Giving a Cat Prescribed Medicine on the Ear Flap

A transdermal medicine goes on the skin at the site on the prescription. If your veterinarian directs you to use the inner surface of the ear flap, the medicine goes on that skin, not down the ear canal. Ask the clinic or dispensing pharmacy to show you the exact site and how to measure a dose before you try it at home.

Veterinary guidance from VCA explains that only some medicines are suitable for delivery through the skin. Do not turn a tablet or oral liquid into an ear application, and do not use someone else’s applicator instructions. Different dispensers can make a click or a line mean different amounts.

Make the directions usable at the spot you give it

Keep the labeled medicine, the written instructions and the right gloves or other protection together, out of reach of children and pets. Check the directions for storage, cleaning the site, and whether to use a particular side or alternate sides. Ask how long people and other pets should avoid touching, grooming or rubbing against the application area.

Have the instructions beside you for the first few doses. If you use a note to record them, write the date and time after you actually finish; checking a box before the attempt can mislead someone who gives the next dose.

Give an incomplete attempt its own record

If your cat turns away and some gel lands on the fur or your glove, note what happened and contact the clinic for instructions. Do not give an extra dose based on how much you think remained. If there is residue from an earlier application, follow the approved cleaning routine for the prescription rather than choosing a solvent or wipe from the cupboard.

If the site becomes sore or your cat is increasingly hard to approach, tell the clinic. Describe whether the problem happens when you touch the flap, show the applicator or after the dose. That detail may help the team decide what to change.

The guide to prescribed eye drops covers a different device and route. If there are several products on the counter, keeping their names, sites and directions in separate rows is a simple way to prevent a mix-up.

Written by PARTNER Editorial Team for general education. Contact your veterinary team for advice about your pet’s individual health and feeding needs.