Experience with Inflammatory Polyps in Ears

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Robert E. Lee - 11 Dec 2004 10:17 GMT

My 11 month old cat has developed a polyp that originates in the bulla
and has grown into the outer ear, puncturing the ear drum. Apparently
this is common in young cats. The only way to fix it is $urgery which
has a high incidence of unpleasant side effects.

I haven't gotten a price estimate, but I don't expect it to be cheap.
I'd be interested in anyone else's experiences with this both in terms
of price and outcomes. I am seriously considering cutting my losses.

As an aside, I thought I was doing a "good deed" adopting this cat from
a shelter a couple of months ago. So far the vet has diagnosed her
with bartonella, gingivitis, ear mites, conjunctivitis, and now this.
Every time the vet makes the comment that "well what did you expect...
she's a shelter cat". While I have the uncomfortable feeling that the
vet is padding her 401(k), this has been a very expensive lesson to me.

How can one avoid such a medical disaster when adopting one of these
"shelter cats"? Apparently a pre-adoption trip to the vet wouldn't
have done it. None of this was apparent on the first visit to the vet
which leads me to question her competence.

REL

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Mary - 11 Dec 2004 12:14 GMT

[...]> How can one avoid such a medical disaster when adopting one of these

> "shelter cats"? Apparently a pre-adoption trip to the vet wouldn't
> have done it. None of this was apparent on the first visit to the vet
> which leads me to question her competence.

I'm sorry your cat has had these problems. I am sorrier still that
your vet has such a suckass attitude. I think most vets would agree
that with any cat, not just "shelter cats" it's pretty much a crap shoot.
I mean, what is the alternative? A breeder cat in whom many
predispositions to health problems have been inadvertantly bred
in along with the coat color, deformed face, etc?

Of the four "shelter cats" I have had, one has had asthma and an
allergy related condition called EGC. The other three lived to be
17, 19, and 20 with not one sick day in their lives unless they
ate a houseplant. I have a niece who paied $300 a piece for
two "pure bred" cats and one of them was dead from cancerous
tumors before he was a year old. (She spend a couple of thousand
on him before he died.)

I think if I were in your shoes I would get a vet who appreciates
people like us who are part of the solution and not part of the
problem. Bless you and your big heart. Let us know how it
works out for your lucky cat--lucky to have you, that is.

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KellyH - 11 Dec 2004 15:52 GMT

> My 11 month old cat has developed a polyp that originates in the bulla
> and has grown into the outer ear, puncturing the ear drum. Apparently
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>
> REL

Your vet sucks if that's her attitude. She should be applauding you for
getting a cat from a shelter, not putting you down. You DID do a good deed,
and don't ever doubt that. Of the conditions you named, conjunctivitis and
ear mites are very common and easily treatable. Ginigivitis, in an 11 month
old cat? Did she want to do a dental? That might lead me to believe she is
looking to line her pocketbook. When I Googled "bartonella", it appears to
be something that cats have that can transmit to humans and it's more common
name is "Cat Scratch Fever". Does anyone know something more about this?
Just wondering how your cat was treated for it.

About the ear polyps, I'm sorry I don't know anything about it. You may
want to get a second opinion.

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-Kelly
kelly at farringtons dot net
"Wake up, and smell the cat food" -TMBG

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