Eye Removal Not Healing, What Next?

[lnzsmith]

A complicated kitty health story but we need some help making a decision here. Our 15 yr old rescue cat Sam Tiger had chronic uveitis for several years (controlled with medication) which became uncontrolled this summer. The vet recommended eye removal, which we did in September. The incision healed except for a small area, which the vet referred to as a 'fistula'. The vet attempted to glue the hole but it didn't hold. There were signs of infection and the vet prescribed Clavamox. The infection seems to have cleared up but the hole is still clearly there. Vet can't explain why it won't close. Suggests it could be insufficient tissue, diseased tissue not completely removed, a cancer, a fungus...Wants to open the whole thing up again, looking for ???, closing it with possibly a graft. Anybody with experience with enucleation in an older cat like this? Would this work a second time if it didn't the first? We have consulted with the university vet school which also suggest re-opening. We would go with them and their eye specialist if we do surgery because we feel like the initial surgery was botched and don't want to put Sam Tiger through this again with the pain and anesthesia risk, etc. But will he have to be on antibiotics off and on the rest of his life? If the tissue didn't close the first time what would make it close this time with more damage done? What about the graft idea? We are really trying to figure this out. He is a sweet old guy and although he initially lost about a pound after the surgery is back up to his healthy happy ravenous self.

 

[lavishsqualor]

I have absolutely no advice for you but I want to wish your Sam Tiger the best of luck. He is very fortunate to have such great custodians. Please let us know what you decide to do. So many times we see threads such as yours but never know the actual outcome.

 

[prairiepanda]

Going with the eye specialist sounds like a good idea. Depending on the size and location of the fistula, re-opening the entire surgical site might make it possible for them to dig out more connective tissue to pull the skin over the problem area better. After this much time, the skin in the area will have restored it's elasticity and will be easier to work with now. The specialist should be able to do a consultation before committing to surgery in order to assess whether they feel confident that they can get the skin they need.

As for the graft, I have personally never encountered a cat needing a facial skin graft so I'm not sure.