Ear Disease And Your Pet

Ear disease is one of the most common conditions in cats and comes in many shapes and forms – the most serious of which is a regular cause of pet insurance claims. In this article I look at some of the causes, symptoms and treatments of ear disease, as well as methods of preventing it in the first place. Although outer ear disease is a relatively minor problem that is easily treated, mid-ear infections can cause permanent damage and inner-ear infections can actually kill a cat. For this reason, it is important to understand the signs and symptoms of different kinds of ear disease, to ensure that it is treated as quickly as possible.

There are many things that can cause ear problems, including allergies, parasites and microorganisms, as well as hereditary conditions and objects stuck in the ear canal itself. Ear mites are a common cause of ear disease, especially in kittens, that must be treated with medication and frequent ear cleaning. Bacterial and yeast infections are another very common cause of ear infections that often come about due to changes within the ear environment – excess moisture, for example. These infections also require ear cleaning, as well as courses of antibiotics or antifungals, so as to ensure the infection doesn’t spread deeper into the ear. These changes in the ear environment are commonly caused by allergies, which must also be treated to prevent the problem reoccurring. To do so, allergy testing is normally conducted and followed up with a supply of antihistamines and fatty acid supplements.

Common symptoms of ear disease include ear odour, scratching the ears, discharge from the ears and redness of the ear canal. If the infection moves to the middle of the ear, additional symptoms include shaking or tilting of the head and loss of balance. Deep ear infections have more obvious symptoms, including vomiting and loss of hearing and coordination. In these cases surgery is often required, which can be an expensive investment for those without pet insurance.

For all kinds of ear disease, proper care and cleaning for your cat’s ears will go a long way in both preventing and treating the problem. Cleaning cats’ ears is simple, but the correct procedure cannot realistically be guessed. The advisable course of action is to lie your cat down and fill its ear canal with ear cleaning fluid, or body-temperature olive oil. By massaging the base of the ear, you will work the fluid around the ear and release trapped debris. Finally, use a cotton ball to wipe away the debris and excess fluid before repeating on the other ear. Although cotton buds can be used to clean the outer ear canal, never attempt to clean deeper into the ear as this is more likely to compact dirt than remove it.