Meet Rhubarb, a 3 year old Yorkshire Terrier who needed plasma to help save her eye.
One morning, Rhubarb’s owner noticed she was squinting and struggling to open one of her eyes. Knowing how quickly eye conditions can worsen, she immediately called the vet. That same day, Rhubarb was diagnosed with a small corneal ulcer and prescribed antibiotic and repair drops, along with pain relief.
But things quickly escalated. Two days later, the ulcer had grown rapidly, it was now the size of a 5p piece, which for a dog that weighs only 4kg is huge! Rhubarb urgently needed surgery. Faced with the choice to remove the eye or travel two hours to a specialist hospital, her owner chose to travel.
Rhubarb arrived at Veterinary Vision in Penrith and underwent surgery. The large hole in her cornea, caused by a melting ulcer, could only be repaired using a synthetic graft. The drops she had initially been given were found to be ineffective due to antibiotic resistance.
To give Rhubarb the best chance of accepting the graft and keeping her eye, she was treated with plasma drops, made possible thanks to the incredible generosity of donor dogs. For the first two and a half weeks post-surgery, Rhubarb received these drops in her eye six times a day, alongside many other medications, to support her recovery.
Now, four and a half weeks on, Rhubarb is doing well. Her sight is not guaranteed, but every day brings her closer to healing. Thanks to the skill of the vet team and the kindness of the dogs and owners who donate, Rhubarb has a real chance of saving up to 50% of her vision, a gift that means the world to a young, energetic dog.
“Without the kindness of strangers and their amazing pups alongside the amazing care of Veterinary Vision, Rhubarb wouldn't even have this chance. We are so grateful to those who donate. Rhubarb is only 3 years old so the chance of saving 50% of her vision is huge for her.’’ Her owner said.
Dogs like Rhubarb need other healthy dogs to donate blood so that it is always there in situations like this. If your dog is aged between 1 and 8, over 25kg, and fit and healthy they could be a lifesaver. Visit our dog blood donation pages to learn more.
