Is your cat scratching its ears more than usual? If so, your precious kitty may have ear mites. Take it to a vet in the Plaquemine, LA, area. The Carville Veterinary Clinic can treat your cat’s ear mites. Dr. Katie Berthelot and Dr. Charles Carville offer a wide range of veterinary services to ensure your pets live happy, healthy lives. Keep reading to learn more about ear mites.
What are Ear Mites?
Ear mites are microscopic parasites that often hang around inside your cat’s ears. If left untreated, they can cause ear canal blockage or ear infections. They can also irritate your cat so much that your cat repeatedly scratches its ears. This can lead to rupturing of the blood vessels inside your cat’s delicate skin around the ear area.
Ear mites live inside the ear canal, feeding on ear wax and skin debris inside your cat’s ears. This causes severe itchiness and makes your cat repeatedly scratch.
Cats get ear mites by being in close contact with other animals that have ear mites. The condition is especially common with outdoor cats.
Symptoms of Ear Mites
When your cat has ear mites, you may notice several symptoms. Your cat may scratch its ears or shake its head. You may notice a dark discharge from the ears or skin inflammation. The ears may appear irritated. You may even notice skin lesions or scratch marks around the ears.
Treatment
Only your vet can diagnose ear mites. Dr. Katie Berthelot and Dr. Charles Carville in the Plaquemine, LA, area will examine your cat and determine if ear mites are causing your cat’s discomfort. They will then devise an appropriate treatment for your pet.
First, the vet will clean your cat’s ears. This will remove the discharge and some of the parasites. It will also help with inflammation. The veterinarian will prescribe medication to treat the ear mites. Typical treatments include one-time medications, daily topical medications, or injections. Many flea control medications are extremely effective as well. The goal is to kill the mites in both adult and larval forms.
Schedule an Appointment
If you think your cat may have ear mites, schedule an appointment at Carville Veterinary Clinic with Dr. Katie Berthelot and Dr. Charles Carville. Our experienced doctors in Plaquemine, LA, will diagnose the problem and plan an effective treatment for your cat’s specific needs. Schedule an appointment today by giving us a call at (225) 687-7387.