Otitis Externa in Cats

Otitis Externa in Cats

By: Dr. Debra Primovic

Section: Overview

Diagnosis

Veterinary care should include diagnostic tests to determine the underlying cause and help guide subsequent treatment recommendations. Tests may include:

  • Complete medical history and physical examination with special attention to the ears and skin

  • Cytology, which involves taking a sample of the ear discharge or any masses and examining it under a microscope. The discharge if evaluated for the presence of mites, yeast organisms or bacteria.

    Some pets may require additional diagnostic tests to determine the underlying cause of the abnormalities. Pets with recurrent ear infections, those who respond poorly to treatment, pets with generalized skin abnormalities, or those with other health problems may need additional diagnostic tests. These may include:

  • Culture and sensitivity involves taking a sample of the ear discharge and sending it to a laboratory to identify the specific bacteria present.
    The bacteria are exposed to multiple antibiotic samples to determine what will kill them most effectively.

  • Radiographs (X-rays) may be recommended to determine the health of the ear canal and bone and to evaluate the extent of involvement. Some cases of otitis externa (inflammation of the OUTER ear) can progress to otitis media (inflammation of the inner ear).

  • Complete blood count (CBC) and biochemical profile to check for factors that may contribute to the infection as well as to determine if a concurrent disease is present

  • Allergy tests to determine if your pet is allergic to things that may irritate the ears, as well as the skin

    Treatment

    Treatments for otitis externa may include the following:

  • Cleaning the ear. This can be accomplished by placing solutions in your pet's ear at home or by having the ears cleaned by your veterinarian. Moderate to severe infections may require sedation and in-hospital flushing.

  • Topical therapy. It usually consists of an ear medication that you place in your pet's ear once or twice daily. The specific medicine and directions will depend on the cause of the infection. It is extremely important to follow your veterinarian's directions carefully.

  • Systemic therapy with glucocorticoids (steroids) to decrease pain and inflammation

  • Antibiotic therapy in cases of severe bacterial infection or ulceration

  • Antifungal therapy in cases of severe or recurrent yeast infections

  • Anti-allergy therapy

    Home Care and Prevention

    Optimal treatment requires a combination of home and professional veterinary care. Be sure to have your veterinarian or his/her staff show you how to place medication into your pet's ears.

  • Do not use cotton swabs in the ear; these may push infection and/or discharge deeper into the ear canal. Clean the ears before applying medication.

  • Return to your veterinarian for follow-up examinations as suggested.

    At home special care of your cat's ears can help to maintain healthy ears. Dry the ears after bathing or swimming and check ears for foreign matter.

    Also, at the first sign of scratching, head shaking, pain, swelling, odorPerfect Litter Alert
    Pet Ecology Perfect Litter™ outperforms all other litters in every way. Our Patented formula is ultra lightweight - up to 70% lighter than regul...
    , or discharge, have your cat's ears checked by your veterinarian.

     
    Printable Version
     
    Have a Pet Question?
    Send Your Pet Question to Dr. Jon
    and His Staff of Veterinarians Ask Dr. Jon
    Dr. Jon's Newsletter
    Yes! Send Me the Latest Health Information, Pet Tips, Pet Stories and more...
     
     

    Related Articles

    • 1 Ear Mites in Cats

      Ear mites are the most common mite to infest cats and they are very contagious, usually spreading to most cats in the household. These mites are typically found in kittens and younger cats.

      Read MoreRead More
    • 2 Aural Hematoma in Cats

      Aural hematoma is an accumulation of blood within the cartilage layers of the ear. This problem is most often associated with underlying ear disease, like excessive head shaking, that can rupture blood...

      Read MoreRead More
    • 3 Chronic Ear Problems in Cats

      Ear disease is one of the most frequent reasons owners seek veterinary help. There are many causes of ear problems, ranging from foreign objects, infections, trauma or even tumors.

      Read MoreRead More
    • 4 Ear Discharge in Cats

      Some cats tend to produce more wax than others, and keeping the ears clean helps prevent problems. For others, ear discharge is often a sign of trouble - most often the dreaded ear infection or ear mite....

      Read MoreRead More
    • 5 Ear Tumors in Cats

      Ear tumors are growths associated with the ear and the most common include ceruminous gland adenoma or adenocarcinoma, sebaceous gland tumor and basal cell tumor. Depending on the tumor type there may...

      Read MoreRead More
  • Related Articles
    • 1Aural Hematoma in Cats

      Aural hematoma is an accumulation of blood within the cartilage layers of the ear. This problem is most often associated with underlying ear disease, like excessive head shaking, that can rupture blood...

      Read MoreRead More
    • 2Chronic Ear Problems in Cats

      Ear disease is one of the most frequent reasons owners seek veterinary help. There are many causes of ear problems, ranging from foreign objects, infections, trauma or even tumors.

      Read MoreRead More
    • 3Ear Discharge in Cats

      Some cats tend to produce more wax than others, and keeping the ears clean helps prevent problems. For others, ear discharge is often a sign of trouble - most often the dreaded ear infection or ear mite....

      Read MoreRead More
    • 4Ear Mites in Cats

      Ear mites are the most common mite to infest cats and they are very contagious, usually spreading to most cats in the household. These mites are typically found in kittens and younger cats.

      Read MoreRead More
    • 5Ear Tumors in Cats

      Ear tumors are growths associated with the ear and the most common include ceruminous gland adenoma or adenocarcinoma, sebaceous gland tumor and basal cell tumor. Depending on the tumor type there may...

      Read MoreRead More
     

    Over 10,000 Veterinarian Approved Articles

    Related Articles
    • 1Aural Hematoma in Cats

      Aural hematoma is an accumulation of blood within the cartilage layers of the ear. This problem is most often associated with underlying ear disease, like excessive head shaking, that can rupture blood...

      Read MoreRead More
    • 2Chronic Ear Problems in Cats

      Ear disease is one of the most frequent reasons owners seek veterinary help. There are many causes of ear problems, ranging from foreign objects, infections, trauma or even tumors.

      Read MoreRead More
    • 3Ear Discharge in Cats

      Some cats tend to produce more wax than others, and keeping the ears clean helps prevent problems. For others, ear discharge is often a sign of trouble - most often the dreaded ear infection or ear mite....

      Read MoreRead More
    • 4Ear Mites in Cats

      Ear mites are the most common mite to infest cats and they are very contagious, usually spreading to most cats in the household. These mites are typically found in kittens and younger cats.

      Read MoreRead More
    • 5Ear Tumors in Cats

      Ear tumors are growths associated with the ear and the most common include ceruminous gland adenoma or adenocarcinoma, sebaceous gland tumor and basal cell tumor. Depending on the tumor type there may...

      Read MoreRead More