A cat has sores on its ears and head - possible causes of the pathology
Any disturbances in the functioning of the animal’s body immediately affect the general condition of the skin and coat. Often, with diseases of the digestive system or other organs, the skin begins to peel, dulls and hair falls out. Ear sores in cats can develop due to a lack of vitamins or minerals in the diet, as well as a decrease in the body's defenses.
In addition, the cause of the development of sores on the face and ears can be infectious or parasitic diseases. Only a qualified veterinarian has the right to determine the exact cause and prescribe appropriate assistance.
At home, trying to help a cat on your own is almost useless, as it may not give results. In addition, advanced infectious bacterial diseases cause serious complications.
Arthropod parasites
Spot-on drops against fleas.
helminths and mites Crusts are formed as a result of the activity of subcutaneous mites Otodectes and Notoedrus. Arthropod parasites constantly live in the cat’s body, but do not cause any significant harm to it as long as the immune system restrains their reproduction.
Otodectes parasitize from the inner surface of the auricle. They dig holes under the skin and lay eggs. The damaged surface itches, an ichor forms, and when it dries, crusts form.
If the inner surface of the sink is dry, soften the crusts and apply Amidel-gel, Amitrazine, Amit, Ivermek-gel or similar acaricidal agents. Most often, treatment consists of two applications at a five-day interval.
In advanced cases, otitis media develops. A mass similar in consistency to coffee grounds spills out of the ear canal. In such cases, ear drops Surolan, Aurikan, Otibiovin are used for treatment.
Unlike Otodectes, Notoedrus mites parasitize on the outside of the shell. Arthropods love to travel. They rise through tunnels to the surface of the skin, and upon contact they can move on to other individuals, including people who stroked the kitty. Mites can live for several weeks on uncomfortable human skin and cause redness and itching.
However, the parasite does not reach sexual maturity and the pathological condition ends with a quick recovery without any treatment.
With Notoedrosis, in addition to the ears, the muzzle is affected
Notoedrus first causes baldness and crusting on the outer surface of the shell. Then they spread to the face and torso. Cats sleep curled up in a ball, so traveling parasites quickly spread throughout the body. Treatment is carried out with the same drugs as for otodectosis.
Be sure to read:
Why does a cat lick under its tail until it becomes bald - it can be dangerous!
However, instead of two treatments, five may be required. Prevention consists of adequate feeding, as well as regular use of Spot-on drops against fleas, helminths and subcutaneous ticks.
Ear diseases in cats - types of diseases, signs and treatment tips from veterinarians
The cat's ear is unique; it has very sensitive hearing. This tool can easily deteriorate or even fail. Underestimating ear diseases can lead to serious problems.
Chronic diseases may arise, which are much more difficult to cope with, all sorts of complications, or even worse - death. The causes of ear diseases are different, so it is necessary to have an understanding of the various diseases in order to consult a doctor in time.
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Allergy
Atopic dermatitis
Allergy is a hypersensitive response to an irritant.
Crusts on the ears occur with the following types of allergies:
- Flea dermatitis: the body becomes sensitized to the saliva of the arthropod and with repeated bites a violent reaction develops. In addition to the ears, the inflammatory process with the formation of crusts spreads to the neck, muzzle, and torso.
- Atopic dermatitis is a reaction to external irritants: pollen, smoke, perfume. Dry eczema develops. The pathology is congenital and occurs in predisposed individuals.
- Contact dermatitis - occurs with the same symptoms as atopic dermatitis, but is not congenital and can be treated.
- Food allergy: develops in cats predisposed to an inadequate reaction to any food ingredient. It occurs with signs of dry eczema.
- Reaction to medications: occurs due to individual intolerance. Characterized by skin rashes or swelling.
- Photosensitization - the mechanism of its occurrence has not been sufficiently studied. Endotoxins accumulate in the skin, which, when exposed to sunlight, cause burns reminiscent of those that a person gets on the beach. Short-haired individuals of white color suffer.
Sunburn due to photosensitivity
Allergic manifestations are treated by eliminating the causes.
Depending on the type of allergy, the following remedies are used:
- insecticides;
- anti-inflammatory corticosteroids;
- antihistamines;
- hypoallergenic ready-made food;
- wound healing ointments.
Diagnostics
Before drawing up a treatment regimen, the doctor will conduct a series of diagnostic procedures. They are necessary in order to identify the causative agent of the disease:
- visual inspection of places with violation of the integrity of the cover;
- in case of baldness, a scraping is taken around the crust. The material is sent for microscopic examination;
- laboratory examination of the patient’s blood - general and detailed analysis;
- If there are seals in close proximity to the ears, an x-ray is taken. Neoplasm must be excluded.
When conducting diagnostics, you need to be extremely careful. A cat that is very bothered by the organ of hearing may begin to resist. After all, any touch to the affected area brings discomfort to the animal.
Fungal dermatitis
Fold cats are predisposed to Malassezia otitis.
The yeast fungus Malassezia is a permanent inhabitant of the cat's skin. In individuals with immunity weakened by the underlying disease, when kept in conditions of heat and high humidity, yeast begins to multiply.
