Management of Canine Otitis Externa

Otitis externa is a common clinical presentation in dogs. It can be very frustrating for clients when it becomes a recurrent problem. There are many challenges when managing otitis cases including identifying the primary cause for the otitis and owner compliance when administering treatments.

This article will discuss the aetiology of canine otitis externa including primary, predisposing, secondary and perpetuating factors. It will also discuss a logical clinical approach that is required when approaching these cases, including in house laboratory tests such as cytology and how the findings can influence your treatment choices when managing these cases.