My Cats Ears Are Bothering Him After Vet Cleaned Them

by Rose
(Florida )

We brought our two Himalayan cats, Kasey & Kelsey, to the vet for teeth cleaning, which is traumatic for them. I asked the veterinarian to check their ears, and he cleaned both of their ears.

Our cat Kelsey had a slight yeast problem in one ear. After two days, Kelsey is back to himself. Kasey, though, is acting a bit withdrawn. He shakes his head & sometimes his ears are back. He has tried to eat but walks away. I did get him to eat about 3 pieces of his dry food.

I'm worried something happened due to the ear cleaning, or is he still traumatized from the trip to the vet in the first place?


Dear Rose,

It could be that your cat's ears are bothering him, or he could have a sore mouth, as well. Of course, stress could be a factor, but in any case, cats can get very ill if they go without eating. They can become dehydrated and develop hepatic lipidosis, or fatty liver disease.

I would suggest that you go back to the veterinarian as soon as possible for a mouth and ear recheck. If, upon physical exam, your veterinarian finds nothing wrong with your kitty, you should discuss feline medications to stimulate your cat's appetite. If you are not comfortable with the way your veterinarian has been treating your cats, getting a second opinion would be wise, as long as your cat is seen by a vet as soon as possible.

All the best,
Dr. Neely