The ear canal is affected. The cat scratches the itchy area, the ichor comes out, dries out, and crusts form. Fold-eared cats are predisposed, as are pets with large ears. Treatment is prescribed by a veterinarian. These are drugs that eliminate the underlying disease, external or systemic antimycotics.
Be sure to read:
What is the reason and what to do if a cat’s claws peel off?
Prevention involves regular ear cleaning.
Which clinics should I go to?
In Moscow, with the problem of crusts in the ears, you can contact most clinics. We will recommend the most proven ones.
Zoostatus Clinic on Warsaw Highway, 125 offers a full range of laboratory and dermatological tests. An initial appointment with a specialist dermatologist will cost the owners 2,100 rubles, and a cytological examination of scrapings will cost 900 rubles.
At the Biocontrol , an initial appointment with a dermatologist will cost 3,400 rubles, and scraping cytology will cost 1,000.
Of course, in less advertised and well-known clinics, the cost of treatment may differ significantly.
In St. Petersburg at the clinic named after. A. Fillmore at 154 Engels Avenue, scraping cytology will cost 1,000 rubles, and an appointment with a veterinary dermatologist will cost 1,700.
In any case, you will have to spend money on treating your pet. But we are responsible for those we have tamed!
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Hematomas
Ear hematoma in dogs appears as a result of external contacts. This could be a fight with another dog, cuts from branches, bushes, plant thorns, or the result of hunting crows that can give back. Even if the pet emerged victorious from the fight, after such battles small seals may appear on the ears where blood accumulates. The bubble grows over time, and pieces of skin can die inside and pus can accumulate.
Symptoms of the disease begin literally two to three hours after the dog cuts its ears. When the owner begins to stretch this seal, the dog begins to whine in pain.
Ear hematoma in dogs
Under no circumstances should you burst or cut out the bubble yourself. If a hematoma is detected, you should contact your veterinarian.
Treatment depends on the nature of the problem:
- Most often, the pocket with blood and pus is sucked out with a syringe, the hair is pre-cut and the puncture site is treated with alcohol.
- If the first method is ineffective, all contents are promptly cleaned out.
- The wound is treated with an antiseptic, and the pet is given an antibiotic.
- Sometimes the cut bladder is drained.
- In all cases, the dog must wear a special collar.
Inflammation of the middle and inner ear
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13 COMMENTS
I love pets, and especially cats. I was faced with the problem of an ear ulcer in my beloved cat, I had never encountered anything like this before, I found this site in time, made it according to your recommendations, my beloved cat felt better. thanks for the advice!
I once noticed that there was something wrong with the cat’s ear, that he was scratching it nervously and wouldn’t let me look there, I thought that he had an ulcer and after reading your article I realized that I was right! Thank you for such a clear description of diseases!
I'm afraid to treat cats or dogs myself.
Our cat was constantly scratching her ears at one time, scratching until they bled. They took me to the vet. It turned out that she had ear mites. They prescribed drops in the cat’s ears, and after a while everything went away.
my cat has a wound in his ear, or an ulcer, like a sore, I can’t even formulate. But he’s 15 years old and I can’t take him to the doctor, then we have a bad veterinarian, they’re only scamming money! Otibiovin helps for a short time. But tell me how to dry this The ulcer is deep, right behind the septum, in this hole where the drops usually fall.
Maybe brilliant green or panthenol? Please tell me, otherwise there is this brown discharge, blood, a terrible smell all over the apartment, the linen, and he himself is in great pain! I don’t know what to do. I tried both anandin and anadine+ - it didn’t help!
Two barn cats have chapped and reddened tips of their ears. I'm afraid to take it to the clinic; What if something is difficult to treat? After recently experiencing the death of a domestic cat as a result of arthrosis of the mandibular joint, the state is actually panicky. And I feel incredibly sorry for the courtyards...
Well, wait until they die, why did they take it? Flayer! >(
It’s a pity when pets also have diseases that humans are susceptible to. A person can at least talk about his feelings, but cats only need to be taken to a veterinarian.
My cats scratch their ears, but not often, especially in the morning. Comb out black crusts. We went to the vet. We took tests more than once. No toxoplasmosis was detected, no ticks either. Fungi of the genus Malassezia R b and mycoplasma were found in the eye wash. The ears were treated several times according to the following regimen: antibiotic, cycloferon, viferon, bifidumbacterin, ear drops, and we constantly clean the ears. Everything is useless, soon after treatment everything also accumulates and the cats scratch their ears again. Apparently the itching bothers me. Please advise what else can be done to help?
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I brought a cat from the street 2 months ago, discovered worms, bought the drug, they still haven’t disappeared, and today I noticed a smell and pus from 1 ear, washed it, the cat doesn’t scratch its ear, it’s not nervous…. What could it be, I would be glad for advice.
My cat's ear hurts and I can't touch it. Runs after me, meows, asks to be held, this has never happened before. The ear is not swollen, what should I do?
The cat has ear mites. They did a scraping. The inspector prescribed drops to the withers, the ears are still dirty, they completed the course and the ears are dirty. Otoferonol was dripped, the result was the same. They dropped stronghold and dropped otoferonol into the ears, after how many days can you start dripping otoferonol?
