Signs of a ruptured eardrum in a cat ⋆ Online magazine for women

Causes Signs Diagnosis Treatment The eardrum is a thin partition located between the outer and middle ear. Serves to transmit sound vibrations to the inner ear, preventing infection and foreign objects from entering the inner and middle ear.

If the integrity of the eardrum is damaged, bacteria and fungi from the external auditory canal can penetrate deeper and cause internal and otitis media. Inflammation of the inner and middle ear is a serious disease and requires immediate treatment.

Why does the gap occur?

In normal condition, a cat's eardrum has a shiny, translucent appearance and is concave. Separates the outer and middle ear. Acts as a transmitter of sound waves and protects the auricle from infections. If the eardrum is damaged, fungi and bacteria gain access to the middle and inner ear, which can lead to purulent otitis media.

The main causes of perforation:

developing infectious process;
mechanical damage;
foreign object entering the ear;
neoplasm;
sudden changes in atmospheric pressure.

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Causes

The membrane is damaged due to inflammation or injury.

The most common cause of perforation is purulent otitis media, when the resulting inflammatory discharge has no outlet, gradually melts and breaks through the barrier. If the hole is small and the inflammation is acute, then sometimes the membrane can regenerate on its own. With chronic inflammation, persistent perforation forms, which can only be treated surgically.

Traumatic perforations occur due to crude attempts to clean the ear canal (“ear picking”). In children, rupture can occur when a foreign body is pushed in or removed.

The membrane can be damaged by a change in air pressure - during an airplane flight, during a sharp dive or rise from water, or a blow to the ear (especially for boxers with an open glove). The membrane ruptures due to traumatic brain injury, especially fractures of the temporal bone or base of the skull.

There is also acoustic perforation that occurs when there is a nearby explosion or shot.

Symptoms of the disease

Perforation of the eardrum in a pet is accompanied by the following conditions:

The cat constantly turns his head, often tilting it towards the sore ear.
Loss of coordination, constant walking in circles.
Hyperemia inside the auricle.
Swelling and foul-smelling discharge from the sink.
Impaired sound perception.
Minimal activity, lethargy.
Horner's syndrome.

Pets diagnosed with chronic otitis media are prone to complications such as perforation of the eardrum.

Regular examination by a veterinarian allows you to identify hearing loss in cats at the initial stages and prescribe treatment. The severity of the symptoms depends on how active the inflammatory process is and what part of the auricle is damaged. In cases not diagnosed in a timely manner, the infection can spread to the vestibular and facial nerves and provoke the occurrence of meningitis, brain abscess, and, as a result, the death of the animal.

Treatment of disease in cats

The veterinarian prescribes antibiotics and antifungal drugs that help stop the inflammatory process in the cat’s ear. According to the official instructions, the doctor prescribes systemic corticosteroids, as well as rinsing the auricle with saline solution at room temperature. If a rupture of the eardrum is detected, treatment consists of surgical restoration of its integrity. For a speedy recovery, the pet must be provided with rest through isolation. It is not recommended to self-medicate, as this can lead to serious complications. The treatment method depends on the age of the animal and existing chronic diseases.

The eardrum is a thin partition located between the outer and middle ear. It serves to transmit sound vibrations to the inner ear and prevent infection and foreign objects from entering.

If the integrity of the eardrum is damaged, bacteria and fungi from the external auditory canal penetrate deeper and can cause internal and otitis media. Inflammation of the inner and middle ear is a serious disease and requires immediate treatment.

Otodectosis and parasitic otitis media

Otitis of parasitic etiology is more common in kittens than in adult cats. A sick pet experiences unbearable itching, trying to relieve it, he constantly shakes his head and scratches his ears, which often leads to the appearance of bleeding wounds on them - a gateway for pathogenic microorganisms. When examining the ear canals, you can find dark brown discharge of a crumbly consistency in them (see photo). This is nothing more than the waste products of the parasitic mite Otodectes cynotis.

