Should I clean my cat's ears and teeth only if there's a problem?

If Mau had ear mites or an infection, we would expect him to be scratching at his ears. Since his ears do not seem to bother him and there is no redness, swelling or odor, I would suspect that it is just debris that you are seeing in his ears. You can use a cotton ball (not a Q-tip) to gently wipe away the debris. You should not need to use any ear cleaner or medication. If the debris is getting worse or Mau starts scratching at his ears, I would certainly recommend having your veterinarian examine his ear canals. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

If it is very close to Trixie's next dose you can just skip the dose and resume the regular dosing at her next time. Cleaning the ears can help the medication take hold a bit better and make it more effective. A pet ear wipe or cotton balls with ear wash can be used to gently clean out the ears before placing medication.

Hello, you should wait another 2-3 days before cleaning his ears as you may remove some of the medication. After this, you can clean the outside of his ears with a cotton ball. Do not put anything in his ears without your veterinarian instructing you to do so. Hope this helps and best of luck.

An appropriate ear cleaner would be strongly recommended. Most veterinary clinics and pet stores will have several options. Do not use water, hydrogen peroxide or alcohol to clean ears. If you have no other options, a dry cotton ball or soft washcloth can be used to clean what can be reached. Do not insert anything into the ear canal. Read more about ear cleaning at the link below. https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-clean-your-cat-s-ears-what-you-need-to-know/

Cute kitty! It may take 3-4 weeks for the revolution to completely rid the infection. You can purchase Eradimite or Otomite without a prescription and this may help rid the infection more quickly. Not sure if the Zymox you’re using is the treatment drops (which are great) or the cleanser (also a great product) but if it’s not the cleanser you are using already, then get some type of ear cleanser to help break up the “gunk” and get them out of there. Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

If you are noticing redness after the treatment, stop using it. Duchess could be having a reaction to the medication. Revolution applied to the back of the neck will kill ear mites but the treatment must continue for 2-3 months. Use a routine ear cleaner during this time to help clean out the ear wax. Other treatments are also available for ear mite treatment. I recommend to talk with your veterinarian about alternative treatments. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Ear wax can be wiped out with something soft like a cotton ball. Using a commercial ear cleaner that is meant for cats can also help. You could clean out his ears and then monitor to see if it returns. You should also watch for any signs of infection such as itching, head shaking, redness to the ears or an odor. That cut may be from his back claws and that’s good that you trimmed them. Most healthy cats can heal this on their own but monitor it for any problems. Some ear wax is normal in cats but it should be equal in both ears. If one ear has it and the other doesn’t, this could indicate a problem. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.