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Jack's owners had never fully realised that gradually he
was becoming progressively deaf in his left ear. It was
only when he developed a rather nasty purulent discharge
from the affected ear that his problem became apparent.
After a short course of antibiotics to clear the secondary
infection close examination with an auriscope revealed a
large pink mass protruding from his ear hole! These inflammatory
growths or polyps are relatively uncommon and their cause
remains unknown. It is thought that they are likely to start
growing from birth since it always young cats that are affected
possibly as a result of a viral infection.
The treatment involves surgical removal of the polyp but
in order to completely remove all of the diseased tissue
it is important to access the middle ear or bulla. This
approach involves cracking open the boney cavity at the
base of the skull with a mallet and osteotome. This "delicate"
procedure usually has the work experience students fainting
in their droves! Great care has to be taken to avoid the
very sensitive structures within the middle ear that control
balance.
Fortunately for "Jack" his recovery has been
without any complications whatsoever other than the fact
that he can't understand why everyone has suddenly started
shouting!
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