Signs of an ear mite

Once in the ear canal, the parasites feed on epidermal cells and actively multiply. If there are too many of them, they move from the auricle to the scalp. Pests lead to increased sulfur production. Mechanical irritation of the skin and allergies to waste products provoke the development of an inflammatory process in the external auditory canal. It often involves pathogenic agents. Also, against the background of inflammation, pus appears. The spread of the pathological process to the eardrum is fraught with its perforation and the development of otitis media.

Treatment of the disease is aimed at eliminating parasites and concomitant bacterial or fungal infection, if there are signs of it. You should not thoughtlessly use drops with an anti-tick effect, especially if there is a violation of the integrity of the eardrum. A veterinarian must prescribe medications.

Signs of a perforated eardrum in a cat

Symptoms depend on how severe the inflammation is and whether the inner ear is affected.

Most common symptoms

The cat shakes its head
Tilts head towards the affected ear
Disorientation, the animal may walk in circles
Redness and swelling of the ear
Discharge
Unpleasant odor from the ear canal
Severe pain
Hearing impairment
Decreased activity
Lethargy, apathy
Horner's syndrome is characterized by a problem with the eyes.

In cases of extremely severe disease, the infection can migrate along the vestibular and facial nerves and cause meningitis and brain stem abscess, followed by the death of the pet.

Diagnosis of the disease

To diagnose problems with the eardrum, the veterinarian carefully examines the patient, assesses the condition of the external auditory canal and the degree of neurological abnormalities. When performing an otoscopy, the integrity of the eardrum is revealed, possible changes in the structure of the outer ear are identified, and the presence of a foreign object and tumor is determined.

Clinical picture

Since otitis of the inner ear in a cat is more severe than other types, the clinical picture can be quite characteristic. Based on many signs, you can determine that your pet’s inner ear is affected and take timely measures.

In the mildest cases, the cat simply constantly touches or rubs its ears with its paws, sometimes scratching them until they bleed. Drops of exudate or blood may be observed coming out of the external auditory canal. Simply put, at first, internal otitis is no different in symptoms from average otitis. True, the ears directly suffer from internal otitis much less often. Only occasionally is their hyperemia (redness) observed; upon palpation, an increase in local body temperature can be felt.

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The animal can sit in one place for a long time, shaking its head back and forth, or it can also sit with its head tilted to one side. Please note that on the side where the pet’s head is tilted, the site of the inflammatory process is located.

As the inner ear infection progresses, affected animals gradually develop facial nerve problems. In particular, this is indicated by ptosis or blepharospasm, “sagging” of the muzzle, and its pronounced unnaturalness. Severe cases are characterized by distortion of the animal's facial part, which makes the latter look like a clown with poorly applied makeup.

Signs of facial paralysis (which almost always develops in advanced cases of otitis media) also include difficulty swallowing and drinking. The worst thing is when an animal develops horizontal or vertical nystagmus, since this phenomenon directly indicates serious brain damage.

The further the pathological process progresses, the more serious the symptoms become. Thus, the animal’s gait is “wooden”, the cat cannot bend its legs, it constantly bumps into furniture, walls, people and other animals, and seizures (like epileptic seizures) are possible. In this case, you need to urgently take your pet to the veterinarian, as the consequences can be extremely severe.

How to treat cat ears

In case of severe otitis, long-term use of broad-spectrum antibiotics is indicated. After taking a smear and identifying the causative agent, antifungal drugs are prescribed. Bacteriological seeding of discharge from the ear canal helps to accurately draw up a drug treatment regimen and select antibiotics. The ear canal is sanitized with a neutral warm solution; corticosteroids are often used.

If the eardrum is slightly damaged, it recovers fairly quickly. In more severe cases, surgery will be required.

POLAR BEAR

The veterinary clinic in Nizhny Novgorod "White Bear" provides all types of services for cats and dogs. Conducts any examinations and tests in its own veterinary laboratory; the clinic operates a veterinary ambulance for animals and a 24-hour veterinarian is on call at home.

Cats quite often suffer from otitis media. In most cases, owners do not pay enough attention to the health of their pet. Meanwhile, such frivolity can lead to the death of the animal. In this article we will look at how to recognize otitis media in cats and how to treat it.

