kskatt
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Post by kskatt on Nov 24, 2015 20:04:16 GMT
Aka, Ceruminous Cystomatosis. Googling gave me the rare neoplastic skin disease part. Sweet Zeus has had the cysts for many years. My original vet had removed many, with no biopsy. Said they came from infection or embedded ear mites. I tried to find info on embedded ear mites and couldn't find one word, wondering if the vet made that up. It was the new vet that had suspicions and wanted to get a biopsy. As soon as the histology report came back diagnosis, I started searching and every article used the word rare. Let's get some pics up! This is Zeus when he first came to me 9 years ago. The wound next to his tail is healing well. The first time I saw him was at a vet clinic where a woman brought him in as a stray. The wound was full of maggots. As nasty as that is, maggots eat away the tissue that can become infected. They kept the wound clean. Obviously, I adopted him.   Here is what he looks like all growed up!  This is from before any treatment;  I've got to take a break. Need to haul some hay. |
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kskatt
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Post by kskatt on Nov 24, 2015 22:38:49 GMT
There was a big cyst that just begged to be the one biopsied.   The right ear, especially, had cysts all the way down into the ear canal. There was enough blockage to end up in chronic infections, discomfort and itchiness. Dr J recommended a total ear ablation. I'm like "a what"? Surgery that completely removes the entire ear canal. Googling it would explain it better than I can. It is major surgery that required us to go to Kansas State vet clinic for specialists. 150 miles one way. The surgeon recommended doing both ears, Dr J said she expected that. I got back home and waited for the surgery, which was the next day. I couldn't help but think about the last time a cat of mine had surgery. Not sure I could have survived losing another one. Zeus then had to stay a couple of days, ear ablation is a major surgery, with recovery time to match. The student on his case called me morning and evening with updates. He seemed to have gotten himself quite the fan club, I was told that nobody made it past his cage without petting him. When reading the articles about this being a rare condition I figured that with the millions of cats around, there would still be info on it. When I took Zeus up, the student told me about how much time students had taken trying to find "papers" about it. This condition is rare enough that there has been no research possible, no studies. There is no known treatment. At least the ablation means the cysts can't grow back, inside anyway. If he has problems with the cysts on the remaining ear, that would require removing them also. Now that would really look different! The ear drum remains, so Zeus does have hearing, muffled but there. I just have to make sure I speak loudly enough for him to hear me. |
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kskatt
Junior Member
Posts: 833
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Post by kskatt on Nov 24, 2015 22:52:22 GMT
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kskatt
Junior Member
Posts: 833
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Post by kskatt on Nov 24, 2015 23:47:07 GMT
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kskatt
Junior Member
Posts: 833
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Post by kskatt on Nov 24, 2015 23:59:37 GMT
I needed to give this pic it's own post. I have to admit when I first saw it the thing that came to my mind is that he made me think of a turtle.  The surgery is right around the facial nerves. Some of the risks included facial paralysis, eyes not able to blink, etc. Zeus had a temporary inability to blink his right eye. I put ointment in it until it got better. If that had never healed, it would have been a small price. At least he's alive. His ears will stay in this position. I think it looks cute. |
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kskatt
Junior Member
Posts: 833
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Post by kskatt on Nov 25, 2015 0:12:15 GMT
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Post by horselady on Nov 25, 2015 1:31:38 GMT
All I have to say is wow. what an ordeal for him and for you, but at least it is over and on the road to healing. and those tumors look gross. but he is an adorable kitty and his hair will grow back..  |
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mistersmom
Junior Member
Abita Springs, LA
Posts: 3,749
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Post by mistersmom on Nov 26, 2015 19:04:33 GMT
Wow! That seems like a lot for the two of you to go through. I'm so glad he didn't have any major side effects from the surgery. Did I miss it but was the biopsy result positive for cancer? Will the cysts grow back? He looks so cute and so sweet. Give him a big hug and kiss from me.
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kskatt
Junior Member
Posts: 833
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Post by kskatt on Nov 27, 2015 3:21:31 GMT
The Ceruminous Cystomatosis, is the diagnosis. Thankfully not any kind of cancer.  Looking at those old pics, the cysts removed don't seem to have grown back. The ones down inside the ear canal, that could not be reached, grew slowly and caused the problems. Since this skin disease is so rare, no studies, no research, there is no info on the disease, what causes it or what might treat it. The only options were to leave it alone, which was causing Zeus a lot of discomfort, remove them, which could only be done by the ablation or euthanize him. It still isn't even 5 months since losing Sky. With this I had a chance to help Zeus, something I wasn't able to do for Sky. I have learned that I will not make any trips, of any length, without a gps from now on! I seem to have lost the ability to go anywhere without getting confused.  |
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Post by carshon on Dec 1, 2015 19:24:04 GMT
What a beautiful cat! and it is funny how much hair hides the real cat. I am so glad he found someone like you to love! Not everyone would go to these lengths for a pet - unfortunately my daughter is finding that out working for a clinic and seeing the # of pets PTS because an owner decided treatment, special meds or food is too much eft.
