Ear Infections And Shelter Surrender

[fionasmom]

He is beautiful and I am so happy that things seem a tiny bit better. I had a spaniel mix rescued from street abuse that I witnessed and she had a BB in her back leg which was never removed and which the vet did not believe caused pain. While I don't think that she was in pain, the trauma from the street made her aggressive if anyone came near me....aggressive like one of my vets was afraid of her after she took an attempted bite in response to a slight touch on her body. Fear and mental trauma as you have said are probably worse. Over time my dog did mellow to everyone's amazement, but it took time. The pic of him with that ton of toys you have for him is very touching.

 

[javannalynn]

Well looks like the shelter will not be helping us.

"We have consulted with our vet staff and Community Programs Manager re: funding assistance for Big Boy.

At this point we are unable to provide assistance. Specialist care exceeds what we are able to cover.

Please let us know if you need anything further."

 

[nado]

This is terrible...I understand that shelters budgets are stretched thin, and full coverage for Marbles' issue may not be possible, but can't they even assist with partial funding?

I'm so sorry. I know you have been working hard trying to help Marbles. I don't have any other ideas to help your kitty. How has he been doing?

 

[javannalynn]

They have someone at the shelter that removed a polyp from his ear! I would be willing to pay them or make payments or something if they just let that person look at it again maybe they could see something that the specialist has no idea about! i just can't believe they won't do or try anything.

He's doing ok. His ear is starting to get crusty again so the infection is probably going to return. I keep cleaning it and trying to make sure its ok. A ton of brown gunk comes out every time. even while he was on the antibiotic. not sure if that is because he doesn't clean it. His other ear is very clean i check it too. Not sure what i'm going to do next.....

 

[javannalynn]

I emailed them back and asked if he could see the vet that removed the polyp so maybe they can check the site it was removed from. They emailed me back and just advised that leadership will review my request.

 

[nado]

I know this is a long shot, but is there a veterinary school near you? If so, does the school have a program where you could bring Marbles in for an exam and/or treatment at a reduced cost?

I know that at certain medical and dental schools, people can come in for exams and some treatments at a reduced cost. The students get the experience they need and are under a licensed professional's supervision, and the patient gets the attention they need.

Hoping and praying for you and Marbles.

 

[tarasgirl06]

I know this is a long shot, but is there a veterinary school near you? If so, does the school have a program where you could bring Marbles in for an exam and/or treatment at a reduced cost?

I know that at certain medical and dental schools, people can come in for exams and some treatments at a reduced cost. The students get the experience they need and are under a licensed professional's supervision, and the patient gets the attention they need.

Hoping and praying for you and Marbles.

Excellent suggestion, nado and I hope there is one. I googled "veterinary colleges in/near Tucson" and the one I did see does not have a program like this, unfortunately.

 

[javannalynn]

The UofA build a huge state of the art facility and then couldn't get it accredited to be a vet school.

 

[tarasgirl06]

The UofA build a huge state of the art facility and then couldn't get it accredited to be a vet school.

That's sucky! I wonder why.

 

[Furballsmom]

Hello -
I'm admittedly not really up to speed with your thread and situation, but would something here be of any help?

Financial Assistance – Day By Day Caregiver Support Inc.

 

[tarasgirl06]

Hello -
I'm admittedly not really up to speed with your thread and situation, but would something here be of any help?

Financial Assistance – Day By Day Caregiver Support Inc.

That's a great link, Furballsmom -- thank you for sharing it on TCS!

 

[inkysmom]

It sounds like otitis. My Inky had that for years and I was treating his ears two to five times weekly. Eventually I had to do surgery to remove the full ear canals. But he was fifteen and had chronic ear infections his whole life and eventually developed cancer in both his ears.
The dermatologist who saw him said the chronic ear infections were likely related to years of exposure to some type of allergen. He also was diabetic and had chronic infections everywhere (skin, teeth, ears) until his diabetes was controlled.

Pet insurance saves tons of money for future conditions, but unfortunately I don't know of any insurance that covers preexisting conditions. I enroll all new pets the second I get them.