Therapeutic measures

What is the treatment for otitis of the inner ear? Since inflammation of the deep structures of the ear is most often caused by the action of pathogenic microflora, powerful broad-spectrum antibiotics are used for treatment. The specific type of drug depends on whether the veterinarian was able to determine the type of pathogen.

To quickly stop the inflammatory process, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed. They are also the most important element in the treatment of otitis of allergic etiology. When prescribing a long-term therapeutic course of corticosteroids, the animal must also be given antifungal drugs, since steroids have a detrimental effect on the immunity of cats, and therefore the risk of developing secondary infections increases significantly. Here's how to treat internal otitis in cats.

Causes of otitis media in cats

The hearing organ of representatives of the cat family consists of three sections:

The cat's ear consists of three sections - outer, middle and inner.

Depending on the part in which the inflammatory process occurs, otitis media are classified. External or otitis media, if detected early and treated correctly, can be cured quite quickly. Deep, or otitis of the inner ear, is considered one of the most dangerous pathologies, which is fraught with serious consequences and complications.

An animal of any age can get otitis media. The reasons leading to the occurrence and development of the disease can be different:

Parasites. The vital activity of fleas and ticks leads to the development of otitis media quite often. The inflammatory process begins in the outer ear and, if left untreated, quickly moves deeper.
Allergy. Allergic otitis media can be caused by taking some food or medication. The itching that accompanies the disease forces the animal to constantly scratch problem areas. The resulting microtraumas become breeding grounds for bacteria.
New growths or ingress of foreign objects. A tumor or any object lodged in the ear prevents the release of wax and also irritates the internal receptors. The resulting itching makes the pet feel restless and constantly scratch, which provokes inflammation.
Injuries. Scratches and other microtraumas not treated with antiseptics and wound-healing preparations can provoke inflammation.
Fungi. Otitis media can develop against the background of fungal infections of the skin.
Low level of immunity. If the body is not sufficiently protected, any disease or injury can trigger inflammation.
Hypothermia or water ingress. Drafts and moisture can cause serious harm to the health of the animal. Water that gets inside the ear becomes an excellent breeding ground for bacteria. Hypothermia weakens the body's defenses, as a result of which it cannot fight pathogenic microflora, which contributes to the development of inflammation.
Hormonal imbalances. Any deviation in hormone levels can trigger the development of otitis media.
Autoimmune pathologies. In the presence of such a disease, the immune system mistakes the animal's native tissues as foreign and tries to get rid of them. Against this background, inflammation develops.
Insufficient hygiene. Some animals produce excess earwax. Untimely removal of it contributes to the accumulation and development of pathogenic flora.

Yeast infections and bacteria complicate the course of otitis media. For them, a favorable environment is the mucous membrane and skin, the integrity of which is compromised.

Complications of the external type of the disease do not always lead to the development of otitis media and internal otitis. There are a number of reasons that directly provoke inflammatory processes in deeper sections. These include:

injuries to the temporal part of the skull;
perforation of the membrane due to various external factors;
tumor growths.

An advanced form of pathology - purulent otitis - leads to rupture of the membrane. Through the resulting hole, pus enters the head, leading to inflammation of the brain and deafness.

general information

Otitis is always called inflammation of the ear. In this case, the inner ear is affected, which, among other things, includes the vestibular apparatus of the animal (to simplify everything greatly). In addition, the “deep” hearing aid is located in close proximity to the brain. It is for this reason that internal otitis is an extremely dangerous process, since the likelihood of septic damage to the central nervous system sharply increases.

This never goes away without leaving a trace; even with relatively successful treatment, there are high chances that your pet will forever remain disabled, behave inappropriately, urinate on itself, etc. In short, the rule for owners here is simple - at the first clinical signs of deep otitis media, you need to immediately take the cat to the veterinarian. The most dangerous thing is purulent otitis of the inner ear, since pus has lysing properties, that is, it can dissolve soft tissues and even bones.

