Feline inflammatory polyp in a Domestic Shorthair

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Stella is a 1 Yrs. 2 Mos., Spayed Female, white and gray, Domestic Shorthair presenting for refractory left ear infection.

Curtis Plowgian, DVM, DACVD

Animal Dermatology Clinic, Indianapolis, IN

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History

Problems began about 10 months ago, and only the left ear has ever been affected. The issue resolved with treatment when the owner lived in Arizona, then after owner moved to Indiana, infection came back. PDVM in Indiana tried treating ear with ear drops (Tresaderm) and pills (prednisolone), and these didn’t help. At one point ear infection became so severe that the ear began bleeding, but recently the ear has been improving prior to this exam. No current ear drops or meds. No hearing loss or head tilt or respiratory congestion noted. No pruritus or other skin disease noted. The owner has 7 cats at home, but none of the other cats are affected. The cats are allowed outside 10-15 minutes once daily. None of the cats are on flea prevention, but the owner has the house treated a few times a year. Current diet Hills Sensitive Skin (salmon and chicken) with Temptations treats and rare Fancy Feast gravy. No issues with digestion, all stools found in litter boxes are WNL. PVAS 4.7/10, directed only at the left ear.

Physical Exam

Skin and coat look great. The left ear is filled with brown exudate and is pruritic to the swab, the right ear had milder brown to gray waxy debris.

Diagnostics

Ear swab revealed TNTC rods and rare yeast AS, and rare (0-1) encapsulated yeast-like organisms AD. An ear cleaning was performed with TrizUltra+Keto cleaner AS. After cleaning, on otoscopy, ran into a soft tissue mass at the junction of the vertical and horizontal canals.