Sudden loss of Hearing

[Spurgeon]

I have checked the yellow pages and found a place called Hospital for Cats. Left a message for them to call me tomorrow morning.

Do you think we should continue with the antibiotic Orbax 22.7 mg ? If there is inner ear problems will this help?

[Traci]

The orbax was prescribed for the urinary tract infection, correct? If so, then continue it's course, but confirm with your vet that is what it was indeed prescribed for. It might target an inner ear infection, simply by systemically, but I wouldn't add anything else to the ear treatment at this point. Again, it won't harm her by letting your kitty have a day off of the administration of ear drops, it sounds like she is painful and really stressed. My feeling is that if a mild case of earmites was the initial problem, antibiotics for the ears need not have been prescribed, but rather earmite medications to eradicate the mites. Antibiotics for the ears are usually only prescribed in cases of infection. Since your vet didn't mention that possibility to you, I don't know why he prescribed anything at all. Typically, the following is how we treat earmites.

1) remove earmite debris by careful application of cotton or q-tips

2) rinse with an ear otic, wipe excess, dry well with cotton

3) apply earmite treatment drops, wipe excess

4) if severe earmite infestation, advise owner to rinse ears with otic once or twice a week and apply earmite medication again once or twice a week (this usually only entails one or two drops in each ear.)

5) expected resolution: one week, two if severe

6) if kitty excessively scratches at the ears, shakes head excessively or has equilibrium deficits, then re-evaluate the ear for potential excess of earmite debris or rule out infection or other causes of inner ear problems (like polyps, foreign embedded debris, ruptured eardrum, etc)

So, if the orbax was indeed prescribed for the urinary tract infection, continue the course and see a new vet for a re-evaluation on the ears/eyes. Also, double-check teeth for possible oral problems.

[Spurgeon]

The orbax was prescribed yesterday for the ear problem. Not the urinary tract problem. Clavamox was used for the urinary issue.

She has laid around most of the day. Eating only canned food and not much of that. Is drinking water. The ears are the problem. Shaking head and loss of equilibriam. Will get her to another vet tomorrow if at all possible. Will dispense with the ear drops, but will continue with the orbax.

I beleive we have a inner ear problem which in turn is affecting that eye. I just hope we can get the matter resolved without her being deaf.

[Spurgeon]

Called the cat hospital this morning. Can't get in untill Wednesday. Would not prescribe any medication untill they saw her. Called the first vet back and advised Callie was still not responding to treatment. They prescribed prednisone.

I explained that she had an inner ear infection as her symtoms where exactly as those shown on www.purinaone.com/catcare under middle and inner ear infections.

Should we start the ear drops again or just give the obax and prednisone?

You would have thought the vet would have figured this out rather than me having to diagnose the problem myself.

[Traci]

Well, never assume you've diagnosed the problem yourself.....nothing can take the place of a complete re-evaluation of the ears. Whether your current vet does it or a new vet, the fact remains that something is amiss and no one will know exactly what it is until she's rechecked.

Personally, I don't know why your vet didn't take this more seriously to begin with. After all, it was his clinic and his staff who treated your cat, it's ultimately up to him to correct the situation. But, since he hasn't, I suggest the new vet, although can't imagine why you can't get seen sooner than Wednesday.....can you call them back and request this is an emergency situation, as in, potential inner ear infection AND/or potential damage done as a result of over-manipulated ears during flushing. Vets understand the degree of seriousness of a problem like this, maybe be a bit more direct and express your concerns and try to get seen much earlier. Even an emergency facility with qualified vets may be able to see her sooner.

Do I understand you correctly, your vet prescribed prednisone yet did not offer to re-examine her before prescribing it? I'm sorry, even though he knows your cat, without a recheck and evaluation since that last procedure, he could be prescribing blindly. Try to get into an emergency clinic or wait til Wednesday...but please understand the degree of pain and uncomfortableness your kitty is enduring, try not to let this wait.

I would hold off on the ear meds right now UNITL you've gotten a complete re-evaluation on her, we can't diagnose on this board, can't see your kitty, it would be unethical to advise past this.

[Spurgeon]

The Wednesday appointment was because we were new a new patient and the fact Callie does not play well with others. They wanted plenty of time to evaluate her. They did ask if she was drinking and eating, which she is. They did say they would take her on an emergency basis but since she was eating and drinking, on medication, it was their opinion that it was not what they considered an emergency situation.

