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Almost all animals have had problems with their ears in their life, whether it’s dealing with parasitic diseases such as mites or an infection. Unlike dogs, whose ears were often altered forms of breeders in cats, the ear form – with the exception of the Scottish Fold – remained virtually unchanged, so it does not develop in diseases due to inadequate air supply.

Diseases of the ear are common in cats and can sometimes affect the quality of life drastically. It is important to note that is affected not only in the externally visible part of the ear disease, but also the middle and inner ear.

Among the diseases of the external auditory canal is first to name the infestation with ear mites. First, slight redness, swelling and itching are observed in the course accumulate dark brown, waxy crusts, which can block like a fat graft the ear canal and can lead to complications from secondary infections. The mites can be found with a special instrument that is introduced by the veterinarian in the ear canal (called the otoscope), proved to be, but sometimes with the naked eye. In addition, the brown color of the ear secretions typical of the “otitis external parasite”. Especially often very young kittens are affected.

Because this disease is very contagious, treatment should be initiated immediately. Treatment with antiparasitic drugs, which are introduced after cleaning the ear canal should be at least 21 to 28 days long (sometimes several months) performed regularly, because the risk of reinfection is not to be underestimated. It may also happen that the mites migrate to the skin and go from there into the ear can. Therefore, the same should be a full body treatment with a contact insecticide.

Due to the strong itch to scratch the affected animals constantly, what deep scratches and a bruise called a hematoma, the result can-do. A hematoma occurs quite suddenly by the rupture of small blood vessels, resulting in bleeding between the skin and cartilage. A hematoma is less than painful, but by the heavy ear rather unpleasant. Even if a bruise may regress after several days or weeks, should nevertheless be noted that this may also develop a “cauliflower” ear and the ear is permanently deformed. In aural hematomas is therefore recommended always a surgical procedure.

There is also a non-parasitic infection of the outer ear, which may be caused by bacteria or fungi, and is treated accordingly with combination anti-inflammatory drugs.
Wounds also often suffered on the outer ear, which usually occur during fights with other cats become infected and also almost always go hand in hand with hematomas can. The cartilage is involved in the inflammatory process, healing progresses often slow and will require early therapeutic intervention with antibiotics is required.

An ascending infection that comes from the outer ear canal or nose and throat can cause a middle ear infection (otitis media), which is usually associated with intense pain and head tilt. The diagnosis is not easy to make, because the outer ear may appear perfectly healthy. Since the eardrum is often inconspicuous, only its arching leaves close to a collection of pus in the middle ear.

When a middle ear infection can also occur imbalance, although the organ of balance is located in the inner ear, which makes the diagnosis and differentiation more difficult. In addition, the animals often stumble or turn in a circle – more typical symptoms of an inner ear infection, which are also detected in the middle ear inflammation.

The therapy is designed therefore also be difficult. Local irrigation with water-soluble antibiotics, the symptoms increased significantly in the short term, the antibiotic treatment turns out to not always be effective. Inflammation heals from the shows, even a broken eardrum good signs of healing (but also with a broken eardrum cats seem to be able to hear quite well if they want …).

When an animal with chronic nasal discharge should necessarily be wanted by a middle ear infection.

The inner ear has the function of the auditory and vestibular organ, according occurs in diseases of the inner ear (otitis interna) to symptoms such as loss of balance, head tilt and strabismus. Differential diagnosis of which other diseases of the central nervous system, such as meningitis must be deferred. As a cause of otitis interna, the spread of a middle ear infection, head trauma, systemic infections or certain toxins are to blame.

The prognosis is unfavorable to provide care to, because even after healing, the head tilt, or other permanent or recurrent conditions such as epileptic seizures persist.

Diseases of the ear, even if they seem harmless deserve, so – considering the possible consequences – certainly more attention. The cleaning of the ears should be performed only by a veterinarian with the appropriate instruments, because the risk of injury is very high. And just when scratches is also often a drug immobilization is required.

By Dr Astrid Heinl. Image by ACatDog & Moosecoons