Operation

[jaiynne]

need advice re westie with long term ear problem, black build up that is hard, seems to cause pain, she has had problem for years, but have new vet who is suggesting an operation to open ear canal, has anyone had similar problem, and tried surgery, any advice would be appreciated

 

[ILoveKettleChips]

need advice re westie with long term ear problem, black build up that is hard, seems to cause pain, she has had problem for years, but have new vet who is suggesting an operation to open ear canal, has anyone had similar problem, and tried surgery, any advice would be appreciated

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The surgery is probably a Lateral Wall Resection which is a straightforward operation to remove the outer part of the ear canal. This means that any grot and build-up can drain freely, and allows air to circulate better. This in turn reduces likelihood of infection and helps prevent painful swelling.

The ear problem is more than likely to be associated with a skin problem (as it's a Westie I'm making an assumption here) which will need to be managed carefully too.