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Ear Cleaning

tessblack

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Hi Guys

When Tux had his ear issue, after two other vets looked at him I took him to the vet my Breeder recommended. My breeder drives an hour to see him and it is an all cat hospital. I also know two other people that take there cats there and won't take them any where else.

He was by far the best vet I have seen in the way he handled Tux as well as being able to answer all my questions about everything that had happened.

He told me not to use ear cleaner, but a cream called panalog. You put it in there ears and gently rub it around and then when they shake there head most of the dirt comes out and then just use a q tip to get the rest. he said he only does a flush if it is absolutely necessary. He said the only other thing he uses is a saline solution.

I bought the panalog on line, much cheaper than at the vet, and used it and there ears have been better then ever.

I have never heard of this before but it seems to be working. I felt really comfortable with this Vet and will probably not take them anywhere else. He did not try to push anything on me and suggested it would be cheaper to get the ear stuff on line instead of from his office. I felt comfortable with him and his knowledge of everything from the ear accident to HCM, food etc. He knew a lot about the breed as well.

Anyone heard of this way of ear cleaning?

Thanks
tes




Has anyone else heard of this way of ear cleaning?
 

tessblack

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No, but may look into it--did it get the dirt and wax out well?

Yeah it did. I just put it into the ear till I could see it then massage really gently for a bit and then put him in the tub and let him fling his head around. I had to clean the shower walls after and then just used a cotton ball to get the residue out. The only thing that bothered me was she kept trying to lick the stuff out of his ears. I then cleaned as much as I could off so she would not keep licking his ears. The vet told me that he has seen more problems from liquid going in there ears and will not do it that was. He also told me that there is a bunch of nerve endings (I think that is what he said) at the base of the ear and if you are to rough with them it will injury the ear and put them off balance.

After my ear cleaning incident at the other vet this seems like a better way.
 

heather

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Glad Tux is better. Did the vet do anything or did he eventually get better on his own? I lost the original thread- sorry if you posted.

I've never heard of it but the cream sounds great. Oh I bet it would be good breaking up the dirt on nail beds too.
 

tessblack

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Glad Tux is better. Did the vet do anything or did he eventually get better on his own? I lost the original thread- sorry if you posted.

I've never heard of it but the cream sounds great. Oh I bet it would be good breaking up the dirt on nail beds too.

He gave him some cream to put in his ears twice a week for a month. He said it would take a good month for him to get back to normal. He gets a bit off balance when he shakes his head but other than that he is doing great. The specialist wanted to charge me 2,000 to check if the ear drum had a tear in it but the vet said to wait and see what happens. He did not want to have to put him under anesthesia unless it was completely necessary. So far so good.
 

sydkat7

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My vet suggested Panalog for Piglet's ears when I last took her in for her annual check-up. It works really well to loosen up the stubborn dirt and wax in her ears. I still use it sometimes when Piglet's ears get especially dirty and hard to clean.
 

tessblack

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My vet suggested Panalog for Piglet's ears when I last took her in for her annual check-up. It works really well to loosen up the stubborn dirt and wax in her ears. I still use it sometimes when Piglet's ears get especially dirty and hard to clean.

Good to hear that someone else has used it. Yeah it does get everything out.
 

PitRottMommy

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Panalog is actually an antibiotic/antifungal cream. In some cats, we can overdo the ear cleaning and cause problems with flush (and not all flushes qualify to be considered safe for all pets). Since your companion has already experienced problems, he's predisposed to even more issues in the ear. Using Panalog isn't a bad idea at all. And, what's more, if it's working well and you're not having problems...keep using it!

Here's more info on the product for those who are interested: http://www.petplace.com/drug-library/nystatin-panalog/page1.aspx

I'd also like to add that I have the best luck all around (not just with my pets, but also in my line of work) with using ear products that are not liquid but more on the "creamy" side. It stays in the ear more effectively and it lasts longer in helping to break up the residue in the ear. This is more important for breeds such as our own who have buildup and then also pets who already have ear problems like otitis externa.
 

tessblack

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Panalog is actually an antibiotic/antifungal cream. In some cats, we can overdo the ear cleaning and cause problems with flush (and not all flushes qualify to be considered safe for all pets). Since your companion has already experienced problems, he's predisposed to even more issues in the ear. Using Panalog isn't a bad idea at all. And, what's more, if it's working well and you're not having problems...keep using it!

Here's more info on the product for those who are interested: http://www.petplace.com/drug-library/nystatin-panalog/page1.aspx

I'd also like to add that I have the best luck all around (not just with my pets, but also in my line of work) with using ear products that are not liquid but more on the "creamy" side. It stays in the ear more effectively and it lasts longer in helping to break up the residue in the ear. This is more important for breeds such as our own who have buildup and then also pets who already have ear problems like otitis externa.

Thanks for all that info that makes me feel better that I am doing the right thing.
 

miss_gldelx

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so, what product is better for use? The Panalog or Epi-Otix (sp?)

I have a 6 month old sphynx and have only been using qtips so far.
 

marlene

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Panalog is a very old and well established med. I've used it on dogs but never on a cat.

I use Cerulytic ear cleanser. Pedda gets a deep cleaning with it every 2 weeks. For the remainder of the time I use just Q tips. She doesn't produce a lot of ear wax and this regimen works great for her. But if you have a kitty who is in overdrive ear wax production you can use it as often as needed; Little Ren was on a 3 day maintenance schedule for it.
 

tessblack

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Both my kitties had lots of wax but since I have been using this I only use it about once a month because there ears are so much cleaner and stay that way. With Tux having the ear issue (he still gets a bit off balance when he shakes his head) I will never use liquid again on these guys. The vet never uses liquid in any cats ears unless they have to have a flush.
 

ilovemysphynx

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We use the epi-optic and are happy with it. I have never used the cream but if it is working it sounds great. The only thing is Q-tips can be very dangerous for pets so use them with caution. I have never heard a vet recomend using them.
 

marlene

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We use the epi-optic and are happy with it. I have never used the cream but if it is working it sounds great. The only thing is Q-tips can be very dangerous for pets so use them with caution. I have never heard a vet recomend using them.

When we were battling Ren's early yeast infections in his ears my vet recommended Qtips and also taught me how to use them. But yes, I agree in that you have to use them cautiously.
 
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