Natural Pet Health

Otitis externa or Inflammation of the external ear (including auricle and ear canal) is more common in dogs than cats. The Persian cat breed and kittens however, are more prone to Ear Infections than other cats breeds or older cats.

The main symptoms of feline Ear Infections include:

* Shaking head from side to side as the tries to push out the debris or fluids that accumulate in the ears.
* Excessive scratching of ears.
* Red and inflamed ears with an offensive odor.
* A black or yellowish discharge.

Ear Mites are the most common cause of infection in a cat’s ears and lead to symptoms similar to Ear Infections. The average lifecycle of cat Ear Mites, from egg to adult, is roughly three weeks. In severe infestations, mites create an environment within the ear canal that results in secondary infection. Most of the times the mites have gone by the time you decide to consult a veterinarian but a significant amount of infection remains. A healthy cat is very resistant to Ear Mites but kittens are more prone to get infected. Dog ear mites, on the other hand can be a little bit more problematic.

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Although an uncommon occurrence, ear polyps can severely damage the ear drum of your cat if they are not treated in time. Ear polyps are neither breed nor sex specific but they usually occur in cats between the ages of 1 to 4 years. Ear polyps in cats produce symptoms that are almost similar to those caused by Parasites like cat Ear Mites or other Ear Infections.

In addition to the normal symptoms associated with the Ear Mites infection like scratching and pain on palpating the ear, some of the symptoms specific to or indicative of ear polyps include:

* Inability to walk in a straight line.
* A tilted head.
* Droopy eyelid/s.
* Partial covering of the eye by the third eyelid.

Ear polyps are usually located in the horizontal passage of the ear canal and difficult to see without an otoscope, a medical instrument with a magnifying glass and light used for examining the tympanic membrane. The veterinarian might need to sedate your cat for the examination.

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Of all the organs in the body of a cat, skin and ears are the most vulnerable. While Skin Conditions are more visible, an infection in the ear requires keen observation and can be detected only if you are regular and observant while grooming your pet cat or dog.

Ear Mites live by tunneling into the ear canal of cats. The automatic response of the cat’s body is to produce more wax to combat the invasion by cat Ear Mites. Severe infections give rise to an offensive smell. If not attended to in time Ear Mites can lead to secondary infections in cats.

Cat and dog ear mites cause intense Itching compelling the pet to shake its head vigorously. This can cause abscesses or cuts. Treating ear mites at the first sign of their prevalence can save a lot of discomfort to the cat as well as owners.

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Apart from the difference in frequency, cats and dogs are susceptible to practically the same types of infections of the external ear. For example, cat Ear Mites maybe a less common occurrence than dog Ear Mites but when infested, can lead to similar symptoms and develop into serious conditions in both, if not attended to in time.

Minor Irritations - The first sign of discomfort in cats is scratching due to irritation caused by an infestation of Parasites or infection due to injury or an allergic reaction. Some of the conditions are a direct cause of excessive scratching and Itching when an initial sign of ear discomfort is ignored by cat owners.

Ear Mites - These are small external Parasites that look like crabs. Ear mites in cats are easy to eliminate and this can be done simply by cleaning the ear regularly. However, in the absence of a timely intervention they can lead to bacterial and fungal infections. In severe conditions, mites can move further to the inner ear and rupture the tympanic membrane (ear drum). This may lead to Seizures and deafness.

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Pet ears infections pose a perennial problem, equally for owners and the specialists who are called upon to treat them. The fact that your pets have been domesticated and made to change their natural habitat is one of the major causes behind their vulnerability to attacks from infectious bacteria and Parasites like Ear Mites.

The limitations of conventional medications, including side effects that lead to more problems than they are supposed to cure, has been instrumental in giving a boost to alternative therapies. These holistic therapies take a holistic view of disease. The relatively less popularity of alternative therapies like Homeopathy stems from the fact that they are slow in treating an ailment. At the same time, the established fact that Homeopathy attempts to remove the root cause of a disease and not just the symptoms, is not properly advertised.

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Ataxia is the inability to coordinate voluntary muscle movements. It can cause unsteady movements and a staggering gait. Ataxia in cats makes them move in circles and behave abnormally and this behavior is often very frightening for cat owners. Ataxia is usually caused by one of the following reasons.

* A Nervous system disorders
* General weakness and anemia
* Deformities of bones, joints or spine
* Inadequate diet
* Muscular atrophy

The different types of ataxia occur due to the impairment of different nerves in the Nervous system.

* Vestibular ataxia - a condition where the nerves related to the inner ear are impaired causing issues with maintaining equilibrium.
* Sensor ataxia - caused due to impairment of the nerves related to the limbs. This kind of ataxia causes unsteady gait.
* Cerebellar ataxia - caused due to disorders in the cerebellum. It can also cause explosive speech and nystagmus.
* Friedreich’s ataxia – is a sclerosis of the posterior and lateral columns of the spinal cord and occurs mainly in children.

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Ear Mites are a constant problem for all pets. The presence of Ear Mites can cause considerable anguish to the pet and the owner alike. Cat Ear Mites are contagious and pass on to other pets in the household. They can spread to other cats, dogs or other animals too.

The manner in which a cat reacts to ear mites can vary among cats. Some cats do not react or exhibit external symptoms even when they are infected with a large number of mites.

But some cats may show extreme symptoms at the presence of a small number of ear mites. It is therefore, hypothesized that different breeds of cats show different levels of sensitivity towards this condition.

The first symptom that surfaces among cats when they have ear mites is the presence of excessive wax in the ears. Mites often stimulate wax producing glands in the ear and this in turn can lead to Inflammation and further complications.

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A healthy ear cleaning program should begin with regular cleaning with cotton balls and cotton swabs. Remember that cats and dogs have an L shaped ear canal so you will not hurt the ear drum.

To clean your pet’s ear, you can moisten the ear with green Tea or use an acidic ear cleanser that does not contain alcohol. There are many natural herbal ear cleaners and wash on the market.

Place several drops of cleaner in the ears and thoroughly massage the base of the ear. You can use cotton balls or cotton swabs to remove all the debris and wax in the ear.

Since the ears are a nice warm environment, it is the perfect place for Ear Mites. Ear Mites are so small that you can barely see them, although your pet can definitely feel them.

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Signs and symptoms of Ear Problems in pets

Ear Infections are very common amongst cats and dogs and can cause severe irritation and discomfort in your beloved pet. Some animals (i.e. dogs of the ‘hound’ family) are more susceptible to Ear Infections than others due to the particular structure of their outer ears.

Common signs of Ear Infection are:

* Shaking of the head and ears
* Scratching or rubbing the ears and face
* Discharge or even bleeding from the ears
* Foul smell coming from the ears
* Sensitivity to touching in the ear area
* General irritability

There are a number of causes of Ear Infection and common culprits include bacteria, yeasts and mites. Less commonly, allergies may have a role to play in Inflammation and subsequent infection of the ears.

What are Ear Mites?

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1 cup of spring water,
1 rounded teaspoon of Yellow Dock (dried)

Steep 15 minutes and then strain thru a sieve. Cool to lukewarm and wash out cats ears once every three days for up to three to four weeks.

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