My cat has ear infection with black gunk, pus, swollen cheek. Help?

The most likely cause of swelling in that area is an abscess - this could have been from fighting with another cat or TeeTee may have scratched herself and caused the injury. An ear infection may the cause of her scratching if she is indoor only and not in contact with other cats. Either way, she will probably need antibiotics prescribed by your vet. If the abscess bursts before you take her in (try to go tomorrow) you may see discharge and blood. This can be carefully cleaned with just warm salty water and cotton balls.

Ear infections can be caused by bacterial, parasitic or fungal infection, or a combination of these, and can be associated with dietary or environmental allergies or sensitivities, immune system disorders, or a combination of the above. If the Surolan helped but the infection has returned, Melcho needs to see a vet to have an ear swab done. Your vet can look at the sample under the microscope and treat appropriately based on what is found. Trying different medications without testing to determine the cause is not effective, and can lead to bacterial resistance to medication. Your vet will likely need to examine the ear with a scope to see if the ear drum is intact, as some medications cannot be used safely if the eardrum is ruptured. They may also recommend a culture and sensitivity test of a swab from the ear to help figure out what specific bacteria could be present and what medications they are sensitive to. Ear infections can be very painful, and as you mentioned, can sometimes progress to include the middle or inner ear, where they can cause neurologic signs or permanent hearing loss. Please book an appointment to have Melcho seen as soon as possible to help get him feeling better, and you can request a referral from your veterinarian if they are not willing or able to provide further care as you mentioned.

Gentamycin is a common ingredient in ear medications. There is a small risk of damaging the hearing, especially if the ear drum is not intact. When I diagnose an ear infection in a pet, I recommend a two-part treatment. The first is with a cleaner to remove any debris; I like DECHRA DermaPet Malacetic Otic. This is important as ear medications need to contact the skin of the ear and if there is ear wax or other debris in the way, then the medications can't work. After the ears are dry, you can apply the medication. Ears typically need to be treated twice a day for 7-10 days. Cats can commonly get ear mites that may look like an ear infection. If you have not treated Melcho for ear mites, I recommend doing so now. If the ear infection does not resolve after using an ear cleaner and the Dexoryl within a week, then Melcho should see the vet as he could have a resistant bacteria growing, yeast infection, parasites, or even a polyp causing problems deep in his ear. I cannot find a list of ingredients for the Trixie ear drops, so I cannot tell you if they would be helpful.

It sounds like your cat may be dealing with an ear infection. Ear infections can be caused by bacterial, parasitic or fungal infection, or a combination of these, and can be associated with dietary or environmental allergies or sensitivities, immune system disorders, or a combination of the above. Your cat needs to see a vet. Your vet can look at a sample from an ear swab under the microscope and treat appropriately based on what is found. Your vet will also need to examine the ear with a scope to see if the ear drum is intact, as some medications cannot be used safely if the eardrum is ruptured. Ear infections can be very painful, and can sometimes progress to include the middle or inner ear, where they can cause neurologic signs or permanent hearing loss. Please book an appointment to have your cat seen by a vet as soon as possible. Good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This may be due to an ear infection. Ear infections are fairly common. The good news is that these usually respond readily to therapy when treated appropriately. I recommend that you have Zepellin evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. If an infection is confirmed, treatment would be based on the type of infection it is. Good luck and best wishes!

If the infection goes that far, we often use antibiotics tablets (sometimes two different types at the same time, as Melcho is having now) and strong anti-inflammatory medications, usually steroids. You should get in touch with your vets again, as it sounds that your Melcho is struggling at the moment and he may benefit from more aggressive therapy.

Hello, sorry to hear about Black. It looks like he has a hematoma or a blood filled ear pinnae. This is typically caused due to scratching or trauma. Things that may cause Blacki to itch would be an ear infection, mites, or allergies. You should have Blacki evaluated by a veterinarian to rule out an underlying cause for this. In terms of the swollen ear it self, there are several ways to address this such as draining and bandaging vs surgery to suture the ear flat. The latter is generally reserved for last resort after draining has failed. This is not an emergency, but Blacki should be evaluated soon to address his ear. Hope this helps and best of luck.