Ear Ablation Surgery

vivkirk

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Hi Steve,

My kitty just had one of her ear canals removed.  It was a week ago Tuesday. While it's a little different than your kitty, I can make a few suggestions considering I had the same concerns before I decided to go this route.

First, I would ask about polyp removal only. I tried this with my kitty, but as it turns out, they couldn't remove it because it was a mass that had grown around her ear canal. They biopsied what they could remove and it was inconclusive. The threat of cancer was always there.

I then decided to take her to a different vet for a 2nd opinion.  She indicated that if it were her cat, she would have the ear canal removed so that she can continue on with life without chronic ear infections.  She is 11, and I was afraid, but I took her advise and consulted with a specialty vet (surgeon) who did the surgery after determining that she was capable of handling the operation.

I can only say that if she has 2 ears that have polyps, and you want her to continue to be an indoor/outdoor cat, I would see about removing the polyps BEFORE have the ear canals removed. This would render her completely deaf, and if she wants to go outside, that might not be a good idea. Unless you decide to leave her inside, strictly, and how awful would it be if she got lost?  She wouldn't be able to hear predators (coyotes or fischers) or you calling for her if she wasn't around.  If you are asking these questions, you must care enough about her to want to know everything that could happen.

If I could have just had the polyp removed, I would have opted for that. But I had no choice. Please research a little before making a decision that cannot be reversed.  I wish you lots of luck and your kitty an easy transition regardless of which route you decide to go. Our kitties are part of our family, and it's very traumatic for our furbabies and US to have any health challenge!

Peanut's mom
Peanuts Mom - how did your kitty do after her ablation?  Felix had both of his ears done because he had polyps in both ears that had completely jammed up his ears and there was vile stuff coming out of his ears.  But he looks awful, his best friend runs from him when he looks at him, he is miserable, and I am wondering, after $5,000.00 if I did the right thing??  Will he ever be the same?
 

cprcheetah

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I'm not Peanuts mom but I had a cat named Little Foot who had the surgery a long time ago (he has since crossed the bridge for an unrelated reason), he did really good following the surgery, the first few days were awful, but he pulled through and did really well afterwards.  He did end up with nerve damage on one side of his face, so his third eye lid would always be up, but it didn't bother me.  It did make him slightly deaf though, but that was just one of his little quarks.  He really did well with it.  He had the surgery because he had severe allergies and kept getting pussy infections and he would scratch them bloody.
 

peanuts mom

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well, it's been since July, and she is doing great! her ear that was operated on bends forwarda little, and the pupil in the eye on that side of her face is always a little larger than the other, but I was warned these things were probable. they could still correct themselves over time, but I'm happy and she is too! when did your kitty have his ears done? as long as you can keep him safe, so what if he doesn't look as he did before.... It's better that he is healthy and alive than always sick with infection. I know the stuff that used to come out of peanuts ear was not only smelly, but messy too. I was always cleaning the walls, and the blankets, and stuffing meds in her along with daily ear washes she hated! so be patient... It's an adjustment for both of you and the other 4 legged babies. my peanut didn't want anything to do with my other cat, and he felt the same. but they're back to normal with each other again! :-)
 

reader55

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Re: Cone compliance

Greetings, TECA cat owners! My 10-year-old cat had ear ablation surgery two days ago. I brought her home yesterday. First thing she did was pull off her cone. Second thing was biting off her Fentanyl patch. I called the surgical clinic about both, and they are adamant that I re-attach the cone. BUT I know my cat will obsess over the cone, and without it, she seems happy: eating and drinking well, cuddling up to me, jumping on the windowsill to watch for signs of avian life.

