Observations on external ear canal diseases in cats

This study was conducted to evaluate external ear canal diseases in cats. The study material consisted of 104 cats of different ages, breeds, and sexes that were presented to Fırat University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Animal Hospital, private veterinary clinics in Istanbul, and Elazığ Municipality Temporary Animal Shelter and Rehabilitation Center with ear disorders. The breed, age, and sex of the patients, anamnesis information, the onset time of complaints, the course and timing of the disease were determined, and the detected abnormal formations were photographed and recorded. Microbiological and parasitological analyses were performed in 104 cats. The most frequently encountered agents were Malassezia spp. (n=101, 48.6%), O. cynotis (n=67, 32.2%), and Staphylococcus spp. (n=41, 19.7%), followed by Pseudomonas spp. (n=25, 12%), Microsporum spp. (n=10, 4.8%), Candida spp. (n=8, 3.8%), Proteus spp. (n=8, 3.8%), Aspergillus spp. (n=4, 1.9%), E. coli (n=3, 1.4%), and Trichophyton spp. (n=2, 1%). In parasitological findings, N. cati (n=8, 3.8%) and O. cynotis (32.2%) mites were found to play an active role. In 58 of the cases, more than one agent was isolated, while in only 28 cases a single agent was identified. In patients presenting with head tilt, ear scratching, and wounds in the neck region who had not previously experienced otitis externa, polyps were detected in the tympanic bulla. Ventral bulla osteotomy was recommended for cases with polyp findings in the tympanic bulla. MRI imaging was performed in cases with recurrent otitis externa or chronic otitis externa accompanied by hearing loss and systemic vestibular signs. In recurrent otitis externa cases, the correct selection of advanced imaging techniques such as radiography, CT, and MRI based on anamnesis was of great importance in terms of disease prognosis. It was determined that the primary cause of external ear canal diseases in cats was otitis media and chronic otitis media. In advanced imaging, poor prognosis was associated with findings such as cholesteatoma in the tympanic bulla and lymphadenopathy in the lymph nodes after intravenous contrast administration. A total of 27 cases underwent advanced imaging, and successful results were obtained in the treatment of otitis media cases limited to the bulla without polyps or malignancy (n=4/6), with samples taken via myringotomy. The findings obtained from this study showed that a good anamnesis, detailed examination, accurate diagnosis, and appropriate treatment can lead to successful outcomes in the treatment of external ear canal diseases in cats.