A Pandora's box in feline medicine: presenting signs and surgical outcomes in 58 previously hoarded cats with chronic otitis media-interna.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to report clinical findings, surgical complications and outcomes for previously hoarded cats treated surgically for otitis media-interna (OMI) and to investigate the risk factors for complications and poor outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted of 58 cats from an institutional hoarding environment that underwent ventral bulla osteotomy (VBO).

Results: Inappetence was uncommon at presentation (9/58, 16%) compared with pruritus/alopecia (50%), nasopharyngeal signs (45%), otitis externa (OE) (79%) and otitis interna (OI) (ataxia ± head tilt/head excursions) in 40%.