An urgent appeal has been launched to fund “life-changing” surgery to remove a poorly seal pup’s severely damaged eye.
The Cornish Seal Sanctuary is currently caring for a young rescued grey seal pup named Abeona, who is preparing for surgery to remove a damaged eye following a serious injury.
Abeona was rescued by volunteers from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) on last month after being found on a beach near Newquay, Cornwall.
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She was underweight for her age and had her left eye completely shut, which immediately concerned the team.
After two weeks of care at the BDMLR seal unit, where she received antibiotics and pain relief, Abeona began to show small signs of improvement and even started opening her injured eye.
She was then transferred to the Cornish Seal Sanctuary to continue her rehabilitation journey, as reports Need To Know.
Vets from Rosevean Veterinary Practice have been closely monitoring Abeona’s condition, hoping that anti-inflammatories and antibiotic eye drops would help the injury heal. Unfortunately, after several weeks of treatment, it became clear that the damage was more severe than first thought.
To prevent further pain or complications, vets have decided that surgery to remove Abeona’s damaged eye is the best option, with the operation ensuring her long-term comfort and giving her the best possible chance at a full recovery.
Despite her injury, Abeona has shown herself to be a feisty, clever little pup who absolutely loves her fish.
The team remains hopeful that following surgery, she will adapt quickly to having vision in just one eye and will be able to join the other pups when the time comes for release back into the wild.
“Abeona has been such a brave little pup since the moment she arrived,” said Beth Goodridge, Animal Care Specialist at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary.
“Despite everything she’s been through, she’s full of character and always eager for her next feed.
“We’ve done everything possible to help her eye heal, but sadly the damage is too severe.
“The surgery will give her the best chance of a pain-free, healthy future, and we’re confident she’ll adapt well.
“Seals are incredibly resilient animals, and we’re all rooting for her to make a full recovery and return to the wild where she belongs.”
The Cornish Seal Sanctuary is currently fundraising to cover the costs of Abeona’s surgery and aftercare, which are expected to be around £1,500, with an online donation link.
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