Ear disease, especially of the outer ear (otitis externa), is one of the most common conditions in pets and is estimated to be responsible for up to 6% of feline hospitalisations. The main reason for this is that ear disease can have a variety of causes, including hereditary conditions, allergies, parasites and microorganisms, objects stuck in the ear, trauma and the environment within the ear itself.

Due to the various causes of ear disease, careful diagnosis is required to ascertain the correct treatment. This will include a through physical examination, as well as inspection of the ear canal and taking swabs of the ear. Depending on the cause of the problem, treatments include antibiotics for bacterial infection, antifungals for yeast infections and glucocorticoids to reduce inflammation. When it is a systemic disease that is causing the ear infection, the treatment will have to involve the entire cat rather than just the ear.

Signs of Ear Disease Include:

• Ear odour
• Scratching of ears
• Discharge from ears
• Redness of ear canal
• Shaking or tilting of head
• Pain around the ears