Let us consider the main reasons under the influence of which animals develop such a dangerous pathology. It is almost always the result of poorly treated or untreated otitis externa/otitis media. In addition, entire colonies of ear mites sometimes lead to a similar outcome. If the animal’s body is severely weakened, parasites greatly simplify the “work” of pathogenic and conditionally pathogenic microflora.

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Often, “ordinary” allergies are to blame for the development of pathology, which appeared against the background of exposure of the animal’s body to pollen from flowering plants, components of household chemicals, animal feed, etc. The fact is that with allergies, the internal environment of the ear is greatly disturbed, which can lead to the development of pathogenic and conditionally pathogenic microflora.

Finally, internal otitis is a common consequence of foreign bodies entering the ear canal. The latter are rarely sterile. The microflora brought into the ear on the surface of the debris is highly likely to take advantage of the microtraumas left by the foreign body, as a result of which the inflammatory process will begin.

Symptoms

Signs of otitis in cats depend on the severity and form of the disease.

severe itching (scratching, skin hyperemia);
unbearable pain (the cat does not allow himself to be stroked on the head, keeps his ears flattened);
loss of appetite;
apathy;
redness or swelling of the ear;
the discharge becomes dark in color and has an unpleasant odor;
the auricle is covered with ulcers inside and outside.

Apathy
When the disease becomes severe, the list of symptoms is supplemented:

refusal to eat;
vomiting;
a sharp increase in body temperature;
leakage of pus;
constant meowing;
tilting the head towards the affected organ.

To find out the root cause of the disease, diagnostics are carried out. Experts study:

The nature of the microflora (smears are examined).
The presence or absence of subcutaneous mites (scrapings are examined).
Condition of the auditory canal (ear otoscopy is performed).
MRI or X-ray results (if inflammation of the eardrum is detected).

Types and symptoms of otitis

The auditory organ consists of outer, middle and inner sections. Anatomical division formed the basis for the classification of otitis media. Types of the disease differ in the location of the source of inflammation. Otitis externa in cats occurs in the mildest form. The pathology does not affect the eardrum and functionally significant structures of the auditory analyzer. The auricle and external auditory canal suffer. If the process is not stopped in time, then it spreads to the deeper parts of the organ.

Symptoms of external otitis include redness of the ear, itching, and swelling of the tissues. During examination, the cat does not allow its ears to be touched, as touching causes pain. Most often, veterinarians diagnose parasitic, fungal or allergic otitis media in such cases.

Otitis media in cats is no less common. Inflammation affects the eardrum, internal auditory canal and tympanic cavity. The pet’s well-being is much worse compared to the first type. The disease sometimes occurs due to the spread of infection from the external part. It could be bacterial otitis media. Treatment in most cases gives a positive outcome, but advanced disease threatens to develop into purulent otitis media.

Bacterial otitis media of the middle ear may be accompanied by purulent-bloody discharge

When the inner ear becomes inflamed, the cochlea (auditory receptors, organ of balance) is affected. Inflammation develops, which can develop into the most severe purulent form. This type of disease is dangerous not only because of deafness, but also because of the possible spread of infection to brain structures. The disease is often accompanied by neurotic symptoms.

According to the speed of development and severity of the course, ear inflammation is divided into acute and chronic. A neglected process or incomplete treatment of an acute form provokes a chronic process. Common symptoms of otitis media in cats are:

periodic scratching of the ear;
constant shaking of the head;
tilting the head to one side;
unpleasant odor from the ears;
release of exudate from the ear canal;
redness of the ears;
increase in body temperature;
discharge of pus from the ears;
neurotic attacks;
loss of appetite.

Depending on the causes, otitis in a cat can be unilateral or bilateral.

Symptoms of the disease

In the initial stages of otitis media, the pet begins to clearly take care of the ear. The head is often tilted to the side, in the direction of the lesion, possibly with regular shaking. In general, the animal looks restless. Since itching appears, the pet begins to scratch the affected area, which leads to a worsening of the situation and further damage to the remaining ear parts.

Most often, the temperature rises locally, which is easily determined by hand. In addition, the site of otitis becomes painful, which can lead to a change in the animal’s mood for the worse (aggression). Without proper treatment, the disease quickly moves to the next stage and can become chronic.

