Runny Ear

beck4582

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I noticed yesterday morning that Pepper kept trying to scratch her ear. I picked her up and noticed a little bit of crusty stuff in her fur right under her ear. Knowing how she likes to get into things, I didn't think much of it - I just thought she had gotten into something sticky... Last night she was still scratching so I looked more closely and inside her ear was a dark runny-looking substance. So I got a q-tip and very gently tried to get some of it out (I didn't dig in her ear, don't worry, I just got what was showing on the outside). It looked kind of gummy and wet, and it was dark. After an hour or so I looked again and the spot I had clean was covered in the stuff again. Does anyone know what this is? The vet is closed by the time I get off of work. Can it wait until I can go on Saturday or should I take her to the emergency vet?
 

whiteforest

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Sounds like ear mites. You could, technically speaking, wait to take her in if you really have to, but I wouldn't as ear mites are extremely uncomfortable for them and the infestation will probably get even worse. Ear mites can be treated rather easily with Revolution or Advantage-Multi (same stuff you'd use for fleas - it also works for parasites and mites). The ears would also need to be cleaned thoroughly, and your vet can show you how to do that properly.

It could also be a yeast or bacterial infection, which would require antibiotic ear drops, or enzymatic ear drops. This would need to be taken care of sooner than later because you wouldn't want the infection to spread to the middle ear.
 
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beck4582

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We use the Advantage Multi - so can it be earmites? I guess I can look and see about taking her to an after-hours place. I know it's really bothering her and it makes me sad.
 

taterbug

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If it's running that much, she may have an ear infection and/or a ruptured ear drum! Good luck at the vets!!
 

whiteforest

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Originally Posted by Beck4582

We use the Advantage Multi - so can it be earmites? I guess I can look and see about taking her to an after-hours place. I know it's really bothering her and it makes me sad.
It's less likely, and may be an infection.
 

whiteforest

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Originally Posted by angryrectangle

Just wanted to add that if it's an ear infection, it would probably be a bit smelly too!
That is true for the most part, but Ramsay has chronic ear infections and there's never been any smell.
 
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beck4582

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We went to the vet today and it was an infection. They gave me some medicine and some cleaner. Poor Pepper screamed when they were taking the sample out of her ear, but once they cleaned it you could tell she was so thankful.

Thanks for all the help!
 
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