She does seem better today. Has eaten more today, urinating, but no bowel movement.

I did talk to the head of our current vet. He prescribed the prednisone and advised if no improvement in the next day or so to get her back in.

Will continue with the oral meds and see how she does. She may be hearing some sounds but can't be sure. She may be responding to movement and or vibrations. Regardless, she will go to one or the other clinics Wed.

I do appreciate all of the assistance you have given. Will keep you posted.

[Spurgeon]

Took Callie to The Lexington Cat Hospital. She does infact have an inner ear infection. One ear worse than the other. Is scheduled for surgery Friday Morning. Will actually puncture the ear drum to allow fluid out. Slim chance she will regain her hearing. Other eye may be like the left with the 3rd eye lid exposed.

While it is good we finally got her to someone that knew something, it's sad our first vet did not pick up on this. We could have perhaps saved her hearing.

[Spurgeon]

Finally got the ear infection cleared up last week. Callie has lost all hearing to the best of our knowledge. In addition, she will no longer eat dry food. Having to feed her canned and she has lost considerable weight in our opinion however the vet says she was too fat to begin with.

We had to start on the canned food early in her illness as she quit eating. This may have been a mistake but felt we had to have her eat something.

She used to love Iams Ocean Fish and Rice. She will not touch it now. She used to love Whiskers treats. Just smells of them and walks off now.

Vet gave us a sack of Science Diet Oral Care Adult. When we first gave here some she went after it but refused to eat more than a couple of pieces.

We withheld the canned food for 2 days and she still would not touch the dry. Got worried and opened a can.

Anyone have any idea as to why her taste changed?. This canned food is nasty smelling, and a pain in the *** to open.

Is there something else we could try? We welcome any suggestions.

[Wanda]

I am very sorry about Callie's hearing, but I am sure she will still have a wonderful life. I can only imagine how sad I would be though if I called Dolly and she didn't come running cause she didn't hear me, so I do feel for you. The eating problem is very familiar with Dolly's after her spay surgery. I have had an awful time getting her to eat normally again, hers is kind of opposite, she only wants dry now and use to love both and the only dry I can get her to eat is Purina kitten chow. I have figure out its in the smell though, thats probably why Callie wants the stinky stuff. I in my gut believe the stuff they put her to sleep with affected her smelling ability. I have found if I can get her to smell it by putting directly under her nose and even sometimes using my hand to fan it in her nose she will eat it. So if you want her back on dry I would suggest a very strong smelling one. Dolly had started to lose weight but now is gaining again. I really believe what many have said here, if they can't smell it, they won't eat it. Hope this helps. Wanda

[Traci]

The food aversion could be a result of several different things......stress, antibiotics.....as for the preference between canned and dry, if she is indeed deaf, the transition could be causing some effect here. Will attempt to briefly explain: If she is totally deaf, the crunching sounds (dry food) she hears/feels would be new to her, and may be putting her off. In which case, the canned is beneficial at this point, especially if you find one type or flavor she adapts to and will eat sufficiently. It's important to offer her whatever she wants and seems to really like on a consistent basis. Frequent changes in food, texture, flavor, etc however, will in fact cause food aversion at some point, so try offering any fish or chicken flavors at this point until she shows you which she prefers above all. Don't feel you have to stick with Science Diet, if you're opting for canned, at least tempt her with anything like Friskies, Nine Lives, Fancy Feast, Purina, until you find a type she likes, then consider "upgrading" to a more premium type of the same flavor. You said she loved ocean fish and rice, so you could opt for ocean flavors from another brand (salmon or tuna flavors, for example, are usually a hit with most cats).

As for the weight loss, was it the cat-only vet who said she was overweight to begin with, and did he recommend a weight management plan at some point, or to simply reduce her feeding amounts? If she is truly overweight and the vet felt it was detrimental to her future health, then a weight management dietary plan could be initiated (must be done slowly and cautiously because sudden/drastic weight loss can cause liver failure and potential diabetes). Otherwise, discuss with your vet about reduction of food amounts or set a schedule as opposed to free-feeding. Don't attempt any weight management plan on your own however, best to leave weight management up to your vet.

I'm glad to hear that the underlying cause has finally been diagnosed, but don't get discouraged, hearing loss can be compensated for in many ways, you only need to make slight adjustments in her environment for her comfort and security. You will find that these adjustments are fairly easy and she will adapt very well.