Page 51 - Complete Cat Care: How To Keep Your Cat Healthy and Happy

Ear disorders

A wide range of ear problems can affect cats, from external injuries
to disorders of the inner ear that can cause problems with balance.
Cats can also suffer from deafness due to genetic problems.

Signs of a problem
■ Shaking head
■ Pawing or scratching at ear
■ Smelly ear or ears
■ Dirty ear or ears; dark wax or
white discharge in ear
■ Pain when ear is touched
or when eating
■ Deafness (congenital, selective) 49
■ Swollen ear flap (hematoma)
■ Head tilt, loss of balance,
nausea (middle/inner ear disease)

Outer ear problems Middle and inner △ Giving ear drops Ear disorders
The ear flap is often injured in ear problems Hold the head so the ear to be treated faces
upward. Squeeze in the drops, then massage
cat fights or by scratching. Bites Inflammation of the middle ear the base of the ear.
or scratches may cause an abscess (otitis media) may result from an
(an infected, pus-filled swelling) infection spreading down the ear The vet may prescribe drugs to
or a hematoma (a blood-filled canal or a foreign object piercing relieve inflammation in the ear
swelling). Less commonly, skin the eardrum. Signs include pain— and facial nerves, antibiotics to
cancer may develop, especially causing the cat to shake its head clear up infections, or antinausea
in cats with pale-colored ears. and scratch or paw at the ear— drugs for vestibular syndrome.
Inflammation of the ear canal a discharge, and lethargy. Ear A ruptured eardrum may heal
(otitis externa) is commonly due infections can spread to affect by itself, but for persistent otitis
to ear mites—white, dot-sized nerves in the face, causing Horner’s media, surgery may be needed
parasites (see p.52) that cause syndrome (see box, right) and pain to drain pus.
intense itching and buildup of when the cat opens its mouth.
a dark, waxy, smelly discharge. Otitis media needs prompt
Other causes may include bacterial attention because the infection
infections, allergies, or a tumor could spread to the inner ear. This Horner’s syndrome
or a polyp (fleshy growth) in the can cause hearing loss, or lead Ear infection may spread to the
ear canal. to vestibular syndrome, which facial nerves, leading to Horner’s
Your vet may clean excess debris interferes with balance. syndrome in the eye on that side.
or discharge from the ear canal. Your vet may sedate or Symptoms include:
Possible treatments include a anesthetize the cat and examine ■ Sunken eyeball
“spot-on” treatment to eliminate the eardrum for damage or ■ Constricted pupil
ear mites, ear drops for an inflammation. The vet may also ■ Drooping lower eyelid
infection, and drainage of an arrange radiographs or an MRI ■ Visible third eyelid
abscess or a hematoma. scan of the inner ear.

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