Surgery

Our cat, Vanilla, will undergo surgery tomorrow morning to remove an ear hematoma. Ear hematomas are caused by a collection of blood and fluid between the skin and cartilage of the ear. A blood vessel in the ear ruptures and the loose space under the skin will fill up with blood. The pressure from the ruptured vessel will often cause the entire surface of the ear to swell creating a very painful condition. These hematomas will occur very quickly, often within minutes of the vessel being ruptured. Affected animals will have a noticeably swollen, fluid-filled ear that is extremely painful to the touch. If left untreated, the pain will subside somewhat after several days, but the swelling will continue and eventually, as the fluid-filled space generates scar tissue, the ear may become permanently disfigured.

At this point we are not sure what caused the hematoma. It could be self-trauma from scratching or head shaking or it could be due to the infestation of ear mites. We won't know the cause until after the surgery because the vet could not check his ear due to the swelling.

Following surgery, Vanilla will stay at the vet's office until Monday afternoon. We miss having him at home, but are praying that once home he will be over all his ear issues.