How are ear mite infestations diagnosed?
Typical clinical signs with a history of contagion between cats or cats and dogs would suggest the involvement of ear mites. Ear mites cause over 50% of feline ear disease. However other conditions can result in very similar clinical signs. A veterinarian makes the diagnosis by seeing the mite. This is usually straightforward and may be done either by examination of the cat’s ears with an otoscope or by microscopic examination of discharge from the ear. If the ears are very sore, the cat may need to be sedated to allow the ears to be properly examined and treated.
