As a cat slave, have you ever carefully observed the ears of your cats? You may not have noticed, but your cat's ears can sometimes suffer from "otitis externa". Today, let's take a closer look at this common but overlooked problem and provide timely care and protection for your cat.
1. Warning signs of "otitis externa" in cats
Otitis externa, in simple terms, is inflammation that occurs at the junction between the inside and outside of a cat's ear. You should be wary when your cat's ears show the following symptoms:
Ears anxious: A cat that keeps scratching, shaking its head, or kicking its ears with its hind legs can be a sign of otitis externa.
Pain: When touching a cat's ear, they may show a reaction of pain or discomfort.
Redness and swelling: Redness and swelling around the ears, sometimes accompanied by purulent or bloody discharge.
Foul odor: If your cat's ears have an unusual foul smell, then it is most likely caused by otitis externa.
Ear remnants: There may be brown or black residues inside the ear, these are signs of inflammation.
If left unchecked**, otitis externa can also lead to more serious consequences, such as ear hematoma. At this time, the cat's ears will be alarmingly swollen, which not only affects the aesthetics, but can also pose a threat to the cat's health. Therefore, once you notice that your cat is showing the above symptoms, it is important to take them to the animal hospital as soon as possible.
Second, the causes of "otitis externa" in cats
So, what exactly causes cats to develop otitis externa?
Ear structure: Some specific breeds of cats, such as Scottish Fold cats, due to the peculiarity of their ear structure, poor ventilation, are prone to breeding bacteria and fungi, which can cause otitis externa.
Parasites: Free-range cats or children who were originally feral cats can be infected with the parasite Earlobe Mites, which can also cause otitis externa.
Allergies and foreign bodies: Cats' allergic reactions or garbage and foreign bodies mixed in the ears may also lead to otitis externa.
3. Methods to prevent "otitis externa" in cats
Since otitis externa is such a headache, how can we prevent it?
First of all, as a cat slave, you need to check your cat's ear health regularly. Most cats have well-ventilated ear structures that don't need to be cleaned frequently. Excessive cleaning or hard wiping can hurt your cat's ears. Therefore, regular inspections are more important than cleaning.
Of course, for cats with special ear structures such as Scottish Fold cats, it is necessary to clean their ears regularly due to their poor ear ventilation and easy to breed bacteria. However, please be careful to use a special ear wash recommended by your veterinarian when cleaning and make sure that your movements are gentle.
Fourth, the cat "otitis externa" **
If the cat unfortunately suffers from otitis externa, it is very important to be timely **.
In the animal hospital, the veterinarian will use a special ear wash to clean the cat's ears and prescribe the corresponding medication according to **. For example, for otitis externa caused by bacteria or fungi, a veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics or antifungal medications; For otitis externa caused by earlobe mites, drugs to repel the parasite are needed.
If otitis externa develops into an ear hematoma, additional ** is required. The approach to an ear hematoma varies depending on the specific situation of the cat, sometimes it can be resolved by internal medicine, and sometimes it requires surgery.
*The length of otitis externa varies depending on the individual differences and severity of the condition. Some cats may only need 1 to 2 weeks, while others may take longer.
Summary
The health of cats' ears is an issue that we cannot ignore. As cat slaves, we should always pay attention to the health of our cats and check their ears regularly to make sure they are in good condition.
Especially for those cat breeds with special ear structure and easy to suffer from otitis externa, we should strengthen daily examination and care. Through a combination of prevention and prevention, we can effectively protect the cat's ear health and keep them away from otitis externa.
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