In cats, otitis is a puzzle of causes. Ear mites and inflammatory polyps are the two to remember first, and the lesson of every case is to find the primary cause, not just clean the ear. The NAVLE also likes ototoxicity cautions and the difference between middle ear disease and inner ear disease.
Key facts
Otitis externa at a glance- Species and system: cat, external, middle and inner ear.
- Common primary causes: Otodectes cynotis, allergy, foreign body, inflammatory polyp, neoplasia, immune-mediated disease.
- Otodectes: dark "coffee-ground" exudate, itchy, contagious, treat all contacts.
- Polyps: benign, in young cats (3 months to 5 years); aural or nasopharyngeal.
- Middle ear disease: Horner syndrome and facial palsy, not a neurological head tilt.
- Transmission: Otodectes spreads by contact between pets.
What's inside
14 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Causes
- Otodectes cynotis (ear mites)
- Inflammatory polyps
- Foreign bodies and other masses
- Diagnosis of otitis externa
- Treatment of otitis externa
- Otitis media and interna
- Differential diagnoses
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 6 tables, 1 figure, 3 self-test questions and 10 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.