Secondary Otitis Media in Dogs

Exudates and infectious organisms draining into the middle ear from the external ear canal through an eroded or ruptured eardrum get trapped in the ventral portion of the bulla. (Samples for cytology or culture should be taken from the ventral bulla before flushing and suctioning.) After the medications, chemicals in ear flushing products, and/or debris contained within the external ear canal enter the middle ear through an eroded eardrum, tissue reaction of the respiratory epithelial lining of the middle ear begins.⁸ This is called secondary otitis media.