In more serious and severe forms of the disease, purulent discharge from the ear and an unpleasant odor are observed, and redness or swelling often forms in the ear canal. If as a result of the disease the facial or ocular nerves are affected, then the cat’s lip sag and the eyelid droops.

The general painful and irritated state of the pet is also visible; it loses its appetite. In case of severe damage, there may be a loss of coordination of movement, loss of the third eyelid, and an increase in temperature.

If the situation worsens, it is possible that the eardrum may rupture, which means the pet will become completely deaf. It is painful for the animal to open its mouth, it vomits, and asymmetry of the pupils may be observed. Further development of the disease can lead to the death of the pet.

Since the primary stage of the disease sometimes occurs without obvious manifestations (the initial symptoms are not always immediately visible), and the consequences are very severe, this is why it is so important to start treatment on time.

Treatment of otitis media

Treatment of otitis in pets can be carried out independently, but only after examination by a specialist and the drugs prescribed by him. Incorrect therapy can lead to complications or the disease becoming chronic.

Drug therapy

The specialist usually prescribes medications to relieve symptoms, as well as specific remedies to eliminate the cause of the inflammation. For the preparatory procedure—cleaning the auricle before treatment—the veterinarian also prescribes special medications.

Symptomatic treatment is carried out by the following means:

To clean the auricle, you can use a swab generously soaked in a solution of furatsilin or boric acid.
For external treatment of wounds formed after scratching, use brilliant green or hydrogen peroxide.
Levomekol or Sanatol ointments are used as external healing agents.
The drugs Otipax or Otinum will help relieve pain, eliminate inflammation and itching. They can be used up to 4 times a day, but not more than 10 days.

Photo gallery: medications for the symptomatic treatment of otitis media

Depending on the causes of inflammation, the following types of medications are prescribed:

Combined. Used if otitis is of a parasitic, fungal or bacterial nature. They are used in accordance with the instructions. The course of treatment usually lasts no more than 7–10 days. Such drugs include:

Otospectrin;
Oricin;
Tresaderm;
Otidez with propolis.

Antiparasitic. The following drugs have an acaricidal effect:
Otoferonol Gold;
Dekta;
Amitrazine.
Antifungal. Effective drugs are considered:
Econazole;
Amphotericin;
Flucytosine.
Antimicrobials and antibiotics. If otitis media is caused by a bacterial infection, the following will help:
Amoxicillin (injections);
Ceftriaxone (injections);
Sofradex (drops);
Anandin (drops);
Polyseptin (drops).

Photo gallery: drugs for the specific treatment of otitis in cats

Treatment of otitis with antibiotics is prohibited if the pathology is fungal in nature.

For allergic otitis media, complex therapy using anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antihistamine and antimicrobial drugs is usually prescribed. In order to get rid of the pathology, you need to eliminate the cause that caused the allergic reaction.

Recovery from otitis of any nature occurs faster when immunomodulators - Salmozan, Gamaprene - are included in the course of therapy.

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Gamaprene is an immunomodulator that helps a cat cope with otitis media of any nature, activating the body’s internal reserves

Surgical intervention

Surgery for otitis in cats is a last resort and is carried out only when all other methods have been tried and there are irreversible changes in the ear. Types of surgical procedures include:

opening of the membrane;
removal of accumulations of pus;
rehabilitation;
correction of ear canals.

All existing surgical techniques have their pros and cons, but none of them can guarantee that the problem will be completely solved.

Folk remedies

Given the availability of a huge range of pharmaceutical products for the treatment of otitis in cats, including effective budget drugs, it is not worth practicing treatment with folk remedies. Incorrect therapy can complicate the course of the disease. As temporary measures, for example, if it is not possible to quickly see a doctor, you can use a solution of apple cider vinegar diluted with water in a 1:1 ratio, or camphor oil.

The solution can be dropped 10 drops into each ear or, using a swab soaked in it, gently wipe the affected areas. Diluted apple cider vinegar has antifungal and antibacterial effects. Camphor oil at room temperature is instilled into the ears twice a day.

