"I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!"
4 AUGUST 2008 | |
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Gayle writes:
Shell, Holly & I are working to get information & estimates for Dixie's ear. It is so confusing. After communicating with Dr. T, I feel like I finally know what I am doing when calling vets. I am finding not many in this area will do it plus they do not discount. Have several more tomorrow that I am waiting to hear back from.
Quotes are anywhere from $600 to $1700 or more . . . depending on what procedure we go with. Dr. T feels the less invasive procedure will be best so less expensive.
Dr. T writes:
I wouldn't hesitate a moment to get her the ear surgery. The more conservative one is the lateral ear resection. It will open up her ear canal so the infection can be dealt with. The ear ablation surgery will leave her unable to hear; however, there may be some concern that she can't hear well already.
Again, I would go for the lateral ear resection. It should be less expensive, and if there is a chance she can heal, then she will also possibly hear. You will also need to find a vet who has done LOTS of this surgery, as there is potential for facial nerve paralysis if it is not done correctly. Doing it correctly requires lots of practice, so go for the person who has performed this surgery, successfully, the most.
Sorry CRUSA dollars are having to pay for it, when so many others also need help. But this is what rescue is truly about! Thank you all for helping her!
"THE KIESOW HERD"
Wheatons from left to right, all fosters:
On 14 August, Gayle writes:
It has been a trying time, I have talked to SO many vet offices that I am crazy. So many opinions & thoughts. Prices ranging from $250 to $1700 . . . .
There are two procedures, Total Ear Canal Ablation, TECA. This is the worst & most expensive and most likely would have to be done at our University of Illinois; most vets do not do it because it is so invasive.
The second is Lateral Ear Resection, ZEPP. The three vets who have seen Dixie have not been able to scope her ears, so a vet is not going to know until Dixie is sedated IF the ear can be scoped and what type of surgery is needed.
Holly's vet in Decatur is going to see her, fourth opinion, next Wednesday. He will decide at that time if HE thinks she can be scoped while sedated and if so he will do it the following Friday. It is very serious surgery, very painful with a long recovery period. So I am driving to Decatur with Dixie and meeting Holly at the vet's office.
If the surgery goes through, I will leave her with Holly and go back to get her the following week when she is released. A couple of vets have said approximately five days at the vet, for pain control.
That is where we are after hours of discussion with many people. $450.00 has been approved for vetting. But if she needs both ears done, or the more serious surgery, it could be a huge amount.
On 20 August, Gayle reports:
I took Dixie to Decatur, Illinois today to Holly's vet. He is going to do a lateral resection on both of her ears tomorrow. Not sure how long she will be bedding down at the vet clinic & Holly's, but she will be back home with us & sister Trixie soon, I hope.
And on 21 August, Holly writes:
I just spoke to the vet and let me start by saying that Dixie is fine and did well with the surgery but the surgery did not go as well as the Dr. would have liked. The scar tissue went pretty far down into the opening and was thicker than he would have expected. After doing one ear, he debated on doing the second because of the overall condition of the inner ear, but he made the determination that it was still worth doing and did go ahead with both ears.
He doesn't see any reason why I can't pick her up tomorrow to bring her home and she's resting comfortably. She will come home with pain meds, but the area will still be very sore if bumped. He did say that after you do the follow-up with your vet at home that he would like your vet to call him to discuss the ears. He does think that at some point, she will end up needing the ablation in both ears. I really don't think this was a pointless surgery; if it was pointless, he wouldn't have done the second ear, but I do wish I had better news.
What the problem is:
Dixie's left ear canal was totally closed; the cleaning solution would not even go in. This was from ear infections. The right ear was not closed but very thick-looking. At the base of each ear, the skin was very thick & soft. Vet said it was so much shaking of the ears that the blood actually gels there and builds up, changing the shape of the base of the ear. She was constantly shaking her head, rubbing her ears on whatever she could. If there was an infection there was no way to treat it.
The lateral ear resection was to open the ear up. They actually cut through all this calcified skin and open up the canal. The vet stated that the canal was closed deeper than he had estimated at the appointment on Wednesday. Due to the shape of a dog's ear canal straight down and then the canal turns in, the lateral surgery only can open up the straight down canal. To do the entire ear it has to be done at the University of Illinois; they remove the entire ear and sew the canal shut.
I don't know, at this point, what it exactly means when the vet says it did not go well. I am assuming he opened up the canal as far down as he could but it is still closed so the ear infections would not be able to be treated.
The 23 August report:
Dixie is doing well and was home with Holly last night in Decatur, she is bringing her home late this afternoon.
The vet only charged $200.00 for the surgery. Can you believe that? I asked him during the appointment Wednesday if we had an estimate for BOTH ears and he said, "We're not going to worry about that." Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dix is home and looking at her makes you feel kind of sick. You can see where the ear appears to be cut from the center of the canal down into her neck area. It is a mess with
drainage.
The vet did not send her home with an ecollar, so after her rubbing too much tonight, we headed for the ER weekend clinic for one. The people were so nice; fitted her for the collar, talked with us and her, a fee of $10 and we are out the door. She will sleep with me tonight to keep her quiet as possible.
24 August brings pictures and . . .
The ear pic is blurry but it gives you some idea of what is on each side of her head. There was so much drainage yesterday it was awful; Doc said not to try to clean it until at least Monday due to the pain of touching it.
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