Took my cat to our local low cost Veterinary clinic. Cat had teary right eye with chronic ear itch. Doctor administered Claro in each ear and about two hours later my cat came down with Horner's syndrome in left eye. I took the cat back to the vet for a re-exam and the vet said the eye should resolve to normal but might take up to four weeks. My cat has been a bit more aggressive since the visit and tends to bite or scratch without much provocation.
I looked up the med and could not find any thing for cats. The Bayer website said the med is for dogs only?
Can you tell me please what is going on? Why would a vet give am ear med to a cat that is only recommended for dogs? Im sure this triggered the Horner's syndrome in my cat. I just hope he gets better.
He is a much loved member of our family.
My vet administered a single dose of Claro in each ear of my cat. Now has Horners syndrome left eye?
Question posted by jamaicajeff on 18 Nov 2017
Last updated on 15 June 2022 by Lmm131
10 Answers
Hi.. this happened to my cat yesterday. Was given Claro and immediately developed Horner’s syndrome. They kept him for a few hours to monitor and then gave him cerenia which is an anti nausea medicine. Took my cat to the ER last night and they just gave him fluids and said to monitor him. He’s not eating or drinking but peeing. His one eye looks better but the other is still protruding with the third eye lid. He is almost in a lucid state. His eyes are crusty and his nose is also crusty. I think he’s completely deaf. We don’t want to traumatize him by taking him to the vet again. My husband said we could take him tomorrow to the ER if he’s not eating or drinking. Has any cat had any resolution to this? He’s my baby and I am heartbroken.
The vet keeps calling and emailing because she knows she messed up.
This same event happened to my cat, except the vet I went to used Osurnia Otic Gel in my cat's right ear. About 2 hours later, he developed Horner's Syndrome in his left eye. The vet would not see him until the following day, which really upset me. They sent him home with eye drops, to be given twice a day for three days - Neomycin and Polymyxin B Sulfates and Dexamethasone. Of course this vet never told me he had Horner's Syndrome, I took him to another vet for a second opinion and was told about this syndrome. They didn't think it was related to the Osurnia, which I think was a lie. My cat was shaking his head when I would pet him around his head and ears, but there was no visible debris, mites or dirt in his ears. He is to go back for the second dose of Osurnia a week from the original treatment. I'm afraid to take him back and I'm not sure what to do at this point. The two vets did communicate about my cat.
Up until 5 days after the first treatment, my cat was inconsolable. Now he's just listless and sits staring at the wall. Why did my vet give this Osurnia to my cat? It's only for dogs, but they use an off-label for cats. That is just wrong. Is there no better treatment for feline ear infection? And I hate to think what would have happened if he got this in both ears! My sympathy to you and your cat. I understand, and hope for an answer as well.
My cats dermatologist gave her Claro for a yeast infection in her ears. He neglected to tell me the drug is not approved for cats or that there was any risk at all. The morning after her vet visit she was completely deaf and her equilibrium was so messed up she was unable to walk without falling down. He cleaned the meds out but it didn’t help. She has been on antibiotics for just over a week and she still can’t hear. First, the doc claimed it “was nothing he did” that caused this and claimed it was the infection. After I confronted him, he admitted if she had a bad reaction to the drug her hearing may never return. Can anyone tell me if their cats hearing came back? How long does it take? Is there a certain treatment to help?
Claro was administered to my cat a couple of years ago with disastrous results. The poor thing had to be spoon fed for over a week as could not eat, and lost his balance for two weeks. Had to carry him around as he kept falling over. Broke my heart. Fortunately he recovered but only after a lot of emergency and regular vet bills Apparently it's quite common for vets to use medicine on cats only intended for dogs. My strong advice to everyone reading this: Never ever ever allow your vet to give your cat a medicine intended for dogs.
Make them earn their money and think about a good solution rather than allowing them to do something that exhibits minimal regard for your cat's health. After discussing this with the vet who administered the Claro he admitted there was another medicine for cats but it required the owner to spray a liquid into the cats mouth once or twice a day for a number of days. He assumed that would be too difficult for me. Don't allow your vet to assume anything!
A good point! My best clients are educated, well-informed clients who are able and willing to assist in their pet's treatment plan. However, just because you read something on the internet don't assume that it's true or standard protocol. Always research and review your sources of information; only in this way can you be considered seriously and I can avoid being told that the owner knows more than my 10 years of education and 40 years of practice has afforded me.
Thank you and be safe... and keep your pets safe.
those of you that had the issues with not eating/drinking and stumbling - what was the end result and how long did it take? my cat is 8, doing the same - not eating/drinking, cant walk more than a few steps without falling over. Vet supposedly flushed the meds out of her ears (should have only been put in 1, but did both!) within 24 hours. A week later, still wont eat, has been at ER Vet for 4 days now getting iv fluids, multiple medications for nausea, appetite stimulant, anxiety - but still not eating. getting VERY worried she is not going to recover!
