Ear Skin Peeling Off

[putus_human]

The skin on the edges of my cat's ears is literally drying up and falling off in chunks. It's hard like a scab but just covered in fur, not blood. It's gotten so bad that I'm having trouble finding testing sites on the ear that aren't scabbed over. This is after about 1 month of testing. I know in a pinch I can use alternate sites but my bigger concern is I am doing some damage to my cat. BTW, I've been testing the underside of the ear. Am I doing something wrong?

Has anyone had this happen before? Does it recur or will the new skin that's growing in be tougher?

Is there anything I can put on her ears to help them heal faster? At this point, I'm reducing the testing to the bare minimum to give her ears a rest.

 

[Larry and Kitties]

Can you post a photo of the ear?
Are you using anything on the ear before or after poking?
I have never seen that in any of my 20 diabetic cats.

 

[Roberta and Chloe]

I have been poking on the same ear near the top for 3 years. It's slightly scabby, but before pricking, I rub her ear a bit to get the blood circulating. Just some dried blood comes off. I wonder if your cat might be allergic to the needle of the syringe. Also, I found out recently that going back and forth on the plunger kind of primes the syringe and keeps some compounds off the draw. Have you tried different kinds of syringes? I'm guessing it may be an allergy. Do you have a vet you can ask. Also please take some photos to post here and to send to your vet.

 

[putus_human]

Are you using anything on the ear before or after poking?

Yes, I put a dab of Aquaphor lip repair ointment before the prick to help the blood droplet form. I thought this was the same ingredient as Vaseline but I just looked on the back and apparently the "lip repair" formulation has a bunch of ingredients. She's probably allergic to something in there. Ooof, I should have thought of this. That's probably what it is. I will switch to the plain Aquaphor/Vaseline and see if this stops.

 

[Critter Mom]

Hope that solves the problem. Be sure to let us know how it goes, Victoria.

(((Putu)))


Mogs
.

 

[Roberta and Chloe]

Try not using anything. I never have. Just rub the ear a bit before pricking. If I don't get a bead, I prick again in the same area and that usually does it.

 

[JanetNJ]

Yes, I put a dab of Aquaphor lip repair ointment before the prick to help the blood droplet form. I thought this was the same ingredient as Vaseline but I just looked on the back and apparently the "lip repair" formulation has a bunch of ingredients. She's probably allergic to something in there. Ooof, I should have thought of this. That's probably what it is. I will switch to the plain Aquaphor/Vaseline and see if this stops.

Yeah I wouldn't put anything on the ear before a poke. If it looks irritated you might put a little neosporin ointment with pain relief. Or just let it be for a few days.

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

I would put neosporin ointment with pain relief on them
just a thin layer for healing. NOT the cream.
I have always tested on the fur side of the ear