God Bless you and sweet Zeus!
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kskatt
Junior Member
Posts: 833
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Post by kskatt on Dec 9, 2015 7:13:35 GMT
Took some recent pics and thought I'd share. Okay, here's one, my computer is beyond slow. I'll do more plus a video tomorrow.  |
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mistersmom
Junior Member
Abita Springs, LA
Posts: 3,749
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Post by mistersmom on Dec 9, 2015 15:49:45 GMT
He reminds me of Puss in Boots from the Shrek movies. Those big eyes are just too much!
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kskatt
Junior Member
Posts: 833
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Post by kskatt on Dec 10, 2015 6:35:46 GMT
Gosh, thanks! I'm not sure there are any other cats with eyes that big!    That's Mr, he and Zeus are buds. When Zeus first came back looking and smelling weird, it took awhile before Mr figured out that he really was Zeus. As you can see, they are good now. Mr has been around long enough that he has lost a couple of buddies, I felt horrible for him when Zeus "went away". |
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mistersmom
Junior Member
Abita Springs, LA
Posts: 3,749
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Post by mistersmom on Dec 10, 2015 14:17:26 GMT
They look to be the best of friends.
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Lipizzan
Junior Member
Europe, Croatia
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Post by Lipizzan on Dec 21, 2015 18:14:41 GMT
Wow the pictures of his infected ears are nasty. But nothing like the striking beauty of this cat. Look at those eyessss. beautiful!!
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kskatt
Junior Member
Posts: 833
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Post by kskatt on Dec 24, 2015 6:19:54 GMT
Wow the pictures of his infected ears are nasty. But nothing like the striking beauty of this cat. Look at those eyessss. beautiful!! Thank you! Zeus is back to his ornery self. He tends to chase cats bigger than himself, luckily they just look at him like he's crazy. He is sweet and deserved way better than the way his ears bothered him. He loves to lay across the back of my neck. His tail hanging down on one side, with his head next to mine on the other. Sometimes he reaches out and rubs his head against my cheek. He is way more comfortable now than he was. The total ear ablation sounds like such a drastic step, and it is and expensive; but the difference is remarkable. The only down side is muffled hearing, but that doesn't seem to bother him at all. The end result has no down side. |
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mistersmom
Junior Member
Abita Springs, LA
Posts: 3,749
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Post by mistersmom on Dec 24, 2015 16:37:19 GMT
It does sound like Zeus is feeling much better after his surgery. I'm sure he is appreciative that you care so much about him to take care of him so well.
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hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
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Post by hugs on Dec 24, 2015 21:26:13 GMT
Just catching up on some threads on my time off from work.
First of all, wow, who knew such things were possible for one ear to have, that had to be incredibly uncomfortable, what else could a person do? I know Gerald and I would cringe at the cost too but gosh, we'd feel that we just had too. But you know, if you have the money and can live with that kind of bang to your budget and recover within a reasonable amount of time, that's one thing. But there are those of us who really can't take that big of a hit all of a sudden, your kids or your furnace, you know? So I feel for those people.
The other thing is how very small he is "inside" all of that fur! I mean that is amazing, isn't it? lol
Anyway, he's better and he loves his mommy and his mommy loves him which is the most important part.
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kskatt
Junior Member
Posts: 833
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Post by kskatt on Dec 25, 2015 6:48:20 GMT
Oh  , it has broken my heart to hear that it is not that uncommon for people to have to pts pets because they can't afford treatment. Boy do vets cost a lot anymore! With all the new knowledge (that takes tons of education and continuing education), the advanced equipment, the specialties... With the advances come costs. I know I could never be able to be a vet, I would end up treating anyway until I went bankrupt. Of course you have to watch out, sometimes the advances can make people treat conditions that they probably shouldn't. Sometimes continuing life is not a blessing. Then you pray for an honest vet. Thanks everybody! Zeus is a sweetheart, most of the time. |
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, it has broken my heart to hear that it is not that uncommon for people to have to pts pets because they can't afford treatment. Boy do vets cost a lot anymore! With all the new knowledge (that takes tons of education and continuing education), the advanced equipment, the specialties... With the advances come costs.