Aroara's saga continues...update #77(with graphic picture)

[Emeraldgreen]

[QUOTE=Medusa;2036820][QUOTE=Moesha;2036809] I don't see any movement at all. I tried taking another picture of her head, but it didn't come out clear enough for anyone to see what it was without having seen her in person.

I should've said that by movement I meant more like can you see something pulsating? When you said that it's at the surface, that sounds exactly like a warble. Nothing to mess with. Since you say you're going to take her back in, please ask your vet about it.

Oh gosh, that is so creepy but I wonder if it is that! I'm not certain how warbles get in but I think it can happen by eating things that are hunted? Can they get in through a wound? Maybe there was originally only one hole and it got in that way and is now causing a second hole? I once found a mouse at our old house in the barn that the cats had killed. There was a hole in it's side and a big warble next to it.
I sure hope it's just the infection that needs to be drawn out and cleaned up though. Poor Aroara.

[Medusa]

[QUOTE=Emeraldgreen;2036919][QUOTE=Medusa;2036820]

I don't see any movement at all. I tried taking another picture of her head, but it didn't come out clear enough for anyone to see what it was without having seen her in person.


Oh gosh, that is so creepy but I wonder if it is that! I'm not certain how warbles get in but I think it can happen by eating things that are hunted? Can they get in through a wound? Maybe there was originally only one hole and it got in that way and is now causing a second hole? I once found a mouse at our old house in the barn that the cats had killed. There was a hole in it's side and a big warble next to it.
I sure hope it's just the infection that needs to be drawn out and cleaned up though. Poor Aroara.

An old vet told me that a warble is caused by a fly laying eggs on the cat and the egg hatches, causing the worm's head to be at the surface of the opening. It's rare for a cat to survive this unless the wound is cut and warble extracted. I had a cat years ago that had a warble but I didn't know what it was and thought it was simply her pulse that was throbbing but it was the head of the warble. I had been treating it because we were newlyweds and living off our fingernails but when I saw that it wasn't getting better, I took her to the vet but it was too late. He couldn't get the warble out. Miraculously, Frisky lived but, as I said, my vet told me that it's rare that they live through. They pass it from their bodies but it usually kills them first.

[Moesha]

I took her back, and it was filled with pus again. He wasn't sure what the thing was in the other hole, but it definitely wasn't something living or pulsating. He knocked her out and said he would drain it and cut out the thing in the other hole. When I got there he told me that when he got in there he decided to cut the whole thing out. Now instead of two small holes, she has one huge hole in her head. He didn't stitch it or bandage it. I have to put ointment in it twice a day. I don't know how I am going to do that because it turns my stomach to look at it. She's back on the Clindamyacin twice a day also. I sure hope this is the end of this story.

Here's a blurry picture of her head. I took it with my cell phone. I thought about taking another one with the real camera, but it grosses me out too much right now. I think you can get the idea though. Ok since Jenn and my friend Jenny both told me that the phone picture is more graphic than the others, I'm making it an attachment so you don't have to view it if you choose not to.

[jenluckenbach]

YOWZA!!! That is horrible! Poor Aroara. But, be strong for her. You CAN do what needs to be done. I had a foster cat with a wound in his throat that looked even worse than that, and every day I peeled away the scab and compressed it with Betadine. And every day he screamed like I was killing him. But, in spite of the fact it looked too BIG to ever close up, it healed beautifully! We both survived the ordeal.

[Moesha]

They said that I would be surprised at how quickly this heals. I sure hope so. I had gotten a couple miles down the road and went back to the office. I had them trim all her nails so that she wouldn't be digging at the hole and ripping up the carpet at the door to go back outside. Of course she is already digging at the door. I do have a cone I could use if I notice her bothering it. She hasn't done anything to it yet. They also said that it wouldn't hurt anything if Morgan licked it. I'm not going to let that happen if I can help it!

[Catty1]

Actually, Morgan licking it might not be such a bad thing - he might give it a good cleaning.

Just look that dear baby in the eyes and know you are helping her heal when you apply the ointment. It will get better day by day and be less gross.

What a trooper she is! No, Aroara, you cannot go out yet. Stay inside and snuggle with Morgan and Mom!

Bless you for sticking with her.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Poor Aroara. That hole looks huge. I hope she'll heal quickly and be a good girl and let you medicate her and put ointment in it. She continues to remain in my thoughts and prayers.

[critters]

Medusa, I like your thinking on this, and I would've bet you were right!! We don't call them warbles down here, although I'm having a brain fart on what we DO call them, and I've seen them several times in ferrets, rabbits, and cats. I think the doc would've seen the varmint had it been there, though. It looks to me like the hole is already improving, poor little girl!!

[Medusa]

Medusa, I like your thinking on this, and I would've bet you were right!! We don't call them warbles down here, although I'm having a brain fart on what we DO call them, and I've seen them several times in ferrets, rabbits, and cats. I think the doc would've seen the varmint had it been there, though. It looks to me like the hole is already improving, poor little girl!!

Yes, now that I've gotten a good look at the wound opening, I don't think it's a warble. And you're right, the vet surely would've recognized what it was. I'm sure glad it's getting better, poor thing.

[pitc9]

O...M....G...

Bless you little sweetie pie for being such a trooper through all of this!

[Moesha]

It had been healing and closing up quite a lot through yesterday. Last night it was opened a little more, but it is still looking pretty good. I was a little worried when the top was closing over anyway. It looks to be healing from the inside better now. Here are a couple more camera phone pictures from this morning. The antibiotic makes it look more glossy and runny than it is.

[Catty1]

Looks MUCH better. I think the vet's opening it right up did the trick. No little 'holes' for guck to collect in.

How are her spirits? Is she back to living up to her name? Maybe she's become even more cuddly with all the attention lately!

[kittykatharine]

Oh wow! Poor Miss Aroara! That is quite the wound. Poor little baby! I can't believe how that hole is...I hope the vet is right and that is will heal quickly. It is just so very odd how the whole thing just happend, etc. Hang in their and keep up what you are doing. The fact that Aroara perks up lets you know that she is doing better and try to remeber that cats really are wonderful at adapting. They are very strong creatures and can put up with a lot. Keep up the great work, your being such a great mommy!

[Taz_Zoee]

Well, the hole is looking much better, at least in the pictures. Poor Aroara. I hope she is feeling better soon.

[Catty1]

That sore looks MUCH better. She hasn't converted to being an indoor kitty?

Patience, Morgan - in a few more days, she will be outside and you will be safe! What a mean sister to take out her frustrations on you. I am sure Mom gives you loves to make up for it.