Freckles' Poor Ear
Donation protected
This is the story of Freckles' terrible, horrible, no good, very bad ear.
In December of last year we ran a GoFundMe campaign that raised $1000 for our dog Freckles . This money was originally earmarked for him to undergo corrective surgery on his left ear. However, after exploring the ear on surgery day the vet decided it would be best to have a complete CT Scan performed. The money we had raised was then used to cover the costs of that.
It made the ear surgery take longer to come, and cost more than we had, but the results paid off. Now the vet feels 100% secure in what is happening with Freckle' ear and exactly how to treat it.
Freckles' Story
When we adopted Freckles we were told that his left ear had a Total Ear Canal Ablation (TECA) performed. It had been sealed shut, which is generally associated with the procedure. Shortly after we adopted him we noticed that he frequently scratched at that ear. Then came the pus, and we took him into our vet. At the time it was assumed that he had scratched a cut into his ear which had become infected.
The reality was worse. The infection was quickly pinpointed as coming from inside the ear. Blood work was drawn, 6 weeks of heavy antibiotics, and a host of other treatments began. We were finally told that surgery was the best option. However, on surgery day we got another round of news.
The state of Freckle' ear was so confusing that his surgeon stopped the procedure and suggested a CT Scan. There are few places within Austin who provide this for animals, and the costs are fairly high. Thus the wait began again. And all this while the infection, which had become antibiotic resistant, was growing.
The results of the CT Scan were shocking. Rather than the TECA that was expected, his ear canal was whole. At some point he had a tympanic bulla osteotomy, or middle ear surgery, performed. This was likely done to remove a small infection in the ear, but left most of the ear intact. Unfortunately, this left the rest of his ear open to infection. Which is exactly what happened.
What Happens Now?
With the new information at hand, our surgeon is comfortable performing an actual Total Ear Canal Ablation on Freckles' left ear. This will remove all of the infected tissue, and reduce the risks of future infections from happening.
This will be a much larger and more consuming procedure than we had previously thought he would need. Rather than going in to find and remove the cause of the infection, he will need the entire canal removed in whole. Being a large dog with a big head, the ear canal runs several inches down into his jawline.
We have the surgery scheduled for February 11th with Veterinary Surgical Solutions . Until then all we can do is keep the ear clean, try to keep Freckles out of pain, and give him as many cookies as he eat (which is all of them.)
Can You Help?
If there is one real constant in the world, it is that things never seem to go as planned.
We had planned to be able to provide for his care on our own. Then we had planned to be able to use the amazing donations that we had received from so many people to cover the excess costs. And now here we are again.
We were so blessed to receive so much support and love from so many people who were willing to reach out and help during Freckles' illness. We hope that we can ask for a second round of generosity.
As it stands now, we will be able to cover the estimated costs of his surgery. But we have certainly learned our lesson about plans and things never going as expected. So, we are trying to create a small buffer in the unforeseeable event that something (again) goes wrong.
Anyone who is able to make a donation has our deepest heartfelt gratitude. We have fallen so in love with this sweet, squishy face, and now we just have to give him as much care as he gives us in love, snuggles, and kisses.
Every dollar helps to cover the costs that a surgery of this nature will spring on us. We were so lucky last time to be able to find such a well of kindness, it feels like it is asking too much to hope for it a second time.
Donations can be made either through GoFundMe or directly to the Veterinary Surgical Solutions offices by calling (512) [phone redacted] Monday-Thursday.
Any money leftover after the surgery (fingers crossed) will be donated to Austin Pets Alive.
Thank you all for your support, encouragement, and love!
In December of last year we ran a GoFundMe campaign that raised $1000 for our dog Freckles . This money was originally earmarked for him to undergo corrective surgery on his left ear. However, after exploring the ear on surgery day the vet decided it would be best to have a complete CT Scan performed. The money we had raised was then used to cover the costs of that.
It made the ear surgery take longer to come, and cost more than we had, but the results paid off. Now the vet feels 100% secure in what is happening with Freckle' ear and exactly how to treat it.
Freckles' Story
When we adopted Freckles we were told that his left ear had a Total Ear Canal Ablation (TECA) performed. It had been sealed shut, which is generally associated with the procedure. Shortly after we adopted him we noticed that he frequently scratched at that ear. Then came the pus, and we took him into our vet. At the time it was assumed that he had scratched a cut into his ear which had become infected.
The reality was worse. The infection was quickly pinpointed as coming from inside the ear. Blood work was drawn, 6 weeks of heavy antibiotics, and a host of other treatments began. We were finally told that surgery was the best option. However, on surgery day we got another round of news.
The state of Freckle' ear was so confusing that his surgeon stopped the procedure and suggested a CT Scan. There are few places within Austin who provide this for animals, and the costs are fairly high. Thus the wait began again. And all this while the infection, which had become antibiotic resistant, was growing.
The results of the CT Scan were shocking. Rather than the TECA that was expected, his ear canal was whole. At some point he had a tympanic bulla osteotomy, or middle ear surgery, performed. This was likely done to remove a small infection in the ear, but left most of the ear intact. Unfortunately, this left the rest of his ear open to infection. Which is exactly what happened.
What Happens Now?
With the new information at hand, our surgeon is comfortable performing an actual Total Ear Canal Ablation on Freckles' left ear. This will remove all of the infected tissue, and reduce the risks of future infections from happening.
This will be a much larger and more consuming procedure than we had previously thought he would need. Rather than going in to find and remove the cause of the infection, he will need the entire canal removed in whole. Being a large dog with a big head, the ear canal runs several inches down into his jawline.
We have the surgery scheduled for February 11th with Veterinary Surgical Solutions . Until then all we can do is keep the ear clean, try to keep Freckles out of pain, and give him as many cookies as he eat (which is all of them.)
Can You Help?
If there is one real constant in the world, it is that things never seem to go as planned.
We had planned to be able to provide for his care on our own. Then we had planned to be able to use the amazing donations that we had received from so many people to cover the excess costs. And now here we are again.
We were so blessed to receive so much support and love from so many people who were willing to reach out and help during Freckles' illness. We hope that we can ask for a second round of generosity.
As it stands now, we will be able to cover the estimated costs of his surgery. But we have certainly learned our lesson about plans and things never going as expected. So, we are trying to create a small buffer in the unforeseeable event that something (again) goes wrong.
Anyone who is able to make a donation has our deepest heartfelt gratitude. We have fallen so in love with this sweet, squishy face, and now we just have to give him as much care as he gives us in love, snuggles, and kisses.
Every dollar helps to cover the costs that a surgery of this nature will spring on us. We were so lucky last time to be able to find such a well of kindness, it feels like it is asking too much to hope for it a second time.
Donations can be made either through GoFundMe or directly to the Veterinary Surgical Solutions offices by calling (512) [phone redacted] Monday-Thursday.
Any money leftover after the surgery (fingers crossed) will be donated to Austin Pets Alive.
Thank you all for your support, encouragement, and love!
Organizer
Carleton Lee Sawyer Jr.
Organizer
Austin, TX
