Get Well Soon!

About two weeks ago, we noticed a cleft had formed near the tip of Braun's left ear. We thought it was the result of some rough play with Skoda and/or Mikki. Last week, Grimlock told me that he felt a "blister" below the cleft. We didn't want it to worsen so we brought Braun to her vet on Wed, 8 Aug.

The vet asked if Braun has been shaking her head vigorously or been excessively scratching her ear, both behaviours which we could not recount of. He said a blood vein had raptured so the cleft was actually a blood clog (circled in blue). He gave her a Dexamethasone injection and prescribed Amoxy-Clav susp. (antibiotic syrup) and Prelone susp. (anti-inflammatory syrup). I also noticed a small bald patch on the same ear near the base (circled in red) so the vet plucked a tiny bit of fur from the spot for a fungal culture test - results will be known in a week's time. The vet commented that Braun has had some of the more uncommon inflictions in cats.

Braun doesn't take well to being fed medication but she doesn't get aggressive either nor put up a big fight. We just need to be more patient, it will take a while but overall she is still cooperative. Syrup medication is manageable but I can't say the same for tablets - she'll keep spitting it out. I will have to join Grimlock and wake at 5.45am on weekdays because the antibiotic is to be taken twice daily for two weeks and feeding medication is definitely a two-man's operation. The anti-inflammatory is to be taken once daily for 10 days.

Skoda should be the most cooperative one when it comes to feeding medication. Once we manage to get a hold of her, we just need to take aim and pop the tablet in (she will be very wide-eyed, too stunned to resist much). With Mikki, it is a herculean task - that girl is a sprinter and a fighter!

Braun's review is due in two weeks. The medication will help to "drain" the blood clog. Her ear will be slightly deformed (the cleft will still be there). If the blood clog doesn't go off and grows bigger, surgery will be the next resort.

Braun went into hiding after her morning medication today. There she was, my "princess B on a pea" - making herself comfortable on a stack of old newspapers in the bomb shelter. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for her speedy and complete recovery.