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Scratch - Mar. 8, 2013
Please Help us Save Simba!

In January, we rescued this adorable FeLV+ kitty from PACC. Simba is a very loving boy. He also has what is called, "Eyelid Agenesis". According to our veterinarian, Dr. Lindsay McCrady of Valley Animal Hospital, "...When the kitten is born they don't have normal eyelid margins that a normal cat would have. Subsequently they have hairs that will poke into their eyeballs creating trauma and corneal ulcers on their eye." Sounds painful doesn't it?

There are many ways to treat eyelid agenesis. The opthalmologist who examined Simba has recommended Cryotherapy, according to Dr. McCrady this is "where you take liquid nitrogen and freeze the eyelashes that are sticking into the eyeballs". The quote we have for Simba's surgery is between $800-950.

Untreated Eyelid Agenesis is very painful and can lead to blindness.We recently took in 2 blind cats and learned what can happen when Eyelid Agenesis goes untreated. To the left is a photo of Scratch's right eye (the other eye is worse and her sister Tux's eyes are frightnening). "If you don't do anything... the first thing that happens is 1. Pain, second thing that happens is you can get chronic ulcers, and irritation to the cornea which can become infected and then scar tissue is laid down and ultimately the patient will go blind," McCrady said. This is what has happened to 2 kitties we just took in, Tux & Scratch. These poor sweet 5 year old sisters have lived with this pain. We will have to remove their infected eyes to alleiviate their pain. For more info on Eyelid Agenesis click here.

Please help us Save Simba from this painful fate, by donating through PaySimple here, (choose program designation "Specific Cat" and name Simba in the dedication) or mailing in a check to:

Hermitage No-Kill Cat Shelter
P.O. Box 13508
Tucson, AZ 85732


Please note that it is for Simba on the check.
Help Save Simba!

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