Hi Linda! One of my FeLV guys just recently had surgery (under anesthesia) for an ear hematoma and now has cauliflower ear, but this is only because the doctor didn't set the ear properly while he was under. Marvin now has one wrinkly ear that kinda lays close to his head...but I don't mind...it just gives him a little more character! I do keep an eye on the ear canal, however, as debris seems to build up a little quicker in the wrinkle ear as opposed to the other ear...but otherwise, he's just fine! Essentially, the vet either lances or uses a laser to pierce the skin in several areas to drain it, then uses a few stitches to readhere the skin back onto the cartilidge. The main purpose of the stitches is to create scar tissue that will reconnect the skin to the cartilidge thus preventing any future hematomas...so I wonder if your vet couldn't just drain the hematoma like he did before and then just use a local anesthetic to put in a few stitches?
FYI, they do make a special kind of padding with a mesh screen backing that can be stitched onto the back of the ear to give it support while it heals thus helping to avoid cauliflower ear...and in the absence of that, our vet said you can use a Dr. Scholl's insert as a stand in... :) Jen **************************************************** "But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world; You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed..." --Antoine de Saint-Exupéry "If you talk to the animals they will talk with you and you will know each other. If you do not talk to them you will not know them, and what you do not know you will fear. What one fears one destroys." -- Chief Dan George "The flame that burns twice as bright burns half as long..." --Blade Runner ----- Original Message ----- From: Linda Johnson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Wednesday, December 6, 2006 10:27 am Subject: ear hematoma To: [email protected] > Hi - > > I have a feline leukemia positive, partially paralyzed > cat (Boo) who suffers from pressure sores on his bum. > He's been on antibiotics on & off for years due to his > paralysis induced pressure sores. Two weeks ago his > health declined when he developed a severe liver > infection and jaundice. Since then, with the addition > of 2 antibiotics & other meds, his health has improved > and the jaundice is greatly reduced. > > Unfortunately Boo has also developed an ear hematoma. > My vet has drained it with a syringe, but it has > filled back up with fluid, as she said it would. My > vet is telling me that the only way to completely fix > the hematoma is with surgery. Since his health is not > great I'm concerned about doing this. But his ear is > not getting better, and, although my vet has told me > that the hematoma won't effect his overall health, he > will develop a califlower ear and have issues with > cleaning the ear, if it's not corrected. > > Has anyone had any experience with a hematoma? Is > there any way to correct the problem without putting > Boo under anesthesia? > > Thanks, > Linda > > > > > _______________________________________________________________________ _____________ > Yahoo! Music Unlimited > Access over 1 million songs. > http://music.yahoo.com/unlimited >