Is there anyone out there who disobeyed the instructions about wearing the cone? My cat is supposed to wear it for TWO WEEKS and I know this won't happen!!!!!!!!
 

red top rescue

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The "Cone of Shame" as my cat vet calls it is fine for dogs but most cats find it to be sheer torture, and many vets general are not sensitive to this.  The whole point of the cone is to prevent the animal from scratching, biting, or otherwise disturbing a surgical area. If your cat is NOT bothering the surgical area, there is no reason for her to wear a cone.  Good postoperative pain control (which your cat also removed) usually prevents them bothering the area, because the area is not bothering them. 

I just read in another unrelated post that a vet recommended this persons cat wear a cone for TWO WEEKS after a simple NEUTER!  I mean come on, gimme a break, REALLY?  No way.  He must be a dog vet with no knowledge of cats.  . 

As long as your cat is not bothering her ear, leave the cone off.  As for the fentanyl patch, you probably couldnt attach it again if you tried.  Personally, I prefer either one of two pain relief meds that one of my vets provides after surgery, like a routine spay -- it is Butorphanol suspension, 1 mg/ml -- I think she gets it compounded by a compounding pharmacy but I am not sure -- and she has individual doses each in 1 ml. syringes and measured out by the weight of the cat (one size does not fit all!), and instructions are give 1 dose every 12 hours for pain.  For heavier surgery or larger cats, she also has another great pain medication -- it's also made up by a compounding pharmacy -- Tramadol in a GEL that you actually put inside the ear flap and it is absorbed through the skin, also every 12 hours.  Being in rescue, we use more than one vet.  The other vet is very good too but recommends the cone after surgery.  Although I keep one handy, I never need to use it if I use the butorphanol, and usually they only need it for one day, although she usually gives us 3 days worth, so we always have some on hand.. 

Remember, the cone is not medicine, it is just to prevent your cat from bothering the ear.  If she isn't bothering the ear, you don't need to use the cone.  I'm glad she is doing so well and hope she continues to heal with no complications.
 

reader55

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Thank you for your helpful reply, Red Top Rescue. I've left the cone off and so far, so good. Two days after cone removal, my cat scratched her ear once and it bled a tiny bit, but she hasn't touched it since. I left the cone (Iron Maiden??) by my bed where she can check it out and make sure it's not misbehaving!

Eight days after the TECA surgery, my cat is not yet back to her fully energetic self. But since the clinic said that she should maintain a low activity level for 2-3 weeks, I'm trying not to be concerned. It's just that she seemed peppier the day I brought her home than she does now. There are no signs of infection, however, so I hope she's just devoting energy to healing.
 

emmieemz

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Hi guys. I just went through the ear polyp removal process with my cat. This is her second surgery in 3 months and her polyps grow back at such a fast rate.the vet recommended the TECA surgery and im very hesitant on it. How much did it cost you guys for it and im hoping it improves her quality of life so I can stop making her go through these minor surgeries. It breaks my heart to see her suffer
 

peanuts mom

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I'm not sure about your kitty, each one is different. All I can say is that my Peanut had her total ear ablation surgery in July 2013.  The months leading up to her final surgery (she had "attempted" polyp removal in March 2013, but failed due to the location and size of the polyp), were so difficult for her and for me.  I hated to see the suffering from the chronic infection, the discharge and the constant digging she would do to try to get at the infected area.

She was 12 when she had the surgery. After the surgery was complete, I kept her there at the hospital for an extra day. She did not come home with a cone.  I just kept a good eye on her, and she really wasn't interested in digging or scratching anymore.  It took a while (about 2 weeks) for her to start acting "normal" again.  Up to that time, she was quiet, pokey at eating (she's always been a little piglet) and sleeping more than usual.  But it turned around, and once she got back to her old self (new and improved actually), she has been doing wonderfully well!!! 

It was very hard for me to make the decision to have the surgery....but after speaking with the surgeon (I took her to a specialty vet, not the typical general surgeon) and him telling me what her life would be like without the surgery, I decided I wanted her to have quality life.  It was costly, I won't lie....but after the back and forth to the regular vet, the meds, the misery I watched her experience....I would do it all over again.  I think the total cost including the extra time at the vet, was around $2500.  But it depends on where you live too.  Some areas are more expensive than others.

