Sweet Cookie’s second chance
When Cookie, a four-year-old pug, arrived at our member charity Mayhew, she was already missing one eye, which had been removed before she reached them. There was no medical history to explain why—no notes, no records. Just a small, gentle dog who had clearly been through something significant and who deserved every bit of kindness the team could give her.
During Cookie’s first veterinary examination, the team discovered that her remaining eye was affected by keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), commonly known as dry eye.
This condition prevents the eye from producing enough tears to keep its surface healthy. Without those protective tears, the eye becomes inflamed, painful, and vulnerable to ulcers.
For Cookie, whose only eye was already showing significant changes, it was worrying news. Without treatment, she could have lost her sight entirely. The vets knew they had to act fast to protect her remaining eye.
Cookie was started on medication to stimulate tear production, alongside frequent lubrication to protect and soothe the delicate surface of her eye. At first, there were concerns
that some of the damage might be irreversible.
But with consistent, careful treatment and exactly the right medication, Cookie gradually began to respond.
The ulcer present when she arrived healed, and her eye stabilised with treatment. Cookie charmed everyone she met along the way. She also had a dental scale and polish. Despite everything she had experienced before arriving at Mayhew, she remained gentle, affectionate, and quietly resilient.
Cookie has now been adopted into a loving home where her new family understands the importance of her ongoing eye care and is committed to giving her everything she needs.
Thanks to your support, and the treatment she received at Mayhew, Cookie has kept the sight in her only eye—and with it, the chance to enjoy the life every dog deserves.