My friend's cat recently had 1/2 her ear canal removed (burned

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My friend's cat recently had 1/2 her ear canal removed (burned or lanced?). Surgery was 3 weeks ago & it's not healing. Vet has tried imoxicilin (sp?) and orbex (?), to no avail. In desparation, he told her to try 1/2 tbsp. sugar and iodine in the ear each day. That's not helping either. The cat is eating well. My friend is beside herself and determined to do whatever it takes to heal her cat. Any ideas?

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Status: Closed Value: $8

Hello,

Thank you for sending your question to Just Answer!

Can you give me a little more information so that I may give you an accurate answer to your question?

I understand your cat had 1/2 of the ear canal removed by burning (carterizing) or lanced. Was it a growth in the ear?

Was it drained by lancing and showing a discharge?

I will await your reply, so that I may give you a topical medication that will help the wound heal.

Thank you, Tammy

Reply to Tammy's Post: Tammy, thank you for your quick reply. My friend who owns the cat lives in MI and I live in TN. She just called me today. I need to call her and get back to you with the info you requested. Will I be able to get back to you after I send this? I hope so!

Janet

OK.I just called my friend Ruth (cat's owner)and this is what she said: The cat's ear first started smelling 4 months ago; took to vet; he gave her med for infection. Didn't work, so put her on antibiotics; didn't work. The cat started to get a little swelling on back of ear. Vet said it would get crust on it and then break on its own. It did. Ruth put peroxide on it every day. As time went by it wasn't healing. A hole developed in back of ear & stuff drained out & it kept bleeding. Back to vet: he said infection in cartilage of ear, so he took cartilage out and 1/2 ear canal, (that's when he cauterized or lanced it, Ruth's not sure exactly which happened) & prescribed 2 wks. on imoxicilin. It stopped smelling for 1 week after operation, then started smelling again. She took cat back to vet. He thinks it's a cancerous tumor somewhere in there. Told her to try sugar and iodine (an old-timey remedy). That brings us to the present, because it's still not healing.

Edited by Customer (name blocked for privacy) on October 1 2006 at 8:56 AM

Hello,

Thank you for the additional information. Some of the information I am providing, you already know, however I wanted to give you as much information about tumor (both cancerous and non-cancerous). Since I am not quite sure what test your vet did; such as bloodwork or a biopsy I am again giving you more info.

Ear tumors are growths associated with the ear. The most common include squamous cell carcinoma, ceruminous gland adenoma or adenocarcinoma, sebaceous gland tumor and basal cell tumor.

Depending on the tumor type there may or may not be an underlying cause. Chronic inflammation may predispose to tumor formation and prolonged sunlight exposure may predispose certain tumors.
1) Ceruminous gland adenocarcinoma. These tumors are seen most commonly in middle-aged to older cats with light colored fur or skin and occurs after exposure to sunlight.
2) Basal cell tumor. These tumors generally affect middle aged to older cats and are most common in Siamese cats.
3) Sebaceous gland tumors. They are more common in middle-aged to older dogs than cats, with no sex predilection

Early in the illness, many individuals are have no clinical signs, and tumors are often incidental findings. Things to watch for:
1) Skin changes on the ear
2) Crusts, ulcers or proliferative (excessive growth) tissue
3) Bleeding
4) Odor
5) Discharge
6) Nodular masses
7) Large growths filling the ear canal
8) Vestibular (balance) signs

Diagnosis information:

1) Baseline tests, to include a complete blood count (CBC), biochemical profile, and urinalysis, are usually within normal limits.
2) Thoracic (chest) radiographs (X-rays) should be taken to rule out lung metastasis (spread).
3) Skull radiographs may be helpful in evaluating invasiveness or surrounding tissue involvement of tumors associated with the ear canal.
4) CT scan may be helpful in accessing extent of tumor and is necessary prior to radiation therapy.
5) Biopsy is necessary for a definitive diagnosis.

If your vet does think that it is a cancerous tumor, I would defintely try to find a vet that specialized in cancerous tumor in cats so that you can have a second opinion and make a decision from his/her findings.

I hope this helps. If you need further information, please feel free to contact me.

***If this answer was helpful, please go ahead and click ACCEPT so I may receive credit for answering your question. A BONUS and FEEDBACK are also welcome too! Thank you, Tammy (JustAskTammy)***

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