Whatever you do, I wish you lots of good things, and prayers for your little kitty.  She trusts you will do what's best for her, as she has no voice. God bless you both!
 

klausinky

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I have to thank everyone for their frank sharing of experiences here. It's helped me realize that this procedure is not something my beloved,partially feral cat could endure. I couldn't begin to give him the care required for the operation. In a sense i can let him go now.
 

emmieemz

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Thank you P peanuts mom since our last vet visit I got wonderful news, her tumor is not cancerous, thank god and shes on oral medication that has made her ears look good as new. I dont see any new tumors and my cat is acting more like her old crazy vocal cuddly self. Before her minor surgeries and medications I could barely get her out from under the bed. She has done a 180 and I couldnt be happier that shes happier.
 

goholistic

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I have to thank everyone for their frank sharing of experiences here. It's helped me realize that this procedure is not something my beloved,partially feral cat could endure. I couldn't begin to give him the care required for the operation. In a sense i can let him go now.
I'm so sorry about your kitty, @klausinky
  I'm sure it is a very difficult realization to come to, but I'm glad that the experiences you've read on this site helped you to make an informed decision.
 

petlover1958

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hello, sorry to hear about your poor pet.  My advice to you is " don"t let the doctors think for you".  My doctor who I do respect has given me medication over the many years for my recovery of my pets wounds, post surgeries, etc. etc. etc.  Clavamax, along with other disgusting tasting medications has been prescribed for my pets and I tell you from time and time again through first hand experience in all of the years administering various medications, I stopped after only a couple of days.  Most wounds and other injuries or surgeries when done correctly   with your proper care, love, patience, and post healing directions, which is basic common sense, you can avoid your pet from being terribly uncomfortable with administering all medications that they want you to keep buying.  Medical field is a money making business.

I'll give you one more example before I tell you my situation on this December 8, 2014.

My middle aged male cat had a problem urinating.  I went to two vets,  both of which I patronize.   x-ray and urine analysis showed no cancer but he had an overload of crystals in his urine which  was preventing him from urinating.  I was witnessing him at several different times trying to urinate because he had the urge to, but no matter how hard he tried he just couldn't. urinate.

Long story short my doctor told me he would have to be on a special diet food only sold by veterinarians for the rest of his life..

Well, I asked the doctor what about this food that he has to have the rest of his life? He said that there was a special ingredient that helps with the passage of crystals in urine.  Well I asked him what is this ingredient? He said Lysine{ or something like that}  The point is I asked him what about just giving him a crushed Lysine vitamin in his food.  Now, if I had never mentioned that I would be stupid enough to be paying for this expensive food for my pet for the rest of his life, only sold by veterinarians. the fact is the food smells and tastes disgusting, my pet would not eat it. He said that would be fine. He found out the dosage for the weight of my cat, and so be it I bought a whole bottle of tablets and would crush one in his food everyday.

Better yet.  Some felines are highly sensitive to fish, which contribute to them having urination problems.  So I, also, stopped giving him food with fish in it.

I THOUGHT FOR MYSELF> SURFED THE INTERNET- and behold my pet had begun to urinate without any vet special food, no Lysine vitamin in his meals.  I HAD COMPLETELY STOPPED FEEDING HIM ANY FOOD WITH FISH IN IT.  HE IS DOING WELL urinating with no problems FOR THE LAST TWO[2] YEARS.

MY situation now is an 18 year old female with a tumor in her right ear I found two days ago. 

I went to my one vet. But, I had to see his associate Vet and she pissed me off.  My vet was not in.  I will seek out my other vet not associated with this hospital and ,also, any other alternative vet til I feel comfortable enough with which way to go for my aging pet.

For you seek out as much info as possible. learn as much through reliable information on-line. I'm sure you know a lot is propaganda. Be careful.

