Ear medication for kitten?

Catlover · New member Joined: 31 May 2004 Posts: 3

We got a free female kitten just yesterday, and since she was pretty dirty, this morning I bathed her. Her ears are horrible! I cleaned them out with q-tips, then my mom went and bought Hartz "health measure" ear medication and brought it home for me to use. While reading the back of it, I saw the dreaded "do not use on kittens under 12 weeks of age."
She's so young, I can't believe her previous owners felt she was old enough to come home with us, but she did, and I think she's only about six or seven weeks old. Would it hurt if I gave her the ear medication? Her ears are pretty bad, she walks around shaking her head and scratching her ears a lot. HELP! Shocked

PilotKitten · Posted: Mon May 31, 2004 12:28 am Post subject:

Well I know the common answer for everything here is to "go to the vet" but it is such a viable solution.

If you really don't know what's causing the infection (ear mites, fungus, FIV...etc) then a vet should check it out. I'm sure they can give you the right meds for whatever is causing the problem...but it could be a bit more serious than just ear mites. Sad

If you can't get to a vet then I would recommend following the directions and wait 6 weeks. In the meantime try and make sure she doesn't scratch her ears too much because that could cause a secondary infection.

Catlover · New member Joined: 31 May 2004 Posts: 3

I know.

She seems better since I cleaned out her ears, but I've watched her scratch and shake her head. I looked in her ears and to me they look like mites.
Should I call a vet or give her the ear medication I have?
I'm really not sure what to do, the nearest vet is about 45 minutes away.

Mary_NH · Posted: Mon May 31, 2004 12:57 am Post subject:

do not use any Haartz products....regardless of the age of any cats I wouldn't use any of their products.

You could just continue to swipe the ears out with a cottonball until you can get some stuff from the vet. Ear mites can be hard to get rid of, may take awhile. But please don't use any OTC stuff....especially Haartz

Mary_NH · Posted: Mon May 31, 2004 1:09 am Post subject:

looking for info for you till you can get to the vet
http://www.petalia.com.au/Templates/StoryTemplate_Process.cfm?specie=Cats&story_no=290

Mary_NH · Posted: Mon May 31, 2004 1:11 am Post subject:

looking for info for you till you can get to the vet
http://www.petalia.com.au/Templates/StoryTemplate_Process.cfm?specie=Cats&story_no=290

http://www.cah.com/library/earmite.html

Catlover · New member Joined: 31 May 2004 Posts: 3

Thanks for the advice, Mary_NH. My mom (I think) has planned a day to go to the vet, I'm not sure when.

fleafly · Super Senior Member Joined: 30 Mar 2004 Posts: 1079

Don't use the OTC stuff. It isn't intended for young kittens, and it wont work very well. Ear mites need medicine from the vet. The OTC stuff takes 3 times as long and isn't very effective.

nern · Moderator Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Posts: 5042 Location: NY

I agree with the others. I would hold off on using any more of the Hartz and get to the vet instead...be sure to mention to the vet that you have previously applied the Hartz ear medication.