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EAR
INFECTIONS How
common are ear infections in cats? Infections
of the external ear canal (outer ear) by bacteria or yeast are common in dogs
but not very common in cats. We
call this otitis externa. The
commonest cause of feline ear disease is ear mite infestation. What
are the symptoms of an ear infection? A
cat with an ear infection is uncomfortable and its ear canals are sensitive.
The cat shakes its head trying to get the debris and fluid out and
scratches its ears. The ears often
become red and inflamed and develop an offensive odour.
A black or yellow discharge commonly occurs. Don't
these symptoms usually suggest ear mites? Ear
mites can cause several of these symptoms including a black discharge,
scratching and head shaking. However,
ear mite infections generally occur most commonly in kittens. Ear mites in adult
cats occur most frequently after a kitten carrying mites is introduced into the
household. Sometimes ear mites will
create an environment within the ear canal which leads to a secondary infection
with bacteria or yeast. By the time
the cat is presented to the vet the mites may be gone but a significant ear
infection remains. Since
these symptoms are similar can I just buy some ear drops? No,
careful diagnosis of the exact cause of the problem is necessary to enable
selection of appropriate treatment. There
are several kinds of bacteria and fungi which might cause an ear infection.
Without knowing the kind of infection present we do not know which drug
to use. In some cases the ear infection may be caused by a foreign
body, tumour or polyp in the ear canal. Treatment
with medication alone will not resolve these problems.
Also the cat must be examined to be sure that the eardrum is intact.
Administration of certain medications can result in loss of hearing if
the eardrum is ruptured. This
determination is made by the vet and must be done at the surgery. How
do you find out what is causing the ear problem? The
vet may examine the ear canal with an otoscope, an instrument that provides
magnification and light. This
permits a good view of the ear canal and allows him to determine whether the
eardrum is intact and if there is any tumour or foreign material in the canal.
When the ears are extremely painful and the cat refuses to allow ear
examination, sedation or general anaesthesia may be necessary.
The vet may then examine a sample of the material from the ear canal
under the
microscope. This is called cytology
and is very important in helping the vet choose the right medication.
Some cats have such a heavy build-up of debris that sedation is needed to
cleanse the canal and examine it completely. How
are ear infections treated? The
results of the otoscopic examination and cytology tell the vet. what to do.
If there is a foreign body lodged in the ear canal the cat can be sedated
so that it can be removed. Specific
medication can be prescribed for bacteria or fungi; sometimes more than one type
of infection is identified and this situation requires the use of multiple
medications. An
important part of the evaluation of the cat is the identification of underlying
disease. If underlying disease is
found it can be treated. If this
cannot be done the cat is less likely to have a favourable response to
treatment; the cat might respond temporarily but relapse when the medication is
discontinued. Since
primary ear infections are uncommon in cats should I be concerned that something
else is going on? Normal
cats are very resistant to ear infections.
Therefore finding otitis externa in a cat signals us to look for an
underlying cause such as an ear mite infestation, an unusual shape of the ear
canal or for a disease affecting the cat's immune system. What
is the prognosis? In
the cat nearly all ear infections that are properly diagnosed and treated can be
cured. However if an underlying
cause remains unidentified and untreated the outcome will be less favourable. My
cat's ear canal is nearly closed. Is
this a problem? Closing
of the ear canal occurs when an infection becomes very chronic.
There are medications that can shrink the swollen tissues and open the
canal in some cats. However some cases may eventually require surgery. How
should I apply medication to my cat's ear? It
is important to get the medication into the horizontal part of the ear canal.
This is best done by following these steps:- • Warm the medication by standing the bottle in
a bowl of warm water for a few minutes. • Gently pull the ear flap straight up and hold
it with one hand. • Apply a small amount of medication in the
vertical part of the ear canal while continuing to keep the ear flap elevated.
Hold this position long enough for the medication to run down to the turn
between the vertical and horizontal ear canal. • Put one finger in front of and at the base of
the ear flap and put your thumb behind at the base • Massage the ear canal between your finger and
thumb. A squishing sound tells you
that the medication has gone into the horizontal canal • Release the ear and let your cat shake its
head. If the medication contains a
wax solvent debris will be dissolved so it can be shaken out • If another medication is to be used apply it
in the same manner • When all medications have been applied clean
the outer part of the ear canal and the inside of the ear flap with a ball of
cotton wool. Do not use cotton
tipped applicators to do this as they tend to push debris back into the vertical
ear canal |