Cat Ear Yeast Infection Treatment

Is your cat scratching at her ears or frequently tilting her head to one side?
Is she shaking her head frequently?
Are your cat's ears smelly?
Does your cat's ear stink?
Do you notice heat around the ears?

If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, your pet may have a cat ear yeast infection.

Other ear infection symptoms in cats to look for include:

• Black or yellowish discharge
• Redness or swelling in and around the ear
• Waxy buildup on or near the ear canal
• Discharge from the ear that resembles coffee grounds (a symptom of ear mites)
• Hearing loss or loss of balance

It is estimated that about half of all feline ear infections are caused by ear mites. These infestations generally occur in kittens and outdoor cats, but adult indoor cats can be easily infected as well. Adult indoor cats often succumb to this when an infected kitten is introduced to the household. Fortunately, a veterinarian can quickly determine if ear mites are the cause, and will prescribe a straightforward, anti-parasitic treatment to eliminate them in short order. In the meantime, you can sleep easy knowing that any surface tissue damage can be easily fixed with a few applications of Banixx Pet Care.

If ear mites are not the culprit, then the cause of your cat's ear infection will be the result of another underlying medical condition. Although the overgrowth of yeast is the most common cause of fungal ear infections in cats, bacterial infections, both pathogenic (picked up from outside) and non-pathogenic (such as staph) are also quite common cat ear problems. Other contributing causes of ear infections in cats include:

• Allergies (dietary or environmental)
• Tumors/polyps within the ear canal or a ruptured eardrum
• Foreign bodies lodged within the ear canal such as foxtails or grass seeds
• Wax buildup or thick hair within the ear canal
• Autoimmune diseases or immune suppressing diseases  (FIV, feline leukemia virus, etc.)
• Diabetes mellitus
• Improper ear cleaning     Buy Banixx or buy online.

Make no mistake, an ear infection can be a complex and serious matter for your cat’s well-being and overall health.  It’s essential that you get your cat in for treatment with a trusted veterinarian at the first signs of any ear discomfort.  Not only are ear infections painful for your cat, regardless of the underlying cause, but they can become chronic and lead to deafness, or even facial paralysis, in short order.

In spite of your cat’s obvious displeasure, the veterinarian will start by looking in your cat’s ear canal with an instrument called an otoscope.  It is important to confirm that the eardrum is intact and not ruptured. Any collected ear debris will be examined under a microscope to determine its identity, such as ear mites, yeast, bacteria, etc.  Occasionally, additional tests may be necessary, but once the underlying cause is identified, treatment isn’t usually too complicated. Common treatments include antibiotics, corticosteroids, antifungals, and anti-parasitics.  Buy Banixx or buy online.

Whether the cause of your cat’s ear infection is determined to be a yeast infection, a bacterial infection, or from ear mites, your vet will prescribe a course of treatment with antifungals, antibiotics, and/or anti-parasitics, all of which come in the form of eardrops or ointment. If the infection has reached the middle ear, but the eardrum has not been compromised, the vet may prescribe a course of antibiotics that may be oral or injectable. If a foreign body is lodged in the ear canal, the Vet will sedate your cat and remove the object. More serious causes will be addressed by your vet and a course of action decided upon.

Don’t be surprised if the vet clips the fur around the cat’s ear canal prior to applying feline ear infection treatments. This provides a cleaner surface for the application of medication and allows for proper drying around the ear canal. On rare occasions, surgery may be recommended to remove swollen tissue that has narrowed or blocked the ear canal; however, this concern can most often be sufficiently addressed with medication.

A cat’s ear canal is shaped like an “L,” and it is important to get the medication into the lower part of the ear canal – the horizontal ear canal. For best results, make sure that you have explored with your vet the proper way to administer ear drops to your cat. Initially, you may need to secure your cat from scratching, struggling, or even biting you through this process. Remember that your cat’s condition is most likely painful, and even the most passive cat may respond aggressively to treatment. PATIENCE and possibly the use of cat treats, as a bribe is essential to prevent your cat (and you) from over-stressing when treating ear infections in cats.

If the medication has been refrigerated, and your vet has confirmed that the medication can be warmed without damage, consider warming it up by running it under warm water or placing the container in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes prior to administering it. This won’t do anything to affect the treatment outcome, but it may reduce the fear response from your cat caused by the sudden introduction of a cold substance into her ear. This may also apply to sprays. Never microwave the medication  – or any drops/sprays administered to your pets!

After applying any ear medication, if the area around your cat’s ear is overly greasy, you may be applying too much medication, which can make a mess of your clothes, furniture, bedding or carpet This is one problem you will never experience with Banixx Pet Care. Since Banixx is purified water-based, there is never a greasy residue after application. And with no dyes or color additives, you never have to worry about “wearing” your pet’s medication. Streaks of color through your pet’s fur may be chic, but you don’t want to see it on your new sofa or carpet!  Buy Banixx or buy online.

There’s no two ways around it, a daily or weekly inspection of your cat’s ears is the best method for prevention of ear infections in your cat. Despite the predictable objection from your furry friend, take the time to routinely check your cat’s ears for redness, residue/discharge, and any offensive odor. Healthy ears are pale pink with no visible residue/discharge and no odor. You may see some ear wax, but it should be minimal, if any. As with human ears, never insert a cleaning device (swab or Q-tip) into your cat’s ear canal - you can easily do much more harm than good. Visit our Cat Blog to learn more about ear wax concerns. 

Once your veterinarian has determined the underlying cause of your cat’s ear infection, the best course of treatment will be recommended to quickly and safely eliminate it. If the problem is mites, an anti-parastic ointment will take care of them economically and in short order. Banixx Pet Care can then be applied as a soothing, healing agent to treat the infection and irritation caused by the biting mites. If your cat has a yeast/fungal infection, Banixx can be used to quickly combat the yeast/fungus infection and, thereafter, as a regular ear cleaner for this type of cat ear problem.

Banixx Pet Care can be used at home, in conjunction with any prescribed medication, to provide your cat with instant, soothing relief from the irritation caused by biting  insects or other nasty parasites.  Banixx’ low pH solution will also quickly combat any yeast or fungal infection by creating an environment in which bacteria and fungus simply CANNOT GROW, thus allowing the prescribed medication to concentrate on the existing infection. Fortunately, since Banixx is not only an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal treatment for cats, it’s the ideal product for the treatment your of cat’s ear issue.

Any cat owner knows that cats, in general, tend to be very timid when it comes to sprays so don’t start out trying to spray Banixx into your cat’s ear. Rather, simply spray Banixx onto the cotton ball until moistened (not dripping), and gently apply 2-3 times daily to the affected ear(s). As an efficient, non-messy cat ear fungus treatment Banixx works on contact, but soak-time is important. The inside of the ear must be well moistened with Banixx for optimal results. Be sure to gently massage Banixx into your cat's ear. Most cats love this! Results should be seen in a couple of days. You will love Banixx' quick results as an economical home remedy. Your cat will love the fact that Banixx, devoid of any smell or clinical odor, causes absolutely no pain or discomfort!

But it gets even better!  With a shelf life of three years, Banixx is a breeze to store at room temperature - without any fear of spoilage from those sudden, unexpected bouts of excessive heat or freezing temperatures.  And because it’s gentle, odorless, colorless, and will not sting or burn your pet, Banixx is the “PURR-FECT” preemptive ear cleaner to keep future ear infections at bay.

As always, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. By "prevention" we mean being proactive and involved in your pet's welfare.  For example, if you are using Banixx for a particular problem and results are not seen in a few days or, if the situation seems worse--don't hesitate---it's time to consult with your local veterinarian!

Note: The content provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.