Help - My cat has earmites

When we first got our shelter cat two months ago, he had a sore on his ear, and the vet thought it might be ear mites or a fungal infection of some kind. She gave us a prescription for Surloan (miconazole nitrate polymyxin B, prednisolone acetate) which we were to administer twice a day for two weeks. We did.

This afternoon Cappy and I were sitting in the sunshine and I looked into his ear and it was like coffee grounds in there or something. I went online and it looks like he has earmites again. We immediately started administering the drops.

Is there something better that we should be using? Maybe something over the counter. I don't mind taking him back to the Vet - but if there is something cheaper, I would try it.

Any suggestions?

Lin

It sounds like the meds your vet gave you were for a fungal infection, not ear mites. I don't know what vets usually give for ear mites. Mine tells me to use Ivomec, but he's a farm vet and I don't think that's a common recommendation. There are some OTC ear mite meds at pet stores but you have to be careful.

I'd call the vet and ask what they recommend for ear mites. There's no reason he has to go in for that.

my two guys had ear mites when I first got them. Sounds like they have mites, mine had the same coffee grounds in their ears. Unfortunately I don't think the vet can just give you some meds to take care of the problem. I had to leave mine at the vet for a few hours. They lightly sedated my cats, flushed out and cleaned their ears, and gave them an injection. One of them had it worse than the other and had to go back once or twice for a little additional cleaning. They have not had any problems since, I would get it taken care of though, they can really aggitate the cats. My vet said if you let it go they would scratch their ears up. I would take them to the vet and they should be able to take care of it for you. Good Luck

We just added a new kitty to our family and had Boo at the vet yesterday. She had ear mites. The vet cleaned her ears with a peroxide solution then treated her with Acarexx. He recommended using Revolution for cats as both a cure for any mites that may remain on her skin (they apparently crawl out and wait for things to get back to normal in the ears) and to prevent mites in the future. I haven't decided if we are going to go that route or not. Our cats are indoor so the chances of them picking up fleas or other parasites are slim.

I knew something was up with Boo's ears, but I couldn't see any tell tale signs. The mites were really deep and it was pretty gross how much junk the vet washed out of her ears.

Originally Posted by Willowy

Mine tells me to use Ivomec, but he's a farm vet and I don't think that's a common recommendation.

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Mine has used that, but mixed at the proper strength for cats. That's really all the Acarexx is, ivermectin with another label on it.


Dark stuff in ears doesn't necessarily mean earmites. Allergies and ear infections can cause it, too, so you should have a vet check it out.

The ear drops that our vet gave us some time ago was for mites and fungal infections - according to what is written on the bottle. Surolan is the name of the drops, but when I looked in his ears yesterday I saw what looked like coffee grounds.

We called the vet and will be taking him in tomorrow.

Lin

Glad you are taking Cappy back to the vet. Talk to your vet, about Revolution, I do recommend a few months on revolution spot on in addition to any direct treatment, to be sure they are knocked out for good this time.

Keep us posted.

When we brought my sweet boy Oscar(RIP) home we thought he had an earful of black pepper he had such an infestation. The vet gave him drops that we put in twice a day for around two weeks. He only had it once and none of my other furkids had it including his sister Maddie.

Just brought Cappy back from the vet. Turns out it wasn't earmites at all, but just a build up of wax. She cleaned out his ears. She was quite helpful with some of our other questions as well. He has a clean bill of health. He was quite good at the vet, but he is such a gentle cat.

Originally Posted by Linni

Just brought Cappy back from the vet. Turns out it wasn't earmites at all, but just a build up of wax.

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Any ideas what caused it? It's not normal for wax to build up that thickly.
I didn't think it would be earmites, though. Indoor kitties that are well cared for have no way to get them (unless one adds a new cat carelessly). Unlike fleas or ticks, earmites take fairly close contact with an infested animal or animals bedding (less common).

Some cats are just prone to wax build up. Mazy is, and she has trouble with yeast too, and if left to build up too long a bacterial infection sets in. Tresaderm is a permanent part of my refrigerator.

I think Mazy's chronic issues might originate from going too long with an infection as a stray/then shelter kitty. My vet is noncommittal about my theory, saying it could be that, or she's just a cat who makes a lot of ear wax.

If it's just wax troubling her I have been instructed by my vet to use a drop or two of mineral oil daily in the ear for a week. <disclaimer>I am not recommending this unless a cat has seen the vet first and been properly diagnosed

If I see any redness develop I reach for the tresaderm, after calling my vet of course.