What are Ear Dermatitis?
Ear dermatitis in cats describes the condition of highly pruritic, inflamed structures of the ear. Ear dermatitis is the condition specifically used to describe inflammation of the external portions of the ears known as the pinna. Felines can develop this condition for a variety of reasons including infection, trauma and allergens. Ear dermatitis is noted through clinical signs of scratching, head shaking and manipulation of the ear. Left untreated, ear dermatitis can cause secondary ear trauma including inner ear damage and a condition known as cauliflower ear. Felines that scratch their ears excessively can cause the small blood vessel inside the ear to rupture, resulting in cauliflower ear, which permanently deforms the ear. If the hearing structures become damaged, the feline could lose hearing completely or partially.
Symptoms of Ear Dermatitis in Cats
Ear dermatitis in cats present itself through clinical signs of scratching of the ears, head shaking and manipulated pinnae (outer ear structure). The highly pruritic condition can cause the blood capillaries inside the ear to rupture, causing a secondary condition known as cauliflower ear. The outer ear will then appear very swollen, red and cause the feline to hold her head to the affected side. In other cases which the inner or middle ear is infected, and left untreated, the sensitive structure can be damaged. Fluid buildup and ruptured ear drums can be the end result of an unattended ear condition, causing the feline to be unbalanced. To catch ear dermatitis in its early stages, cat owners should take note of the following symptoms:
- Scratching of the ears
- Dry, scaly ears
- Bleeding ears
- Swelling
- Malodorous ears
- Hair loss
- Pain
- Head shaking
- Blistering of the ears
Causes of Ear Dermatitis in Cats
Ear dermatitis in cats can be caused by various irritants including parasites, infection, traumas, allergens and sometimes even disease. Specific culprits for these categories of feline ear dermatitis causes include:
Trauma
- Bites or scratches from cat fights
- Chemical injury
- Burns
- Lacerations
- Haematomas: blood-filled mass caused by a blood vessel rupture underneath the skin of the ear.
- Solar Dermatitis: ear inflammation caused by sun exposure.
- Trapped foreign bodies
- Tumors of the ear canal
- Polyps
Infection
- Bacteria
- Fungal
- Yeast
Parasites
- Ticks
- Fleas
- Mange
- Otodectic mange or ear mite
- Sarcoptic mange
- Notoedric mange
Allergens
- Mosquitoes
- Food
- Pollen
Systemic Disease
- Cancer
- Cushing’s Disease
- Hypothyroidism
Diagnosis of Ear Dermatitis in Cats
The treatment of ear dermatitis in cats lies dependent on the underlying condition causing the pruritic pinna. In most ear dermatitis conditions, the veterinarian will attend to the feline’s symptoms with pain medications and anti-inflammatory drugs. The ear will be cleaned, with medicated drops following, if applicable. In the case of ruptured capillaries causing the secondary condition known as cauliflower ear, the ear may need to be surgically corrected. The accumulated fluid and/or blood will need to be drained, plus the disfigured pinna will need to be corrected. If your cat’s ear dermatitis has not resulted in secondary conditions, the veterinarian may choose to treat your feline with one or more of the following:
- Anti-parasitic medications
- Hormone replacement therapy drugs
- Antihistamines
- Antibiotics
- Antifungal medication
If the doctor believes your cat’s ear dermatitis is the result of an adverse reaction to an allergen, he may choose to conduct food trials or change the feline’s current medications.
Treatment of Ear Dermatitis in Cats
The treatment of ear dermatitis in cats lies dependent on the underlying condition causing the pruritic pinna. In most ear dermatitis conditions, the veterinarian will attend to the feline’s symptoms with pain medications and anti-inflammatory drugs. The ear will be cleaned, with medicated drops following, if applicable. In the case of ruptured capillaries causing the secondary condition known as cauliflower ear, the ear may need to be surgically corrected. The accumulated fluid and/or blood will need to be drained, plus the disfigured pinna will need to be corrected. If your cat’s ear dermatitis has not resulted in secondary conditions, the veterinarian may choose to treat your feline with one or more of the following:
- Anti-parasitic medications
- Hormone replacement therapy drugs
- Antihistamines
- Antibiotics
- Antifungal medication
If the doctor believes your cat’s ear dermatitis is the result of an adverse reaction to an allergen, he may choose to conduct food trials or change the feline’s current medications.
Recovery of Ear Dermatitis in Cats
The overall prognosis for ear dermatitis in cats is generally excellent if treatment is sought out early. Secondary manipulation causing damage to the outer, middle or inner ear can admit a less positive outcome for the cat. Cauliflower ear, caused by continuous and vigorous scratching, often causes permanent disfiguration of the external ear. The delicate hearing structures inside the ear can also become damaged, resulting in partial or complete loss of hearing, which requires lifelong care from the cat owner. Ask your veterinarian about proper recovery and management needs for your cat after ear dermatitis.
Ear Dermatitis Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Has Symptoms
When you treat a cat for earmites how thoroughly do you have to clean it's environment? Do you suggest throwing away bedding, brushes, food bowls etc.? Also how would you suggest cleaning the anti-scratch cone? It must have earmites all over it (he is wearing it to stop him from scratching). Thank you.
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Hello,
My cat is scratching his ears like crazy! At first we thought the problem was external as he fights a lot and had big scabs on both ears (behind). We put him in the cone of shame to stop him scratching so the scabs could heal, which they have...but he continues to scratch. I checked for earmites (with a good magnifying glass) and i'm pretty confident he doesn't have them. There is however some brown waxy stuff that builds up regularly in his ears. My sister-in-law is a Dr. She had a look and thinks it could be eczema. I can't take him to the vet because he is wild around other people. Any advice would be much appreciated! Do you think if i got a swab of the brown stuff and took it to the vet they might be able to identify the problem? Thanks in advance!
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Thank you, i will talk to the vet and see if i can get their advice on how to get him there! When i find out what the problem is i'll let you know.
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Medication Used
My cat had an ear infection in both ears about a month ago. The infection is gone, but she has a couple red spots on the inside of her ear that haven’t seemed to go away. Not only that, but underneath her ear at the base she has started losing hair. I had a vet check her and he said the red dots are dermatitis (similar to what happens in bulldog folds), and he didn’t seem concerned with her hair loss because there were no lesions present there. The hair loss patch is getting bigger though, so I’m wondering if she has something else going on. She also is on Amitryptilline (10mg daily).
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Hello. My cat had ear mites. I took care of him and I thought that successfully removed them, but. My cat has a clear liquid coming out from the lower part of hs right ear. I do rings his ear every day with the warm spirit solution. It seems that the ear is much better, but the liquid still there. What could I do on my own to help my cat? I am very unhappy with vets in our area. I have spent lots of money, but two of my pets are dead because of their mistakes. Please advise.
Gail
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My cat recently had an ear infection. She was treated with cleanaural and antibiotic drops. The infection has cleared however theoutside tip of the ear and also down the edge of the ear seems very dry and cracked. Is this a new condition? Or a reaction to the antibiotics?
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Hello, my cat has this weird skin condition that even vets don't know what it is. It comes and goes and it's coming back now. Her stomach gets this big black patch of scabs on it and then her ears start to lose fur and she constantly scratches until they bleed. What does she have?
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Thank you, i will do that!