Dirty ears??
- Thread starter rachrp
- Start date
- Status
PeterDevonMocha
Member Since 2009
Hi guys .. We never had problems with ear mites in either of our cats .. but just shortly after mocha went OTJ we went on vacation for a few days .. when we came back, her ears were folded flat down and she kept itching at them .. of course, we figured ear mites from going to the vet's just a few weeks prior .. so we grabbed some ear mite drops and kept using them with no real affect .. took her back to the vet's and she was diagnosed with bacteria infections in both ears .. she had to go on drops for 10 days I believe .. not a problem since ...
BJM
Member Since 2010
Start with observing the ear; this prepares you for the vet visit. (To be really certain what is going on, you do need the vet.)
- Coffee ground colored granules that dissolve into reddish-brown are classic for ear mites.
- What does it smell like? A really foul smell may be yeast or bacteria, and will require a vet visit for treatment.
- Is there any observable bright red bleeding? Scratching or ear drum rupture may cause bleeding.
- Can the cat hear out of the ear (if not known to be deaf)? - fingers rubbing together, clicking, etc may cause at least an ear flick acknowledging the sound.
- Does the ear seem painful? Infection/abcess/severe mites can do this.
For simple cleaning in the cat that has excessively waxy ears, there are veterinary ear cleaners at many pet stores. Use a cotton ball dipped in the cleanser. Place the entire ball into the ear and massage from the outside (this gets the solution deeper in the canal). Remove the wet cotton ball and quickly wipe with a dry one ... or you'll get showered with the cleanser and any debris that has loosened enough to fly out (been there, done that!). Repeat if its really gunky. Do both ears ... or at least as much as the cat will tolerate ;-)
- Coffee ground colored granules that dissolve into reddish-brown are classic for ear mites.
- What does it smell like? A really foul smell may be yeast or bacteria, and will require a vet visit for treatment.
- Is there any observable bright red bleeding? Scratching or ear drum rupture may cause bleeding.
- Can the cat hear out of the ear (if not known to be deaf)? - fingers rubbing together, clicking, etc may cause at least an ear flick acknowledging the sound.
- Does the ear seem painful? Infection/abcess/severe mites can do this.
For simple cleaning in the cat that has excessively waxy ears, there are veterinary ear cleaners at many pet stores. Use a cotton ball dipped in the cleanser. Place the entire ball into the ear and massage from the outside (this gets the solution deeper in the canal). Remove the wet cotton ball and quickly wipe with a dry one ... or you'll get showered with the cleanser and any debris that has loosened enough to fly out (been there, done that!). Repeat if its really gunky. Do both ears ... or at least as much as the cat will tolerate ;-)
rachrp
Member Since 2013
Thanks for the info. There's no bleeding or irritation... he doesn't scratch at his ears any more than normal. It's just a brownish substance that kind of balls up and out of his ears (not a lot but enough to make me notice). Sounds like we'll be taking a trip to the vet to be sure. Thanks again!
TheBowHuntress
Member Since 2012
Gobby has this ear thing too and it is def. not ear mites. He scratches at them sometimes. I have an ear flush the vet sold me and it does make a mess. He has no infections, just dirty ears. I think some cats, like people, have overly-waxy ears.
Dr Schrodinger
Member Since 2012
Milo consistently has one dirty ear. It's covered in a brown waxy deposit. The other one he keeps clean. The clean one is the one I use for testing, unsurprisingly...
I just figure he's a boy who can't be bothered to wash thoroughly. I sometimes wipe it with a cotton pad soaked in warm water with a little mild shower gel.
I just figure he's a boy who can't be bothered to wash thoroughly. I sometimes wipe it with a cotton pad soaked in warm water with a little mild shower gel.
Wendy&Tiggy(GA)
Member Since 2011
Bailey had small dark gritty stuff in his ear.. We thought mites but it turned out to be an ear infection..
- Status