Monday afternoon/evening, he looked great. You know how anything looks after a surgical procedure, but I was still encouraged that after WEEKS of pain from the hematoma we were on the path to healing. Tuesday morning, not so much.
With a 50% chance of infection and a 50% chance of the hematoma/fluid returning, you would think that we would have hit the jackpot on ONE of these items. Nope.
Can you see the misery in his pharmaceutically enhanced glassy eyes?
And this ear - this beet red, swollen ear - I am supposed to wash 2x daily with Peroxide and then squeeze the heck out of to remove any fluid that is collecting. Great times for Elvis ... and for me.
Wednesday morning, the swelling had increased, the texture of the ear had become even more solid/hard and the incision looked terrible. Needless to say, it was infected.
After taking Mom to an infusion appointment that morning, Dr. Pittinger (Chief of Staff and A#1 Jackass) who was backing-up Dr. Rose on her day off, agreed to work us in. Apparently he is afraid of cats because he would not come closer than FOUR FEET AWAY and didn't even stay in the treatment room long enough to have a discussion. He certainly did not feel of the ear, which was a big concern. I left with new antibiotics after waiting with a sick, "DANGEROUS" cat (who did not make one sound or move one muscle) wrapped up in a bath towel like a mummy for well over an hour. Lovely.
Thursday morning, after being up all night AGAIN, I called in a vet tech who worked for Memorial 610 for many years, but quit this summer. She came to the house and helped me drain the ear, she called Dr. Rose and gave her the clinical run-down and then helped us get back to the clinic for Dr. Rose to see him. At this point, I wasn't thrilled with Dr. Rose and would have slapped Dr. Pittinger if I had laid eyes on him.
The thickened, swollen tissue of the ear needs a cortisone shot, but cortisone inhibits the immune system and cannot be used with a raging infection in the same area. More good news. We leave with the plan to continue the antibiotics from Wednesday, apply hot compresses to the inside of the ear and keep trying to get some fluid out, put an ice pack on the outside of the ear to reduce swelling and wait for the infection to clear.
He felt so bad on Tuesday and Wednesday, I held a cold pack up to his head and he pressed his head/ear into it and stayed completely still for a long period of time. Very unlike him and cat's don't like cold.
Yesterday afternoon, we had a cat-nap convention in my office. Denny confiscated the car kennel for his nap.
And I brought Ike's down from his room. They like the car kennels better when they're not in the actual car.
He couldn't sleep last night - constantly flicking the ear and shaking his head and getting up and kicking it with his huge back feet - so I tried hot compresses at 1am and then gave him a half dose of pain meds. He was able to sleep after that and I'm no expert, but the ear looked a little better this morning. It's still pretty gruesome.
Elvis with the hot compress ...
this went on for about 20 minutes. It must make him feel better because he didn't make a move to escape. Doesn't he look dangerous?
After his morning meds/procedures he got a DOUBLE TREAT - a small saucer of malted milk, followed by a short walk on the leash out in front.
PHOTO WARNING: I'm attaching these close up photos for comparison to the ear before surgery and right after surgery on Monday afternoon. Unfortunately, he's come full circle and now he has an infected hole in his ear!
Swelling/inflamed tissues as thick as the hematoma at its worst.
If you have the energy after reading all of this, please say a prayer for my Elvis that the infection will clear and he can get back to being an AGGRESSIVE, FRIGHTENING cat really soon. I'm not sure who is more exhausted, him or me!
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