Cats seem to suffer far less than dogs although
their conditions can be just as uncomfortable and
sometimes be very difficult to treat. Ear mites are a
common finding in both young kittens and elderly
cats. The signs include a very itchy ear and the
presence of a thick brown wax within the ear canal.
The mites can be seen easily under the microscope
or even in the ear canal with an auroscope which
the vet may use to examine the ear. The treatment is
often straightforward usually using some topical
medicated drops or these days some of the flea
preparations are also effective against them. The
second condition seen in cats that is particularly
unpleasant is the presence of Polyps. These are
fleshy lumps which can grow and develop within the
ear canal, occasionally spreading to the middle ear
and the auditory tube which opens at the back of
the throat. The polyps can grow to such an extent
that they can completely block the ear canal
causing significant discomfort. The cat will often
scratch at the ear and cause damage and
secondary infection which can smell
awful. Medical management is
difficult and severe cases
will require surgery.
Dogs frequently suffer
from smelly ears too!
In the majority of
cases this is caused
by an overgrowth
of a type of yeast called Malassezia. This is often
characterised by a thick brown waxy discharge and
ears that are itchy and sometimes extremely sore.
The problem may occur secondarily to underlying
problems such as allergies, either food or
environmental or as a result of something that
upsets the normal microenvironment in the ear
canal. Treatment is important as without it the
dog can be chronically uncomfortable and
scarring of the ear canal can occur over time.
A summer problem experienced by many dogs is
the presence of grass seeds in the ear canal. This
can be very painful and sudden in onset, usually
happening after running in long grass towards the
end of summer. The most problematic awns are
those that are shaped like an arrow which have a
pointed sharp tip and long hairs. Nature designs
these cleverly but unfortunately they are perfect
for lodging in the ear of dogs and can cause
significant trauma to the lining of the ear and the
eardrum. It is important that if your dog
has an acutely painful ear and nothing
is visible then it is checked out by
the vet as soon as possible. The
seeds can usually be easily
retrieved but a sedation
may be required.
Ask your vet if you
have any concerns!
by
Rebecca Bailey
BVSc MRCVS
Kingfisher Veterinary Group
Problems
in dogs and cats
A tilt or shake of the head is often one of the first signs
our pets give us to suggest that they have something
wrong. Problems with ears are unfortunately not uncommon
and it is very important to be alert and deal with the situation
before it progresses too far. Ear disease can be incredibly painful it can
also smell extremely unpleasant too!
Ear