Expert: Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf - 8/21/2006

Question
Hi,

I picked up some over the counter flea medicine at the local pet store (my cat was biting and licking alot..typical for her this time of year and I also found a few fleas). Along with the flea medicine, I picked up an ear-mite medicine as well (since it claimed to eliminate fleas eggs and wax in addition to mites). After putting the drops in her ear last night she has been extremely aggitated. Her ears were completely down all night, she paced around erradically a little bit, darted around, and then occasionally howled (every few hours she'd let out a cry). Its been 24 hours now, and her ears have perked up and she seems improved. However, she still lets out a howl occasionally and she's been pretty clingy with me....like she's still not quite right. Might this be a common reaction to ear medicine? Or should I be concerned about an allergic reaction? HELP!

Answer
You need to take the cat to a vet to have the ears examined to see if there is a ruptured eardrum.  Many over the counter ear mite treatments have oils and insecticides in them that can be very irritating and painful if they get into the middle ear cavity.