Quote:
Originally Posted by badgoodDeb
I don't think we want the photo --- but WHY would she get an ear canal ablation? Don't most of us *need* ears?
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Well, if you've ever had an ear infection, imagine having them constantly recurring, but your ear canals and bullas are far deeper and more difficult to treat. A slight brush on your ears can send a yelp from your mouth (from a dog that can walk a mile on a sliver of glass or days a torn nail and not let you know about it - Airedales are very stoic). So, while it should have been treated properly by our first vet, they simply (this is hindsight) kept trying to patch symptoms. By the time we moved north, our first vet up here was quite shocked by the condition of her ears. The specialist confirmed that her ears had been narrowed by scar tissue (from the ulceration all down her canals), and the bullas filled with muck (she had a CAT scan at a local hospital after hours), that, while he could treat it medically, and possibly have success, it was far more likely that she would almost certainly have repeated, chronic ear infections (canals too narrow - no air movement, retaining moisture in new humid environment).
So, the ear ablation, where they remove the canals, open the bullas and scrape them, and then seal them up again, so, now, if you lift her ears you'll see no ear holes at all.
Within days, she went from being mopy to being the dog we'd forgotten she was. She'd already been mostly deaf during the time of her ear infections, but even though she was likely
more deaf, she reacted better because she was more enthused about it (she has conduction hearing - basically, she is as near completely deaf as when you put ear plugs in your ears and get that perfect seal, but there are some things she hears better than others).
From all external appearances, and most behaviour, you wouldn't know she was deaf (though her nametag specifies it).
...and she's happy again.
BTW, I'm sure I've a couple of marsupial piccies here somewhere, Patricia. I'll have a look.
Cheers,
Marc