Ear ablation surgery and recovery etc. - please tell me the reality of what happens

This is a very difficult time for me. Murchie my beloved cat who I discussed on here a few months ago is nearly 16 years old and has pancreatitis. He is a high risk for general anesthesia (had serious issues in the past so for most of our lives we have been lucky enough to not have to put him through this again) and is compromised and this makes me worry about how he would recover after surgery too. He had bleeding in his ear and some growth inside his ear in the canal - in the end despite his general anesthesia risk, he had to have a biopsy and he has cancer (squamous cell carcinoma). We got him through the biopsy ok but it is a short surgery and even then it was not all smooth sailing. Murchie is also very very neurotic to a large degree at vet clinics and I've always used at-home vets with him whenever possible.

Both of our options now are not very good for various reasons. It is a horrible situation.

(i) To attempt surgery which even if the surgeon deems he is an acceptable candidate, involved total ear ablation surgery (complete removal or ear canal). And I could lose him very dramatically on the operating table or in a difficult aftermath/recovery given his general anesthetic risk and weaker body constitution overall (he has had various health issue his entire life). If things go badly, his last moments on the planet would be in anxiety at the vet clinic or suffering at home. This upsets me. But if he is a good candidate and ear ablation goes well, it is possible to have a very good prognosis. And of course no one can tell me how things will turn out.

(ii) To do nothing other than palliative style care showering him with love and attention and comfort, and when things get bad enough, to let him pass peacefully with at-home vet.

Of course, no one can tell me what to do. But first I have to learn more about ear ablation surgery, so I know if this is even something that I would consider for him. I need to hear the reality of the operation (the surgeon can also tell me about this) but mainly from people on here, I need to find out the reality of the pain and recovery afterwards. I have heard that it is a very painful surgery and this concerns me - not sure if it would be fair to put him through this. While I will give my cats every fighting chance to live and spare no expense, I don't want to cause any pain/suffering if it is just too much to expect the kitty to go through. So please tell me about the realities of ear ablation surgery.

Thank you.

I remember reading the end of a very long thread not too long ago so I searched it and have provided you the link.  There is really good information here and other members you can contact via private message if you want more details.

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/231104/ear-ablation-surgery

@Scarlett 001, I don't have any experience with this, but just wanted to say that you and Murchie (and the rest of the gang) are in my thoughts and prayers. You've been through SO much these last several months with your seniors and now this.     Your concerns are valid and I would be doing the same kind of research you are doing.

I have seen one cat who had this surgery done and he was on powerful pain meds for a considerable amount of time. He seemed quite "happy" in a sense post surgery, mainly because he was high as a kite so to speak, as far as we could tell.  This cat was in a shelter where I worked.

i'm sorry you're going through this, it sounds like you are taking a very careful step by step approach with your cat's best interest foremost in your mind.  Please keep us updated.

I'm so sorry you're going through this. What a tough situation.

I would ask if it's possible to do the procedure with a lighter form of sedation/anesthesia. Could they do heavy sedation with only local anesthesia? Would his risks be lower this way? And what exactly are his problems when under anesthesia? Can they be addressed with a different type, or a lighter type?

I don't know anything about how painful this procedure is, or how well pain medications can address it, so I can't help you there.

But I'm sending good vibes, and whatever you decide and however it turns out, know that you made the best decision you could with the information you have, and he knows you love him.

I hope for the best, sorry that you're going through this.

Hi

I am sorry you are  going through this with your kitty.

I have recovered ear ablation kitties before.

Make sure a specialist does the surgery as it is complicated.

It is a painful surgery and they will of course be deaf in the ear that is removed.

Some cats deal with it better than others. But the average I have seen is about 1 week of pain needing Buprenex three times a day at home after a 2 day stay in the hospital. Then after about another week they are more back to normal. After the stiches come out and the cone can come off they are always better.

If you are able to get one of the inflatable collars instead of the plastic cone things that they bang into everything.

They can get something called horners syndrome after the surgery which is a neurologic condition where the pupil of one eye dilates and the third eyelid comes up in an eye. They can be off balance and have a head tilt. This can cause them to not want to eat. It is only temporary and all signs of the condition will be gone usually in about one or two weeks.

Usually during recovery if the cat wont eat it is pain related. Cats do very well on Buprenex and it can be given to absorb in the lining of the gums and cheeks. make sure if you do the surgery that you get that pain killer.

You know about the Squamus Cell Carcinoma I assume. It is not a good diagnosis. I am sorry.

I knew a cat named April (back in the early 90's) She had her ears, and nose removed due to SSC. She was a bit hard to look at till you got used to it. She was a beautiful white well fed cat. She lived around a year or maybe two with a fairly good quality of life I think. I only saw her for baths. But I believe she is the exception. I think. Most of the cats I have known had it on the ear tips nose or in the mouth.

Are you going to do any chemo or radiation with the surgery? Did they suggest it?

You will need to keep your cat in a cage or small room for the first week after surgery to prevent falls and injury etc. If this is your only cat maybe not.

Tough decision to make. I don't envy you. I am so sorry.

I have a bridge kitty Little Foot who went through a bilateral ear canal ablation surgery due to severe allergies, constant puss pouring out of his ears and scratching them bloody.  It was a pretty intense operation and he recovered well, however he was only like 5 or 6 when he went through it.  It did cause some nerve damage to one of his eyes and he could no longer close his eye/blink.  His third eyelid would go up and down.  So we did have to put artificial tears in his eyes every now and then.  That was his only issue, no head tilting or anything.  So sorry you are going through that.