Good Luck.  Seek out holistic doctors as well.  Many if not all conventional doctors all think the same way.  BE CAREFUL.

I'll post again to let you know which way I went with my little 18 year old aging pet.  I love her  and I want her not to undergo possible painful and agonizing procedures, especially due to her age and condition.  A younger animal might get over it or might be strong enough to undergo the whole ordeal, but I don't care what age they are, if there are other alternatives I will find it Take Care
 

sile

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My mom just had our cat done- I would have said no. But it was done while I was away. He came home and yes he looks awful.

He does not have a cone so I don't think the cone is an issue. One eye does not close at all however and the lid is up. I hope this goes away should I be adding eye drops?

He purred like crazy at the beginning but a few times growled so I guess he was in pain and scared. He has been sleeping in my bed and getting treats. 

I don't even know if his ear infection was affecting him. He seemed happy. 

I will let you all know. Apparently it takes a while for some things to go back to normal...poor babies.
 

moddycat28

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Hello there. I have a problem and maybe someone could help me. My 12 year old MaineCoon has a cancerous ear polyp in his left ear. I had surgery to remove the tumor years ago but they couldn't get it all.They were going to "pluck it" out but it was a bit deeper than thought. He still has what's left of it and it's growing very slowly,thank God. He's deaf in his ear now. I have him on 2 scoops of powder Vetoquinol lysine powder daily and it's helping to slow the growth. He's miserable and has that smelly, greasy discharge coming out of his ear daily. I flush his ear daily with KET FLUSH and I have to pick off the greasy scabs that he rips up daily because it bothers him so much. He gets Trasaderm drops and triple anti-biotic on the areas where I picked the scabs off of. What is total ear ablation? Do you think it would help my poor cat ModdyCat? Could they shrink the tumor with, say, a needle and meds instead of this horrific looking surgery? Has anyone had a cat where the ear tumor was cancerous and it was successful? The first surgery upset me because he hid for weeks, was externally "draining" all that bloody goo and I was frightened over the whole experience. He's the love of my life. Any advice will help. Oh, yes, about how much does it usually cost? Thank you so very much, my fellow cat lovers. 
 

kskatt

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My mom just had our cat done- I would have said no. But it was done while I was away. He came home and yes he looks awful.

He does not have a cone so I don't think the cone is an issue. One eye does not close at all however and the lid is up. I hope this goes away should I be adding eye drops?

He purred like crazy at the beginning but a few times growled so I guess he was in pain and scared. He has been sleeping in my bed and getting treats. 

I don't even know if his ear infection was affecting him. He seemed happy. 

I will let you all know. Apparently it takes a while for some things to go back to normal...poor babies.
I am stunned the surgeon or vet did not give you some drops or ointment. Hope you've gotten some.
 

bogtrotter

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My cat had a Teca last Wednesday. All the risks were explained but I was shocked when I collected her from the vets. She looked awful, really nervous and not like my affectionate puss. She had a cone on to keep her away from the ear, this she had off in seconds. Phoned the vet who suggested we get a cat collar to thread through the loops of the cone and fasten fairly tightly (allowing room for 2 fingers). My cat does not wear a collar normally but off I went got the collar the nurse at the vets put it on we went home and she ripped it off.
We had no choice but to watch her 24/7 my husband and I took it in turns never leaving her alone. We slept in shifts. We also had to give pain meds and antibiotics twice a day.
Still not sure if we have done the right thing, only to e will tell. My puss had ear polyps we had them removed twice over 4 years but they always grow back so this drastic action was really our only choice. The cost £1300 luckily she is insured.
Eating, drinking from the first night. Had to get a cat laxative after day 3 which worked.
Cat just seems to want to be in her bed, quietly. Did have a balance issue but that seems better this is day 4 after the op. Her eye nearest the bad ear remains open but the vet thinks this will be ok once the stitches are removed.
 
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