Diagnosis of otitis

When an animal exhibits symptoms of otitis media, it is necessary to contact a veterinary clinic. A doctor examines a diseased organ through an otoscope. This allows you to determine the location of inflammation. The condition of the eardrum is assessed, the presence or absence of foreign inclusions, neoplasms, and the amount of sulfur is determined.

As part of the diagnostic examination, a scraping of the cat's epithelium is taken. It is examined for the presence of subcutaneous mites. The doctor takes a smear of ear discharge for cytological analysis. The laboratory will determine whether bacteria and fungi are the cause of otitis media in your cat. For a general clinical picture, blood and urine are taken from the animal for study. If there is a suspicion of an allergy, then allergy tests are performed: small scratches are made on the skin and allergens are applied to them.

In a particularly difficult situation, when there is a suspicion of a tumor or damage to brain structures, the doctor may prescribe a referral for an X-ray or MRI. The deeper the source of inflammation is located, the more severe the disease. Based on the examination and test results, the veterinarian prescribes treatment for otitis with drops, tablets, and injections.

In some cases, an additional antibiogram is performed - a test for the sensitivity of microbes to certain antibiotics.

Treatment at home

You need to carefully trim the hair from the inner surface of the ear. Crusts and pus are removed with a sterile gauze swab moistened with warm boiled water, a solution of table salt (30g per 1 liter of warm water) or hydrogen peroxide.

At home, the cat’s condition will be alleviated by some folk remedies for disinfection and relief of inflammation.

To combat fungus, your pet's ears are treated with a calendula solution. Dissolve a teaspoon of alcohol tincture in ½ part of a glass of warm water.
You can treat your ears with gauze soaked in a solution of unfiltered apple cider vinegar and water in a 1:1 ratio.

Attention! Medicines are prescribed only by the attending physician! Self-medication in this case is unacceptable! Unauthorized use of warm compresses is unacceptable! This can cause rapid bacterial growth. Traditional medicine can only be used after consultation with a doctor!

Medicines for otitis media

Treatment of otitis is carried out using systemic and local drugs. The prescription list includes medications recognized in veterinary medicine. Basic therapy can be supplemented with traditional medicine. To achieve a positive result, it is important to follow the treatment regimen and duration of the course prescribed by the veterinarian.

Medicines of official medicine

To sanitize the auricle and external auditory canal, use sterile gauze wipes soaked in an antiseptic solution. Boric acid (3%), chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide (3%), furatsilin, miramistin are suitable for this purpose. If the eardrum is not damaged, then drops for otitis media can be used for treatment:

Sofradex;
Dexamethasone;
Aurikan;
Uricin;
Surolan;
Anandin;
Otibiovet;
Tsiprovet;
Tsipam;
Otovedin.

Otibiovet

The medicine comes in the form of clear drops. The dropper bottle can have different volumes - 20, 30 or 50 ml. The drug is used for otitis of the external and middle ear. Active substances (gentamicin sulfate, triamcinolone acetonide, salicylic acid, carbetopendicinium bromide) act against bacteria and fungi. Drops reduce itching, discharge, and reduce the manifestations of dermatitis.

Surolan

An oily suspension containing miconazole nitrate, polymyxin B sulfate, prednisolone acetate. This is a combined drug that has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, fungicidal, and antiallergic effects. The volume of the bottles is 15 or 30 ml.

If otitis in cats is caused by bacteria or they are a secondary cause of inflammation, systemic antibacterial drugs are prescribed. The use of these medications is also justified for fungal otitis in order to prevent infection by bacterial microflora. The list includes:

Amoxiclav;
Ampicillin;
Amoxicillin;
Cefazolin;
Ceftriaxone;
Cefixime;
Erythromycin;
Clarithromycin;
Azithromycin;
Spiramycin.

Ampicillin

Semi-synthetic drug of the penicillin series. Available in the form of tablets and powder for suspension. The medicine has a broad antimicrobial effect. The tablets are given to the cat on an empty stomach or 2 hours after eating.