I took my cat to the vet last night for an ear that's been bothering him. My regular doctor was not there so we saw one of the other doctors. She cleaned out his ears and then decided to use Claro also. Even before we got out of the exam room his left eye had Horner's. She told me that happens sometimes and that it should be temporary. Should be? That should have been my first clue that something was wrong. When we got home my cat started not acting right, drooling profusely and stumbling around. I called the vet's office and told them. Luckily they were still open. They told me to bring him back in and they would flush it out. I'm hoping this is just temporary. Now that I've found this information I'm wondering too why a vet would give a medicine for a dog to a cat.
Well, It was a frightening experience but 4 months later BoBo finally got to looking normal again.
Now it's been 17 months and he's as happy as he can be.
In hindsight the vet should warn the owner of contraindications before administering this med to a feline. I think I would have opted for a different med or treatment. Pet owners beware.
There are safer and effective products that could have been used... which is where I always start before I even consider prescribing off label.
The Claro probably provoked more irritation causing BoBo to scratch and rub causing the mechanical injury.
Glad everything is okay now! WildcatVet
Thank You, that’s encouraging and I agree. It was like she was poisoned. Was Bobo unsteady, wailing, not eating or drinking? If so is their any milestones you can give me? There is just not any help and I apologize for dragging it back up. I’m just trying to figure out should I take her to a new vet and put her on IV’s, take her back to the same vet. I just hate to see her suffer. As much info as I can get is helpful.
For MikeR724:
My vet gave my cat Claro last Friday. Same problem as your cat. He appears to be drugged. Can’t walk straight. Had been meowing a lot and eating and drinking very little. Last night we took him to emergency room of an animal hospital and the vet said his vitals were fine but if the problem continued for another 24 to 48 hours to come back. There has been little improvement today and I will visit my regular vet on my own to express my displeasure. He will never touch my cat again. My cat like yours is older. He’s 11. I hope your cat got better. I’m very nervous. What happened?
Make sure you get a syringe and give your cat 1-3 cc of water. It should get better but your effed right now. These vets should quit being so lazy. The emergency room vet should’ve removed and flushed the medicine out which is worse but leaving it in your cat causes poisoning. I’m still dealing with it. I will right again in the morning. I truly feel sorry for your cat. They can’t hear. I’m just not sure how much she is recovering or accepting and adjusting. But your gonna have to read about deaf cats for now. Poor thing is like being seasick. Ttyl in the am I promise. Just work on keeping your cat hydrated and give him any broth or wet food or gravy, he could eat. I spent $500 and had to take 4 days off of work just trying to comfort. There is no help Good luck
MikeR724 - thank you so much for taking the time to help me with my cat. I'm still freaking out over this and you have at least comforted me a bit. I assume you finally went to a vet who flushed out your cat's ears. I'm not looking forward to that but if it provides him with relief I'll do whatever it takes. And really fast. Look forward to hearing more for you today. Thank you again. I'm sure there are many people screwed by vets using claro on cats. It says right on the label that it is not to be given to cats.
I hope your cat recovers fully and can hear again. Mine too!
Will start the water day. At least my cat is still hungry, even if he has problems chewing. I'm giving him small amounts of wet food periodically. I read that cats can have liver failure if they don't eat for an extended period of time, so am nervous about that too.
For MIkeR724 - I took your advice and will have my cat's ears flushed out today at noon. You are right - the emergency vet said the medicine couldn't be flushed out - he just lied because the issue wasn't life threatening and he didn't want to get involved. Thank you again and if you have any tips about cat care after the flush out please let me know.
Sorry I just received your answer t o n y bi g gs 724@ g m ai l . C o m might be quicker. If it’s beyond 36 hours might cause more damage. It’s your call. It’s sad the lack of pride and professionalism in the vet world. True pride and professionalism is knowing you can always make a living. #MAGA
There's always a "bad apple"... PLEASE do not use generalizations when referring to my profession. We are highly trained and highly compassionate... offensive comments should be directed solely at the party involved.
"True pride" is knowing that I can't really make a living doing it but I continue to practice for the benefit of my patients and their owners.
Hi JamaicaJeff, I just had the same thing happen to my 10 year old cat. She’s going on 36 hours no eating, drinking stumbles around moans/wails don’t think she can hear. I took her back to the vet and she attempted to clean the meds out. Can you update me please on what happened to your pet cat please? I’m trying to get it sorted out.
The same thing just happened to my kitty. After having Claro put in his ear my kitty has Horners disease. I am really upset. This happened half hour after he put it in his ear his eye looks awful!
It does look terrible... but it's not dangerous and it will resolve on it's own.
Hi, jeff! You're right... Claro is labeled for canine use although some veterinarians use it off label in other species.
Horner's syndrome can be triggered by any irritation to the ears (rubbing, scratching, cleaning, administering medications) and, fortunately, does resolve with no permanent damage within a matter of a few weeks.
To report suspected adverse drug events and/or obtain a copy of the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) or for technical assistance, contact Bayer HealthCare at 1-800-422-9874.
Best regards to you and hope your cat is better soon. WildcatVet
Related topics
eye conditions, dosage, veterinary, doctor, chronic, veterinarian, syndrome, eye, cat, ear, clinic
Similar questions
Search for questions
Still looking for answers? Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question.
