The ears are probably one of the cutest parts of a cat’s body.These silky little leaves are fun to touch, and cats move them in interesting ways, twisting them in different directions. Some cat breeds have their ears sticking out like locators, others, such as Scottish Folded Ears, have them folded into an envelope, which makes them look particularly affectionate, and the American Kestrel’s have them folded back.
The cat’s ears help it keep its balance in almost all situations, even the most head-turning. In a word, a cat without ears is not a cat. But unfortunately, cats’ ears are a very sensitive area and there are many ear diseases from which they suffer.
Otitis is the most severe form of ear infections
It is relatively easy to identify that an animal has ear infections. The obvious symptoms are redness of the ear cavity, abscesses, tilting of the head to the side of the ear, shaking and digging of the ear. Your pet’s body temperature may also rise and his appetite may disappear.
There are three types of ear infections: outer, middle and inner earI.
Diseases of the external auditory meatus are usually caused by the collection of earwax and its transformation into an ear plug. Diseases of the middle and inner ear are usually the result of the development of local or general infection.
It is best not to resort to home remedies for otitis. You should go to your vet who will carefully clean your patient’s ears with a special liquid and prescribe drops. Only later can you carry out this procedure at home. And most importantly, make sure you remove any dirt well before applying the medicated drops.
Acute ear infections are rare in cats, but if they do happen, the ear canal becomes red and the ear, where water accumulates, becomes painful. A foreign body can enter the ear canal. In such cases, it is advisable to seek veterinary advice before attempting to clean the ear.
Parasites and ear mites are another cause of ear disease, and by the way, the most common. These parasites are not so much interested in dogs as they are sympathetic to cats. But if both pets live in the same house, ticks can also pass from the infected cat’s ears to the dog.
When a pet catches a tick, it is immediately visible. Its ears start to prick up and it scratches them furiously. And if you look inside, you will see brown crumbs.
The most common ear scabies is otodectosis, caused by the Notoedres cati mite. These mites live in the outer lobe of the ear and prey on the remaining skin. The most commonly affected are the ears of kittens. This happens even in infancy, when receiving ticks from the mother. And the ears of young cats are also often affected. Canine otodectosis is most common in young long-eared dogs, as well as in stray dogs. As a rule, both ears are affected.
If complications occur, the disease can become very serious: the ears develop brown purulent discharges with a rather unpleasant odour, the animal shakes its head, its hearing is impaired and even perforation of the eardrum can occur.
All you bhe first thing to do for your furry martyr at home to calm his illness is to take him to a veterinary clinic. You can only improve the housing and feeding conditions of your four-legged friend, but you should not even choose the right medication yourself.
But if you already have a lot of experience in these matters, then treat with a mite-killing preparation that is administered into the ear. Just be very strict with the dosage and treatment period. If you finish the treatment too early and the drug has not yet destroyed the parasite eggs, a second wave of infection may result.
It is very important to remove as much of the pussy secretions from the canal as possible before each instillation of the medicine so that the drops can enter the canal. Never pour powder into the ear as it can harden and completely block the passage.
Augly
If you notice that your pet’s entire earlobe is covered with fuzzy folds, discharge and odour, it’s time to take action, as all of this is probably related towas caused by a tumour.
Tumours are quite common in the auditory passages. Dogs and cats over the age of five who have a history of ear disease but have not had a full course of treatment are particularly affected.
The only way to combat this affliction is by surgery. Such surgery is quite complex and involves the removal of all the affected tissue. But most dogs and cats tolerate this operation quite well. To ensure a successful outcome, it is a good idea for the owner to send the animal for tests before the operation and then the anaesthetist will determine the degree of risk. Post-operative inflammatory prophylaxis should also be carried out by a doctor.
Hematoma
The delicate ears of our little family members contain large blood vessels. And if they are damaged in any way, for example, if an animal scratches the ear during a fight, or if there is inflammation, or if water or sand gets into the ear canal, the dog (cat) will dig its ears. Thus, when they are damaged, the blood vessels rupture and blood spills inside the ear. This happens between the cartilage and the skin (i.e. on the outer surface of the ear), or between the cartilage and the supracartilage (on the inner surface of the ear). This is a haematoma of the earlobe.
Once the ear is damaged, a haematoma appears quite quickly. And it is difficult to miss this thickening of the ear. Humanly speaking, the ear becomes like a big doughnut. And in dogs whose ears are usually stationary, when they are diseased, they droop completely. But in the initial stage, the haematoma is even hot to the touch and, on examination, the skin is reddened with bluish tints. The affected area is usually digging and does not give the animal peace of mind, so it shakes its head or bends it towards the painful ear and tries to touch it with its paw.
If you do not go to the doctor and start treatment, after three days, due to the gas bubbles gathering, the so-called crepitations will start and the ear will start to crackle. The inflammation builds up and the pain increases accordingly.