a 5-year-old, male kitty who came to us last fall from the city shelter. He needed entropion repair for both eyes and also had ulcers in both eyes.
“The right eye even required additional surgery to remove dead tissue and help the ulcer heal. He was put on a ton of meds and was officially cleared for adoption in January.”
Now, this sweet boy is showing us his true, opinionated, chatty self. He's even learned how to high-five! Scone’s recovery is one of hundreds made possible by the PAWS Medical Center, and we're just getting started.
No Kill means saving even the sickest and most injured animals. And with the capability to treat severe and complex eye conditions, we’re one step closer to achieving our goal.
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Interested in meeting Scone?