DIAGNOSTIC APPROACH TO THE TREATMENT OF OTODECTOSIS IN CATS

Abstract

Otitis is a multifactorial disease that significantly complicates its treatment. A common clinical mistake is focusing exclusively on the treatment of the existing infection, whereas effective control of chronic otitis requires a comprehensive approach that takes into account all etiological and associated factors. The study was conducted in the autumn of 2025 at the scientific laboratory of the Department of Parasitology and Veterinary and Sanitary Expertise of Poltava State Agrarian University and at the Max Vet Veterinary Clinic (Poltava, Ukraine). As part of the clinic’s activities, stray cats were examined within the framework of the KISHKA project, implemented with the support of Four Paws Ukraine LLC, a representative of the international charitable foundation Four Paws International. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of modern drugs in the treatment of cats with otodectosis complicated by staphylococcal infection. Comprehensive diagnostics included clinical examination, otoscopy, and microscopic examination of ear canal scrapings. To fully assess the animals’ condition, the external auditory canal was inspected, otoscopy was performed, the integrity of the tympanic membrane was evaluated, and possible complications were ruled out. Microscopy was the primary method used to identify otitis pathogens and to assess treatment efficacy. The extent of invasion was 42.19%. Infected animals received therapy based on the antibiotic sensitivity of Staphylococcus aureus, using Oridermil (Vetoquinol, France) and Otigel (Arterium, Ukraine). The tested drugs were administered for 10 days, followed by monitoring of treatment outcomes.The results showed that both drugs achieved 100.00% efficacy by day 31 of treatment. However, the shortest recovery period (14 days) was observed in the group treated with Oridermil. Assessing the health status of free-roaming stray cats is important not only for improving animal welfare but also for obtaining valuable data on regional pathogens and prevalent diseases.