Kc was at the Marina Pet Spa in Marina Del Rey last Friday after he came home from 4 days at the Kennel Club at LAX. Mom and Dad had taken a few days off to Las Vegas. We had gone to celebrate everyone’s birthday. The celebration was for my son Joe and his wife Monalisa, my adopted daughter Apryl and her son Ian. Of course we all had a great time.
The boss of the Spa mentioned to me that Kc has a “bump” inside his right ear and I should have it looked after. He reassured me that it wasn’t a problem perhaps just a minor problem. I looked in the ear and I felt this huge bubble-like thing, which is referred to as a hematoma. I’m thinking they will drain the fluid from his ear with a simple extraction in the office. There shouldn’t be much gore but I’ll take my BFF Ming along just in case they decide to do something shocking and I can run out of the room. I can’t stand any pain my fur babies could be dealing with. I know I can be pretty pathetic at times but the anguish I’m feeling isn’t pretty. Why should we both suffer when Ming is so strong? Go Ming!
Now we are at my wonderful Bay Cities Veterinary Hospital in Marina Del Rey. I called on a Friday afternoon, told them the problem, and they had me bring Kc right in. Dr. Thornbury sees us and gives me the good news. Surgery and immediately! Wow, I did not expect that. Ming quickly gets on the net – googles and retrieves all of the information she can on a hematoma in the ear of a dog. None of the news is good. Bye bye Kc- Mommy is in shock. But, what do you say? This is your helpless fur baby who depends on you to make the right decision for him, every time.
She comes back in the room with a reasonable estimate of the $ dollar amount to perform the surgery. Now here is the point where you really have NO choice. How could I say pass and take Kc home to suffer? No one ever plans on spending ALL this money on a pet, but it slowly happens, and then at what point do you say no more? $60,000.00 for a 2-year-old shy boxer? It is just the “right” thing to do each and every time it is needed. How could I withhold and treatment from such a marvelous companion?
After the surgery, I go pick Kc up, and he is so restless and in panic. At home, the only thing that calms him is lying in my lap. Oh, my sweet fur baby. I tried to take a photo with my IPhone to share with all of you, but the quality is very poor. I’m enclosing it anyways so you could get a glimpse of my helpless fur baby asleep on his Mommy’s lap.
Kc is trying to heal with the help of his little sister Star who thinks she is a surgical nurse since he came home. She spends most of her time in his ear, cleansing (with her tongue) the area. She also thought she could “help” out Dr Thornbury, by removing a stitch or two. Kc continues to survive ‘All’ of our loving care.
On Sunday 2-3 days after his surgery I noticed his ear was filling up again with some fluid. I could feel it when I applied the ointment to his ear each evening. On Monday I called Bay Cities & I had to wait until Tuesday when his Vet was back in the office. Tuesday is here- Kc has to have his ear drained because it has begun to fill with liquid again. Then he gets a steroid shot will help the inflammation that has started up again. Dr. Thornbury does notice the missing stitches also. She wasn’t too happy with that sight either. Time to pay yet another bill on behalf of my fur baby.
With pleasure…
