My indoor cat Bugsy has started sctatching his outer ear canal down to the top of his eyes. This is on both sides.
He is starting to loose hair due to the scrtaching and I do see a small blood spot where he scratches.
I feed him science diet in the eve, and he gets fancy feast in the morning.
He stays indoors and is healthy.
What could be causing this?
Any advice would be apperciated as I hate to see him so uncomfortable!
Thanks, Sue
help-cat sctatching his ears
Re: help-cat sctatching his ears
Could be anything from fleas to earmites, to other skin mites, to food allergy to other environmental allergen.
Vet visit immediately, please. Anytime there is scratching and leading to open wounds and bleeding, is prime for bacterial infection, which can lead to the inner ear canal and cause serious problems. Some infections can be spread further by claws/scratching, etc.
Vet visit immediately, please. Anytime there is scratching and leading to open wounds and bleeding, is prime for bacterial infection, which can lead to the inner ear canal and cause serious problems. Some infections can be spread further by claws/scratching, etc.
..........Traci
Re: help-cat sctatching his ears
I do not see any kind of fleas or mites, so I am thinking that it might be food.
My other cat has dandruff, but no scrtaching.
I'll call tomorrow and make that appt.
What do you think about food, and skin issues?
My other cat has dandruff, but no scrtaching.
I'll call tomorrow and make that appt.
What do you think about food, and skin issues?
Re: help-cat sctatching his ears
Sometimes skin mites cannot be seen unless by microscopic exam, in that event, your vet will do a skin scrape or hair follicle sample (both painless procedures, done in seconds) and look at these under a slide to detect presence of mites.
It could also be a very deep inner ear canal infection, in which you might also not be able to see. Your vet has a specific otoscope he/she uses to see the inner ear canal without harming the ear. A swab might be used to collect debris or exudate to examine under the microscope.
Food allergies are more difficult to diagnose, since one most often has to go through a process of elimination. Your vet will take a thorough health and behavior history based on comments you give, and will evaluate the current foods you are feeding for potential culprits, as well as take into account when this started occuring, length of time it has persisted, ruling out other environmental culprits (like chemicals, aerosols, home cleaning agents, smoke, pollen, food mites, things you use on yourself like lotions, perfumes -- etc), other factors to consider before ruling in/out food allergies. Keep in mind that cats can develop a food allergy at any time, despite being on a certain food for any period of time. Food allergies can cause a variety of symptoms ranging from scratching, itching, open lesions on skin, fur loss in specific areas, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. The worst cases of untreated food allergies usually affect either the skin or GI tract. Lesions (skin) left untreated can spread throughout the body and cause severe bacterial infections. GI tract problems like vomiting or diarrhea can lead to severe dehydration and nutrient deficiencies.
Might also mention to your vet the type of litter you're using, fully examine his paw pads and between toes for evidence of litterbox debris and stuck litter on fur, since if the claws are dirty, this will spread bacteria every time he scratches.
It could also be a very deep inner ear canal infection, in which you might also not be able to see. Your vet has a specific otoscope he/she uses to see the inner ear canal without harming the ear. A swab might be used to collect debris or exudate to examine under the microscope.
Food allergies are more difficult to diagnose, since one most often has to go through a process of elimination. Your vet will take a thorough health and behavior history based on comments you give, and will evaluate the current foods you are feeding for potential culprits, as well as take into account when this started occuring, length of time it has persisted, ruling out other environmental culprits (like chemicals, aerosols, home cleaning agents, smoke, pollen, food mites, things you use on yourself like lotions, perfumes -- etc), other factors to consider before ruling in/out food allergies. Keep in mind that cats can develop a food allergy at any time, despite being on a certain food for any period of time. Food allergies can cause a variety of symptoms ranging from scratching, itching, open lesions on skin, fur loss in specific areas, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. The worst cases of untreated food allergies usually affect either the skin or GI tract. Lesions (skin) left untreated can spread throughout the body and cause severe bacterial infections. GI tract problems like vomiting or diarrhea can lead to severe dehydration and nutrient deficiencies.
Might also mention to your vet the type of litter you're using, fully examine his paw pads and between toes for evidence of litterbox debris and stuck litter on fur, since if the claws are dirty, this will spread bacteria every time he scratches.
..........Traci
Re: help-cat sctatching his ears
Thanks for the type of questions to ask.
I'll make the appt tomorrow, then hopefully Bugsy will be feeling bett in no time.
I'll make the appt tomorrow, then hopefully Bugsy will be feeling bett in no time.