Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Thick crusty ear infection in cats and kittens explained
By Brame, Bailey E·Published in The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice·2025·Michigan State University, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Proliferative and Necrotizing Otitis Externa of Cats and Kittens.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A cat with thick, dark crusts in its ears and possibly on its face may be suffering from a condition called proliferative and necrotizing otitis externa (PNOE). This issue often affects both ears and can cause discomfort. While the exact cause is unknown, it seems to be related to the immune system. Fortunately, treatment with topical and systemic medications that help regulate the immune response has been effective. With the right care, cats with this condition can see improvement in their symptoms.
Abstract
Proliferative and necrotizing otitis externa (PNOE) is characterized by thick, adherent dark red, brown, or black crusts. It most commonly affects the concave pinnae and vertical ear canals bilaterally. Lesions may also be seen on the face, and it may rarely present in a generalized form. There is no known cause of PNOE, but it responds to treatment with topical and systemic immunomodulatories and is therefore thought to be immune-mediated. Twenty-one cases have been described in the literature and are summarized here.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39824731/