Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Ear disease found in 41% of cats during dental CT scans
By Boothe, Hannah F et al.·Published in Frontiers in veterinary science·2025·Animal Dental Center, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Prevalence of ear disease in cats undergoing cone beam computed tomography for dental procedures.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 303 cats undergoing dental procedures were checked for ear disease using advanced imaging techniques. Surprisingly, about 41% of these cats had ear problems that were not previously diagnosed, which is much higher than the usual rates found in the general cat population. Interestingly, smaller cats weighing 10 pounds or less were more likely to have ear issues. This finding emphasizes the value of using detailed imaging to identify not just dental issues but also hidden ear diseases in cats.
People also search for: cat ear disease symptoms · dental procedure cat ear problems · small cat ear infection · feline dental health and ear disease
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: In this prospective, cross-sectional study, 303 feline patients were evaluated via cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) for evidence of incidental ear disease during a dental procedure. METHODS: All feline patients over one year of age presenting to a private practice veterinary dentistry and oral surgery specialty clinic underwent CBCT imaging which included the oral cavity and ear canals. The following were recorded if present: periodontal disease, tooth resorption and/or ear disease. RESULTS: Ear disease was diagnosed as an incidental finding in 41.4% of cats that were imaged; this is higher than previously reported prevalence studies of the general feline population ranging from 2-19%. Periodontal disease and tooth resorption were not significantly associated with ear disease. However, cats less than or equal to 10 pounds were found to be at higher risk of ear disease. DISCUSSION: This study highlights the importance of advanced imaging in the diagnosis of not only dental disease but also ear disease in cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40191083/