Cat ear infection: Can I clean at home or should I see a vet?

I would purchase a pet ear cleaner and perhaps some ear medication from PetCo. Once you get all of the discharge out of the ear it should improve. This needs to be cleaned twice daily to start, then once a day until it is looking better. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for your kitty.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Based on your description, I am unsure as to where the infection is located. If it is in the ears and they are becoming infected, I would recommend having a veterinarian take a look at the ears so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. If the ears just have a moderate amount of wax in them, you can use an over the counter veterinary product called Zymox otic cleanser. If after using this product for 7 days there is no improvement, I would recommend bringing Pearl to a veterinarian for further treatment. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Poor Spookette! It sounds like she may have a pretty bad ear infection. Ear infections can be due to mites, bacteria, or yeast in cats. I'd recommend scheduling an examination with a veterinarian so Spookette can have her ears checked out. A swab can be taken from the ears and evaluated under the microscope to determine if the cause is mites, bacteria, or yeast. She will likely need prescription ear medication to treat. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and I hope Spookette's ear issue resolves quickly!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! You can try to use an ear cleanser in the meantime which you can buy online or at your local pet store though if an infection is present this may help but will not resolve the issue and appropriate therapy for an infection is needed which is based on the organism present. I like malAcetic ear cleanser. This is based on cytology and culture sometimes. Good luck and have a great day!

If ear infections are left untreated, they can lead to hearing loss. Unfortunately this cannot be treated at home without prescription medication, but a vet should see you for this problem. Give your vet a call.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is likely due to an ear infection. I recommend that you have Macy evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Your veterinarian would be able to check what type of infection is present and treat accordingly. Usually this resolves with topical therapy when the appropriate product is used which requires a visit to your veterinarian. Good luck and have a good day!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The short answer is not necessarily. That is especially true if if Buddy's ear infection is severe and actually not sensitive to the ear cleanser or antibiotics used initially which would be required if they as I recommend that you have Buddy evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Your veterinarian would be able to check what type of infection is present and treat accordingly. Usually this resolves with topical therapy. Good luck and have a good day!