Table 1.
Clinical features of otitis media-interna before ventral bulla osteotomy surgery in 58 cats transferred from an institutional hoarding environment
| Variable | Classification | n (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Inappetence | Mild/moderate | 5 (8.6) |
| Severe | 4 (6.9) | |
| Pruritus/alopecia | Localized | 12 (21) |
| Generalized | 17 (29) | |
| Nasopharyngeal signs* | Moderate | 25 (43) |
| Severe | 1 (1.7) | |
| Otitis externa* | Moderate | 35 (60) |
| Severe | 11 (19) | |
| Aural discharge type | Dark/ceruminous | 30 (52) |
| Purulent | 21 (36) | |
| Tympanic membrane † | Bulging, inflamed | 13 (11) |
| Ruptured | 20 (17) | |
| Not visualized | 35 (30) | |
| Polyp ‡ | Aural | 6 (10) |
| Nasopharyngeal | 6 (10) | |
| Both aural and nasopharyngeal | 3 (5.2) | |
| Radiographic bulla wall thickening § | Moderate | 27 (25) |
| Severe | 11 (10) | |
| Horner’s syndrome | 1 (1.7) | |
| Nystagmus | 1 (1.7) | |
| Otitis interna (peripheral vestibular signs) | Head tilt/excursions | 22 (38) |
| Ataxia | 1 (1.7) | |
| Meningoencephalitis | 1 (1.7) |
*
For outcomes analysis, mild changes were grouped with normal findings for these variables
†
n = 116 ears
‡
Polyps were found in the bulla at surgery in an additional three cats
§
n = 108 ears (four cats had CT only)