Cat people- help! - Orchid Board

Izzie · #1 10-22-2010, 12:20 PM

I know this forum doesn't specialize in this, but we're such a diverse group that I'm posting this anyways. (in addition to some other cat forums)

I come to you pleading for help!

Some of you might remember Posh. She was a sweet torbie that came home with me from college 12 hours away last christmas.
Before coming home, she had been battling a mild cold and ear infections (suspected mites) for a few months. About a month before we came home, she started getting better.

When we got home and got Posh examined, she was in good health, and did indeed have mild herpes that caused her eyes to get a bit angry sometimes. Most likely caught from a couple neighboring cats at the shelter. Nothing to worry about. (note: this shelter was amazing, one of the best I've ever volunteered at in terms of care, cleanliness, and attention to detail)

Anyways. Her ear mites came back really badly within a month or so of coming here. Treated with stuff from the pet store, and the vet said I had gotten rid of it and that her ears look great. He examined her ears, and a sample from her ears under a microscope and found no mite activity. At that time, she still shook her head quite often, and really scratched at her ears.

Several months later she CONTINUES to shake her head ever now and then, and her left ear is almost always a little pink and hot. But it's perfectly clean! She scratches inside it a lot and keeps it very clean, but will protest if you rub it a little harder than usual. The right ear is perfectly fine.

These ears are pristine, save for the normal minimal wax/stuff way down in there.
Do you have ANY idea what this might be? Is there some other kind of ear infection it could be?

I'm not looking forward to spending hundreds of dollars on testing again only to find out that it isn't mites. again.

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #2 10-22-2010, 02:29 PM

I'm not even going to pretend I know anything about this, but...

Could it be the herpes?

UKCat · #3 10-22-2010, 02:46 PM

There are a few possibility's including eczema, but it could have become a habit (compulsive habit at that) even cats get compulsive washing and end up washing bits of themselves red raw. This is called Puruitus the more she scratches the more it will itch because she is continually damaging the nerve endings.
Think of when you get and itch, you scratch it, it itches more so you scratch it again even until it bleeds.

Try a good pet shop first for a anti-itch product (I don't know what you can get in the US) Also check this link.

Natural Remedies for the Treatment of Pruritus in Cats & Dogs
I'm not saying you should buy this or any other product but it is a starting point to discuss with your Vet for treatment.

bullsie · #4 10-22-2010, 02:56 PM

There shouldn't really be anything in the way of 'stuff' in your kittys ears. To keep her free of earmites keep her on a monthly program of Revolution. It really is a cheap way to keep your cat free from most parasites.

But you may need to get the ear(s) material cultured. Sometimes the mites will cause a problem even when gone and sometimes the medicine used to treat her cold will set her up for ear problems - the ear canal is a nice warm moist place for some things to grow.

silken · #5 10-22-2010, 08:03 PM

We had a cat with a bad case of ear mites. The vet prescribed a topical ointment or liquid which helped but never fully got rid of them. It took an injection that goes into the blood stream and kills the mites for good that way. (they are drinking the cats blood). It may be that they are deeper in the ear canal than you can see or treat. A visit to the vet sounds in order. Good luck and hope its not costly!

Izzie · #6 10-22-2010, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

I'm not even going to pretend I know anything about this, but...

Could it be the herpes?

The herpes could cause fungal or yeast infections. Her ears don't smell foul, so it's most likely not fungal.
I'm beginning to think that it is some sort of inner-ear infection.
I HOPE it's a bacterial or yeast infection, because at least I can get rid of that fairly easily.

Izzie · #7 10-22-2010, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UKCat

There are a few possibility's including eczema, but it could have become a habit (compulsive habit at that) even cats get compulsive washing and end up washing bits of themselves red raw. This is called Puruitus the more she scratches the more it will itch because she is continually damaging the nerve endings.
Think of when you get and itch, you scratch it, it itches more so you scratch it again even until it bleeds.

Try a good pet shop first for a anti-itch product (I don't know what you can get in the US) Also check this link.

Natural Remedies for the Treatment of Pruritus in Cats & Dogs
I'm not saying you should buy this or any other product but it is a starting point to discuss with your Vet for treatment.

I have some "soothing" ear cleaning solution made by Halo that I use when it gets really bad, but I will definitely mention the Pruritis to the vet, thank you for mentioning that.

Izzie · #8 10-22-2010, 08:39 PM

Thanks silken and bullsie. Call me a miser, but I'm hoping for a "cheap" fix!

As the inflammation is only in the one ear, I am hesitant to think that it is still mites. In my experience, since they also roam the rest of the body, that they rarely leave one ear entirely alone.
It could be though, perhaps they are holed up farther in.