Conclusion
Otitis externa is a very common problem in the dog. It occurs less often in the cat. Otitis media is most often a sequela to chronic otitis externa. Many factors have been identified as predisposing an animal to ear disease.
All of these factors alter the microenvironment of the ear canal. Successful outcome of treatment relies on proper diagnosis, correction of any primary predisposing or perpetuating factors, and restoration of the microclimate of the ear canal to normal.References
1. Huang HP, Fixter LM, Little CJL: Lipid content of cerumen from normal dogs and otitic canine ears, Vet Rec 134:380-381, 1994.
2. Mansfield PD, Boosinger TR, Attleberger MH: Infectivity of Malassezia pachydermatis in the external ear canal of dogs, J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 26:97-100, 1999.
3. Ginel PJ, Lucena R, Rodriguez JC, et al: A semiquantitative cytological evaluation of normal and pathological samples from the external ear canal of dogs and cats, Vet Derm 13:151-156, 2002.
4. Graham-Mize CA, Rosser EJ: Comparison of microbial isolates and susceptibility patterns from the external ear canal in canines with otitis externa, 18th Proceedings of AAVD/ACVD Meeting, Monterey, CA, April 2003.
5. Cole LK, Kwochka KW, Kowalski JJ, et al: Microbial flora and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of isolated pathogens from the horizontal ear canal and middle ear in dogs with otitis media, J Am Vet Med Assoc 212:534-538, 1998.
Suggested Readings
August JR: Otitis externa, Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 18:731-742, 1988.
Colombini S, Merchant SR, Hosgood G: Microbial flora and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns from dogs with otitis media, Vet Derm 11:235-239, 2000.
Logas DB: Disease of the ear canal, Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 24:905-919, 1994.