 

[Furballsmom]

How are things going?

 

[javannalynn]

The shelter has decided not to respond to me any more. We were emailing back and forth but no one will email me back now. Tomorrow we have a visit with my favorite vet. He does have another infection. I called my vet and asked if we could try other things before we go to the specialist because it is not really an option. Dr. Merker is like the greatest vet I've ever met. I always request him. Last time Marbles went though we saw a different vet because he was on vacation. Hopefully we can figure this out tomorrow.

Marbles has started causing a whole new issue that i was planning to post about in behavior. He got into a bloody, fur flying brawl with our alley cat. Ninja has not left our back room for days and Marbles is just relentless trying to attack him. He's fine with my other cats everyone has assimilate fine. I'm just waiting to see about his ear infection first. I sorta think it could be part of the attacking issue but why is it only the one cat and not the 2 others.

Now i'm loosing sleep with my bottle babies and Marbles tormenting Ninja all night. But i'm still trying to save Marbles.

 

[tarasgirl06]

The shelter has decided not to respond to me any more. We were emailing back and forth but no one will email me back now. Tomorrow we have a visit with my favorite vet. He does have another infection. I called my vet and asked if we could try other things before we go to the specialist because it is not really an option. Dr. Merker is like the greatest vet I've ever met. I always request him. Last time Marbles went though we saw a different vet because he was on vacation. Hopefully we can figure this out tomorrow.

Marbles has started causing a whole new issue that i was planning to post about in behavior. He got into a bloody, fur flying brawl with our alley cat. Ninja has not left our back room for days and Marbles is just relentless trying to attack him. He's fine with my other cats everyone has assimilate fine. I'm just waiting to see about his ear infection first. I sorta think it could be part of the attacking issue but why is it only the one cat and not the 2 others.

Now i'm loosing sleep with my bottle babies and Marbles tormenting Ninja all night. But i'm still trying to save Marbles.

Thank you for your loyalty to Marbles and may there be a good answer as to his treatment! Is 'your alley cat' being cared for, i.e., neutered/vaxed/fed and watered/sheltered by anyone?

 

[nado]

Thank you for not giving up on Marbles.

 

[Furballsmom]

Can you try some vanilla on Marbles and Ninja after Marbles gets back from the vet?

from valanhb
"You put a dab of vanilla extract under the chins, at the base of their neck (by the spine) and at the base of the tail (on the spine not the underside of the tail!) of all of the cats to make them smell the same. Cats recognize each other by scent, so if that kitty smells the same as "me", the he must be a friend. Kitty logic at it's finest.

This trick works when introducing cats into the household, and also when one of them has been to the vet and therefore smells different to the others who didn't go.

"


By the way, how did things go? What did they say?

 

[javannalynn]

Thank you for your loyalty to Marbles and may there be a good answer as to his treatment! Is 'your alley cat' being cared for, i.e., neutered/vaxed/fed and watered/sheltered by anyone?

Yes me that's why he's my alley cat. He's even microchipped. Just because I let him outside doesn't make him any less my cat. I call him an alley cat because he's happier outside. When he doesn't come home at night i stay up and wait for him. I've had him since he was a kitten. I'm the only person he likes. He's basically feral with everyone else. And he bites. Like Marbles. But none of that makes him any less my Ninja Ki Tan.

 

[javannalynn]

By the way, how did things go? What did they say?

Its 11:30 his appointment isn't till 3:30.

 

[tarasgirl06]

Yes me that's why he's my alley cat. He's even microchipped. Just because I let him outside doesn't make him any less my cat. I call him an alley cat because he's happier outside. When he doesn't come home at night i stay up and wait for him. I've had him since he was a kitten. I'm the only person he likes. He's basically feral with everyone else. And he bites. Like Marbles. But none of that makes him any less my Ninja Ki Tan.

Ah. My Baby Su was born feral, and has only ever bonded to me, though she tolerates/has tolerated a few other cats in the family. She bites, too. I actually like it. *I'm weird.* Here she is as a young girl, at our first place, in the catio.