Expert: Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf - 3/12/2007

Question
My cats ear lobe is wounded with blood for a week.  Two days ago, he started wobbling while walking. The inside of the ear looks fine but the outer rim is damaged.  Does the ear problem make him wobble funny?  The cat is at the vet and he did not want to take xrays. He held the cat leg and I guess thought it was not broken. He is now flushing the cats system out with water/medicine in case of poisoning. Are Xrays necessary for the leg? How do I know it is not just a little sprain?  Please help. Cat is in vet overnight. Will Homeopathic remedies help?

Answer
IF there is a wound on the ear, then maybe there is ap roblem deep in the ear canal.  Middle eare disease is very common in cats and will make them wobble.  X-rays will only show fractures or changes in the bones, but they don't show muscle, tendon, ligament problems.  Sometimes, cats will limp when the cruciate ligament is damaged. Sometimes the cat's hip will pop out of joint (luxate).  Ask the vet to check for those also.