Rabbits & small mammals
A head tilt may indicate middle-ear disease or neurologic illness and should be assessed promptly.
SYMPTOM → WHAT DO I DO?
Ear problems
Look for head shaking, odor, discharge, pain and changes in balance.
CALL YOUR VETERINARIAN PROMPTLY
READ THIS FIRST
Observations can help your veterinarian. They cannot rule out an emergency.
Contact an emergency veterinary facility immediately for difficult breathing, collapse, ongoing seizures, inability to urinate, major bleeding, abnormal gum color, sudden severe abdominal swelling or rapidly worsening weakness.
What could be behind this symptom?
These are possibilities, not a diagnosis. The right explanation depends on the examination, species and medical history.
- Yeast or bacterial ear infection
- Ear mites, foreign material or allergies
- Inflammation, a ruptured eardrum or a deeper ear infection
- Aural hematoma or neurologic disease affecting balance
What can you safely check at home?
Write down what you see and bring photographs or video only when doing so does not delay care.
- Which ear is affected and whether there is odor, wax, blood or discharge
- Head shaking, scratching, head tilt or reluctance to be touched
- Loss of balance, eye flicking or facial changes
- Recent swimming, grooming, allergies or recurrent infections
Avoid actions that can make things worse.
- Do not put peroxide, alcohol, oils or cotton swabs deep in the ear.
- Do not use old prescription drops when the eardrum has not been examined.
- Do not clean a severely painful ear aggressively.
- Do not treat one species with medication labeled for another.
When should you contact your veterinarian?
- Call for redness, odor, repeated shaking, discharge or recurrent ear symptoms.
- Mention previous infections, allergies and any treatment already used.
- Ask whether an examination and ear cytology are needed before medication.
Get emergency help immediately if you see:
- Sudden severe head tilt, inability to stand or rapid involuntary eye movements
- A rapidly swollen ear flap, uncontrolled bleeding or severe trauma
- Ear signs combined with collapse, neurologic changes or significant pain
The same symptom can mean different things in different animals.
Cats
Ear mites are one possibility, but dark debris can also accompany infection; treatment should follow examination.
TRUSTED SOURCES
Sources behind this guidance
American Veterinary Medical AssociationFirst aid tips for pet owners and limits of home care ↗Merck Veterinary ManualVeterinary professional and pet-owner disease references ↗Merck Veterinary Manual: urinary obstructionWhy urinary blockage in cats requires immediate veterinary attention ↗
These educational resources support a conversation with your veterinary team. They do not replace examination, diagnosis or species-specific emergency care.