If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Beware - Pfizers Revolution For Ear Mites Bites - Phil P
Phil, You are by no means an "average" cat owner. Of all the cat owners
I know, none of them have an otoscope. ---MIKE--- In the White Mountains of New Hampshire (44=B0 15' N - Elevation 1580') |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
"---MIKE---" wrote in message ... Phil, You are by no means an "average" cat owner. Of all the cat owners I know, none of them have an otoscope. Perhaps you need to get out more, Mike. ;-) Seriously, Mike, you can pick up a good otoscope/ophthalmoscope on eBay for $100. Your vet can show you in 10 mins. how to check your cat's ears. Its great for between-vet visits exams at home. Phil |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
---MIKE--- wrote:
Phil, You are by no means an "average" cat owner. Of all the cat owners I know, none of them have an otoscope. Right this very moment I'm wishing I had one, as I'm looking at an excessive buildup of brown gunk in one ear. Is it nothing or should I panic before it spreads to 10 ears? The question of the day... |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
"5cats" wrote in message ... ---MIKE--- wrote: Phil, You are by no means an "average" cat owner. Of all the cat owners I know, none of them have an otoscope. Right this very moment I'm wishing I had one, as I'm looking at an excessive buildup of brown gunk in one ear. Is it nothing or should I panic before it spreads to 10 ears? The question of the day... There are a few very good units on eBay for $50. Some also have interchangeable Otoscope & Ophthalmoscope heads. http://tinyurl.com/dwjwu |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Phil P. wrote:
Right this very moment I'm wishing I had one, as I'm looking at an excessive buildup of brown gunk in one ear. Is it nothing or should I panic before it spreads to 10 ears? The question of the day... There are a few very good units on eBay for $50. Some also have interchangeable Otoscope & Ophthalmoscope heads. http://tinyurl.com/dwjwu Is a human model OK, or is a veterinary one required? |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
"5cats" wrote in message ... Phil P. wrote: Right this very moment I'm wishing I had one, as I'm looking at an excessive buildup of brown gunk in one ear. Is it nothing or should I panic before it spreads to 10 ears? The question of the day... There are a few very good units on eBay for $50. Some also have interchangeable Otoscope & Ophthalmoscope heads. http://tinyurl.com/dwjwu Is a human model OK, or is a veterinary one required? They're the same unit. The only difference is the interchangeable/disposable little black plastic specula sizes (4 and 5mm), but most units come with an assortment of sizes. You can also buy assortment or one size packs of speculas for about $8-$10 or even less. Try to get a unit that has interchangeable otoscope & ophthalmoscope heads. Phil |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Beware - Pfizers Revolution For Ear Mites Bites - Phil P
"5cats" wrote in message ... ---MIKE--- wrote: Phil, You are by no means an "average" cat owner. Of all the cat owners I know, none of them have an otoscope. Right this very moment I'm wishing I had one, as I'm looking at an excessive buildup of brown gunk in one ear. Is it nothing or should I panic before it spreads to 10 ears? The question of the day... I'd go to the pet store and pick up some ear wash. Make sure you have some cotton balls and q-tips. Squirt some ear wash into one ear and rub gently for a few at the base of the ear (you may have to burrito the cat to do this). Then take cotton balls and wipe out the majority of the gunk and ear wash. You can use the q-tip to get gunk out of the folds in the ear but don't go digging anywhere in there that you can't see. Get the ear clean and then keep an eye on it to see if the gunk returns. Some cats just seem to have waxier ears than others. OTOH if what you clean out of there resembles coffee grounds it could be mites. My observation with fosters has been the lighter brown stuff is usually just ear wax. W |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Beware - Pfizers Revolution For Ear Mites Bites - Phil P
Wendy wrote:
"5cats" wrote in message ... ---MIKE--- wrote: Phil, You are by no means an "average" cat owner. Of all the cat owners I know, none of them have an otoscope. Right this very moment I'm wishing I had one, as I'm looking at an excessive buildup of brown gunk in one ear. Is it nothing or should I panic before it spreads to 10 ears? The question of the day... I'd go to the pet store and pick up some ear wash. Make sure you have some cotton balls and q-tips. Squirt some ear wash into one ear and rub gently for a few at the base of the ear (you may have to burrito the cat to do this). Then take cotton balls and wipe out the majority of the gunk and ear wash. You can use the q-tip to get gunk out of the folds in the ear but don't go digging anywhere in there that you can't see. Get the ear clean and then keep an eye on it to see if the gunk returns. Some cats just seem to have waxier ears than others. OTOH if what you clean out of there resembles coffee grounds it could be mites. My observation with fosters has been the lighter brown stuff is usually just ear wax. W Yeah, I've been through this many times before, especially years ago when the cats still were outside fairly often. Right now, I don't think this is mites, but there were a some flecks of crusty stuff. And there's a lot more wax than the last time I looked at her ears, which was, I think, at most 2 or 3 weeks ago. I will keep very close watch to see if it worsens or starts to spread to the other cats. I don't really trust the ear mite stuff from the pet store, I've always gotten the stuff (tressaderm??) from the vet. |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Beware - Pfizers Revolution For Ear Mites Bites - Phil P
