Woodgreen’s surgery team give Snowy relief
Six-year-old Snowy is now enjoying a life free from constant pain in a loving new home. But it’s taken many months and medical procedures for this brave boy to get there!
Handsome Snowy came to us as his owner had too many pets and couldn’t care for them all. Poor Snowy was plagued by recurring ear issues. This caused so much discomfort that he would scratch at his ears in utter desperation. He often had to wear a collar to prevent any damage. But we were determined to get to the bottom of his health woes so he could sail off to a loving new home healthy and happy.
It took several months for our Vet and Cat teams to get to grips with Snowy’s medical problems. We discovered his body overproduced sebum (a mixture of fatty acids that keeps cats’ skin soft), so his ears were dry, crusty and incredibly itchy. We regularly cleaned his ears to prevent a build-up of wax and discharge. He also had treatment to get rid of potential infections. Then, we trialled him on a special diet to see if a food allergy was irritating his ears. Sadly, none of these treatments made much difference to poor Snowy, so we needed another plan of action. Despite his ill health, Snowy couldn’t wait for some cuddle time with his carers. We were happy to oblige to divert his attention.
Our last resort to improve Snowy’s quality of life was a double TECA (total ear canal ablation). This is a major procedure where the outer and middle ear is completely removed on both sides. Snowy was only the third TECA Woodgreen has carried out, as we don’t see many cats who need it. Our amazing Veterinary team had to carry it out in two stages, successfully performing the surgery on his left ear first.
A month later, when we were sure he was recovering OK, we tackled his right ear. This ear was trickier as the inside was very inflamed because of a stubborn ear infection. Snowy also developed Horner’s Syndrome post-surgery, a common side effect as a TECA gets close to the facial nerves. This is where a cat’s third eyelid pokes out, causing watery and irritated eyes. Luckily, he responded well to treatment to get the Horner’s under control. It took a while for us to clear the infection in his right ear following his second surgery, but this eventually went away with ongoing antibiotics.
Now, Snowy’s so much happier. He’s deaf in both ears, but cats adapt very well to losing their hearing as they compensate for it by using their other senses more. And it hasn’t stopped this chap’s playful side – before heading off to his foster home, he still loved to chase balls up and down the corridor of his cattery!
Throughout all the medical procedures he’s endured, wonderful Snowy stayed incredibly resilient and never once lost his trust and love of people. We’re delighted he’s found his second chance at happiness with new owner Alysha, who’s renamed him Tilt. She says: “We are very happy with how he’s settled in so quickly. He’s a lovely boy and always wants a fuss – we couldn’t have asked for a better new addition to our family.”
Give pets like Snowy a new home by adopting a cat with Woodgreen today.