Cefixime

Semi-synthetic antibiotic from the group of cephalosporins in tablets or powder. Active against many pathogenic bacteria. Used to treat otitis media in the acute stage. Not suitable for small kittens and sick elderly pets.

To treat integuments affected by parasitic fungi, fungicidal ointments are used: Panolog, Oridermil, Clotirmazol, Nystatin. In some cases, MycoStop ProVET antifungal drops are indicated. Complex therapy includes vitamin-mineral complexes and immunomodulators (Imunofan, Ribotan). They help the cat's body resist infection.

Folk remedies

Additional support for otitis media in cats is also provided by traditional medicine recipes. They are easy to prepare and use at home. The most harmless solution is considered to be a solution made from strong green tea. The filtered tea leaves are used to wipe the cat's ears. This product has a disinfectant and acaricidal effect. An infusion of herbs with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects has a similar effect. Chamomile, string, lavender, birch leaves, and St. John's wort are suitable for processing.

ethnoscience

If you do not have the opportunity to urgently take MURLYKA to the clinic, then it is worth reducing and muffling the symptoms for a while. There are the following home recipes:

1. Colloidal silver - place 5 drops in each ear or apply to affected areas.

2. Apple cider vinegar - dilute with water in a 1:1 ratio and drop 10 drops into each ear or wipe the reddened areas.

3. Calendula tincture - mix a pharmaceutical solution with 100 ml of warm water and a pinch of sea salt, use the resulting liquid to wipe the ears.

Complications

The course of otitis media can often be accompanied by complications. In some cases, a slow progression of the disease is possible, which does not make itself known in any way. This development of the disease ends in chronic inflammation of the ear.

Among the complications are:

paralysis of the facial nerve (sagging eyelids, lips, changes in facial expressions);
meningitis (the cat is in shock, vomiting profusely, fever);
purulent inflammation (fluid is released from the ear, an unpleasant odor begins to emanate from the cat);
deafness.

Caring for your cat during treatment

You should know that it is impossible to get otitis from a cat, but you should not forget about the rules of personal hygiene.

Most likely, a sick cat will be prescribed a so-called Elizabethan collar. Do not neglect this accessory, since a pet without it can harm itself, comb or scratch the affected area of the ears.

In addition to the remedies prescribed by the veterinarian, it is necessary to clean the ears of pus and treat them with an antiseptic. And after completing the course, monitor the condition of the ears for a few more weeks to avoid relapse.

In the future, MURlyka’s ears should be cleaned 1-2 times a month.

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Prevention of otitis

You need to understand that any animal can get otitis media, but humans have access to preventive measures that can significantly reduce the risk of the disease.

The main method of prevention is periodic cleaning of the animal's ears. It is necessary to examine the cat weekly and wipe the ears from dirt and dust.

Deep cleaning using special products that facilitate the removal of excess sulfur should be carried out at least once a month. Then your pet will not experience inflammatory processes that contribute to the development of otitis media.

When bathing your pet, it is important not to allow water or soapy water to get into the ears; you need to be very careful when washing the head and face. It is possible to use a special cap that will protect the cat's sensitive ears. You can use tampons to cover your furry beauty's ears.

After swimming, you need to exclude the possibility of hypothermia. If the cat reacts calmly to the procedure of drying the fur, then you can dry it with a warm hairdryer.

It is necessary to periodically treat your pet for fleas and helminths, using modern antiparasitic drugs.

If your cat is prone to allergies, you need to determine its source and eliminate all contact with allergens. Some animals, in addition to food, give an allergic reaction to antiparasitic agents that are used to treat it. In this case, you will need to consult a veterinarian-allergist who will help you choose the right means to protect your cat from parasites. The doctor will determine which substances in antiparasitic agents the cat reacts to and select protection that does not contain them.

When injuries and scratching of the ears occur, the owner must disinfect the wounds so that inflammation does not develop.

The most important thing when detecting a disease and treating furry pets is timely diagnosis, properly selected treatment, and professional assistance from a veterinarian. Self-medication of otitis media can lead to complete hearing loss in your pet, and in advanced cases, to more severe consequences.