Ear Dermatitis in Cats

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Ear Dermatitis in Cats

By: Dr. Bari Spielman

Section: Overview

Dermatitis involving the ear is an inflammation of the pinna (external part of the ear lying outside of the head). There are a variety of causes of ear dermatitis, ranging from infections to parasites to trauma.

Infectious Causes

Bacterial

Parasitic – Mange (demodectic, otodectic, sarcoptic and notoedric) and ringworm

Immune Causes

Allergy (food, contact)

Drug reaction

Cold Agglutinin Disease

Pemphigus

Trauma

Lacerations, burns, chemical injury

Secondary to disorders within the ear (foreign body, tumor, etc...)

Systemic Causes

Hypothyroidism

Hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing's disease)

Cancer

Miscellaneous Causes

Solar (sun-related) dermatitis

Frostbite

Fly strike

Seborrhea (dry, scaly skin)

Since there are so many different causes of ear dermatitis, diagnosis, treatment and affect on the animal will vary.

What to Watch For

Head shaking

Scratching and rubbing of ears

Pain around the ears

Hair loss on the pinna

Malodorous ears

Bleeding

Diagnosis

Baseline tests, including a complete blood count (CBC), biochemical profile and urinalysis, are usually within normal limits. Additional tests may be necessary to determine the underlying cause of the ear dermatitis.

Skin scrapings

Allergy testing

Fungal culture

Bacterial culture

Endocrine testing

Cytology

Biopsy

Treatment

The treatment depends on the underlying disorder.

Antibiotics/antifungal medicine

Anti-inflammatory drugs

Antihistamines

Hormone replacement therapy

Antiparasitic drugs

Food trials

Home Care and Prevention

Follow all instructions given to you by your veterinarian. If your pet has a recurrence of signs, contact your veterinarian at once. The best way to prevent ear dermatitis is to remove any offending substances from the environment. Limit sun exposure and feed hypoallergenic diets when appropriate.