Preface

As a full-time veterinarian in a small animal practice, working every day on the front lines of veterinary medicine, I am always asked, “How can you find the time to write a book?” My answer is that I truly believe that one of the most important challenges of being a doctor is that we should each share the knowledge that we acquire with our colleagues.

Since the introduction of the first edition of Small Animal Ear Diseases: An Illustrated Guide, the awareness of otic disease as a serious ailment has been brought to the forefront of veterinary medicine. Veterinarians worldwide have embraced the use of video otoscopic diagnostics for ear disease, and we are now more often iden­tifying treatable ear disease as a result. For example, recognizing otitis media in our patients and properly treating it has helped to relieve the misery and suffering that accompanies this painful disease.

The body of knowledge about ear disease is ever increasing. The number of published papers on the diagnosis and treatment of external and middle ear diseases has grown. Today, almost every small animal seminar or conference now includes lectures on ear disease and provides hands-on laboratory sessions using video otoscopy. New treatment modalities are being used in ear disease, and that has increased therapeutic options. Treating the tympanic bulla with infused topical medication is one example. Newly improvised intra-otic surgical procedures using the CO₂ laser and the diode laser, as well as radiofrequency surgery through the video otoscope, have decreased the number of lateral ear canal resections and ear canal ablations.

Many questions remain unanswered, but there are currently many ongoing stud­ies that are attempting to answer the questions of why the ears become infected and what therapeutic options are the best for treatment.

In this second edition, I have added new, useful information to the body of knowl­edge. Obviously, some of the information has not changed since the first edition, but based on the feedback that I received from readers, many of these topics have been expanded to give an in-depth review. The new chapters are enlightening. One of my goals in the second edition was to bring a better discussion of otic cytology and a photographic manual of ear cytology to the practitioner. In addition, the chapter on diagnostic imaging is superior to anything I have ever seen relating to diagnosing ear disease.

Many new photos in the second edition illustrate the vast number of ear condi­tions that are being commonly identified in dogs and cats by veterinarians. I have received many photos of interesting cases from practitioners and I have included several in this volume where appropriate.

My hope is that by presenting an expanded review of ear disease in dogs and cats, veterinarians can improve patient care. I would also hope that it poses some diag­nostic and therapeutic problems that stimulate more research interest.

Louis N. Gotthelf Montgomery, Alabama