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Feline Ear Mites Explained

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Ear mites are a common form of parasite affecting cats of all ages. This parasitic infection is highly contagious and can pass easily between cats and dogs, and kittens often pick up the mites from infected parents. Additionally, the mites can move from the ears to other parts of your cat's body if left untreated. Ear mites can irritate your cat so much they will scratch their ears until they injure their canals, which can damage their hearing, so it's important to seek prompt treatment and a vet clinic like Warnbro Veterinary Hospital if you suspect your cat has ear mites. Here's an overview of the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of ear mites:

Symptoms

Aside from scratching their ears, your cat may display the following symptoms if they have ear mites:

  • Crusts or weeping around the outer ears
  • Shaking their head vigorously
  • Small bumps in the ear canals that look like clusters of coffee grains

Diagnosis

Your vet will diagnose ear mites by examining your cat's ears with an otoscope, which allows them to see deep into their ear canals. They will also take skin scrapings from your cat's ears, which will be analysed at a veterinary laboratory for the presence of mites. Blood samples can also be used to rule out secondary bacterial infections. If your cat is displaying severe symptoms or your vet is able to see mites while examining your cat's ears, they may start them on treatment before lab results confirm the suspected diagnosis.

Treatment

Ear mites are treated with a topical anti-parasitic that you'll need to apply to your cat's ears each day for a few weeks. It's important to continue administering the treatment for as long as the vet instructs you to as the adult mites and eggs need to be eradicated to prevent reinfection. You'll also need to treat any other cats or dogs in your home whether or not they are showing symptoms of ear mites.

It's advisable to clean your home thoroughly when your cat is diagnosed with ear mites as they can survive for short periods of time on soft furnishings. You don't need to use any special cleaning products to remove them, but you may want to ramp up your cleaning routine while your cat is undergoing treatment. Your vet will examine your cat once treatment has finished and may take more skin scrapings from their ears to confirm they are clear of ear mites.

If your cat is displaying any of the symptoms associated with ear mites, schedule an appointment with your vet as soon as possible.


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