"5cats" wrote in message ... Yeah, I've been through this many times before, especially years ago when the cats still were outside fairly often. Right now, I don't think this is mites, but there were a some flecks of crusty stuff. Crusts or scabs usually form when an infection is healing in the ear. Your cat might have scratched her ear while playing or scratched herself while scratching her ear (you know what I mean). A simple scratch can easily cause an ear infection because it allows the resident bacteria in the ear to invade the thin skin. Wax (cerumen) can form even if the ear is only irritated. Too much or too vigorous cleaning can also irritate the lining of the ear cause wax production. However, tiny white flecks could be ear mites: http://www.maxshouse.com/Parasitology/earmite.jpg http://www.maxshouse.com/Parasitolog..._ear_mites.jpg Did you find a otoscope, yet? These are the ones I have: http://www.maxshouse.com/instruments...t/oto-opth.jpg The CompacSet is nice- Its a pocketsize, folding otoscope and ophthalmoscope: http://www.maxshouse.com/instruments...th-compact.jpg And there's a lot more wax than the last time I looked at her ears, which was, I think, at most 2 or 3 weeks ago. I will keep very close watch to see if it worsens If there's a lot more wax now than 2-3 weeks ago, it has worsened. I think you should have it looked at. or starts to spread to the other cats. If your cat does have mites, with 5 cats, I don't think I'd want to wait to see if they spread. I wouldn't want to put my other cats through the discomfort if I could prevent it. I'm also lazy, I'd rather treat one now than 5 later. I don't really trust the ear mite stuff from the pet store, I've always gotten the stuff (tressaderm??) from the vet. Tresaderm is pretty good stuff- it contains an antibiotic for infections, a corticosteroid for inflammation, and an antifungal that kills mites- it covers all the bases. I like Acarexx- especially for ferals because it usually takes only one dose to kill the mites and the ears don't have to be cleaned first- not a pleasant job with ferals- although I prefer to clean the ears first if I can. If you clean your cats' ears yourself, its important to dry the ears thoroughly- damp ears can irritate the lining of the ear which leads to inflammation and even more wax production. Another precaution- before putting any cleaners in your cats' ear, put a little warm normal saline in the ear first. If she swallows, gags, or coughs, that's a pretty good sign that the eardrum (tympanic membrane) is ruptured. It means the saline has flowed through the ruptured eardrum to the middle ear, and through the eustachian tube (connects the middle ear with the nasopharynx) and into the pharynx. So if she coughs or swallows, take her to vet right away. Good luck, Phil |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Beware - Pfizers Revolution For Ear Mites Bites - Phil P
Phil P. wrote:
"5cats" wrote in message ... Yeah, I've been through this many times before, especially years ago when the cats still were outside fairly often. Right now, I don't think this is mites, but there were a some flecks of crusty stuff. Crusts or scabs usually form when an infection is healing in the ear. Your cat might have scratched her ear while playing or scratched herself while scratching her ear (you know what I mean). A simple scratch can easily cause an ear infection because it allows the resident bacteria in the ear to invade the thin skin. Wax (cerumen) can form even if the ear is only irritated. Too much or too vigorous cleaning can also irritate the lining of the ear cause wax production. Irritation and excessive wax is a very possible scenario, she's been rough-housing with the boys quite a bit lately. I used a moist cotton ball to clean the top part of her ear, the stuff does not turn red when in contact with water, so I think it's more likely to be clumps of wax than a scab. However, tiny white flecks could be ear mites: http://www.maxshouse.com/Parasitology/earmite.jpg http://www.maxshouse.com/Parasitolog..._ear_mites.jpg Did you find a otoscope, yet? These are the ones I have: http://www.maxshouse.com/instruments...t/oto-opth.jpg The CompacSet is nice- Its a pocketsize, folding otoscope and ophthalmoscope: http://www.maxshouse.com/instruments...th-compact.jpg A good set would be a stretch right now so I will probably have to settle for an otoscope alone. And there's a lot more wax than the last time I looked at her ears, which was, I think, at most 2 or 3 weeks ago. I will keep very close watch to see if it worsens If there's a lot more wax now than 2-3 weeks ago, it has worsened. I think you should have it looked at. Last time I looked, she had wax, but it was a clean and smooth layer, so any build up is "worse" but it's still a minor amount. or starts to spread to the other cats. If your cat does have mites, with 5 cats, I don't think I'd want to wait to see if they spread. I wouldn't want to put my other cats through the discomfort if I could prevent it. I'm also lazy, I'd rather treat one now than 5 later. Right, treating all 5 at once is not a fun experience. These cats are always playing, grooming or sleeping together. I'd think that if one has mites it's already had a good chance to spread and I'd be seeing some signs. The others are all clean and pink eared right now. In theory, they shouldn't have a chance to pick up mites indoors, but it has happened before. I don't really trust the ear mite stuff from the pet store, I've always gotten the stuff (tressaderm??) from the vet. Tresaderm is pretty good stuff- it contains an antibiotic for infections, a corticosteroid for inflammation, and an antifungal that kills mites- it covers all the bases. I like Acarexx- especially for ferals because it usually takes only one dose to kill the mites and the ears don't have to be cleaned first- not a pleasant job with ferals- although I prefer to clean the ears first if I can. If you clean your cats' ears yourself, its important to dry the ears thoroughly- damp ears can irritate the lining of the ear which leads to inflammation and even more wax production. Another precaution- before putting any cleaners in your cats' ear, put a little warm normal saline in the ear first. If she swallows, gags, or coughs, that's a pretty good sign that the eardrum (tympanic membrane) is ruptured. It means the saline has flowed through the ruptured eardrum to the middle ear, and through the eustachian tube (connects the middle ear with the nasopharynx) and into the pharynx. So if she coughs or swallows, take her to vet right away. Good luck, Phil Thanks! |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
KILL ALL Fleas and Earmites in One Dose? Cost? | Doug Bashford | Cat health & behaviour | 7 | March 28th 05 11:36 AM |