Advice needed.

lea98 · Dec 8, 2016

Last month I discovered this white kitten at my front door, wet and cold from icy rain we've been getting in our area. When no one claimed her, I decided to keep her. However, this will be my first cat as I have only ever had dogs. I had to bathe her as she was riddled with fleas, got her flea medicine and even had her spayed this month on the 3rd. This morning I noticed my cat was shaking her head alot and kept scratching her ears. I noticed a build up of brown... wax? I'm assuming. She's been inside since I found her and my dogs (2 chihuahuas) are all well kept and their ears are completely spotless so I don't believe it to be mites. Then again, I'm not sure. Can it be a possible ear infection? And does anyone know how mites are transferred?

stephenq · Dec 8, 2016

Lea98 said:
Last month I discovered this white kitten at my front door, wet and cold from icy rain we've been getting in our area. When no one claimed her, I decided to keep her. However, this will be my first cat as I have only ever had dogs. I had to bathe her as she was riddled with fleas, got her flea medicine and even had her spayed this month on the 3rd. This morning I noticed my cat was shaking her head alot and kept scratching her ears. I noticed a build up of brown... wax? I'm assuming. She's been inside since I found her and my dogs (2 chihuahuas) are all well kept and their ears are completely spotless so I don't believe it to be mites. Then again, I'm not sure. Can it be a possible ear infection? And does anyone know how mites are transferred?

It's probably mites and it can go from cat to dog easily, casual contact. Ears will need to be cleaned and then usually drops are prescribed which the cat won't like but needs to be done. Less likely is just dirty ears and infection.

http://pets.webmd.com/cats/cat_ear_mites

lea98 · Dec 8, 2016

Okay, that makes sense. I thought I had taken care of everything but I didn't even think about her ears until now. I have already cleaned them and applied drops, which you're right, she didn't like at all but I hope that helps. I don't think it was mites because none of my dogs had mites before and they're not showing any signs of ear irritations.

stephenq · Dec 8, 2016

Generally if you clean the ears and the crud comes back then its mites, and another animal like your dog not getting it is not diagnostic. Prescription drops usually need to be done for a number of days... Hopefully its just crud. I'm surprised your vet didn't see it on exam.

lea98 · Dec 8, 2016

I read somewhere on the link you sent me that if it is an ear infection, it could be due to a weak immune system. She had surgery five days ago, would that be reason for a weak immune system?

lea98 · Dec 8, 2016

StephenQ said:
Generally if you clean the ears and the crud comes back then its mites, and another animal like your dog not getting it is not diagnostic. Prescription drops usually need to be done for a number of days... Hopefully its just crud. I'm surprised your vet didn't see it on exam.

Yeah, the vet saw her five days ago, exam, shots, flea medication, even a spay and didn't say anything then. Perhaps it's recent?

stephenq · Dec 8, 2016

Lea98 said:
I read somewhere on the link you sent me that if it is an ear infection, it could be due to a weak immune system. She had surgery five days ago, would that be reason for a weak immune system?

Nope. Cats who are strays like your kitten are highly susceptible to a host of illnesses that they catch from other cats, including but not limited to intestinal parasites, upper respiratory infections, mites, ringworm, flea related problems to name the most common. If a cat's been outside long enough they're probably going to have 1 or more of these. As to ear infections, they get dirty ears, they scratch with dirty paws, bleed and get infected, super common. Yes a weak immune system can result in a host of opportunistic illnesses but this wouldn't be caused by an operation in general.

lea98 · Dec 8, 2016

Last time I went to the vet the only thing he mentioned was fleas, which I was aware of, and she received medication for. How long until symptoms start to show?

stephenq · Dec 8, 2016

Lea98 said:
Last time I went to the vet the only thing he mentioned was fleas, which I was aware of, and she received medication for. How long until symptoms start to show?

And you saw the vet look in the ears? If he did then i guess it could be recent but very odd.......

lea98 · Dec 8, 2016

I just assumed the vet knew what he was doing. I trusted his opinion. Though the clinic was pretty busy that day...

Advice needed.

lea98

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