OTITIS EXTERNA/MEDIA AND THERAPY FOR EAR DISEASE IN THE DOG

摘要

Otitis extema is one of the most common reasons for an owner to seek veterinary care for their pet. Acute cases of otitis externa can be extremely painful for the animal. Chronic cases of otitis externa are not only painful for the animal but frustrating for the veterinarian and aggravating and costly for the owner. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment is beneficial to all parties involved. Correct diagnosis and treatment of otitis externa requires a through understanding of the anatomy of the ear and the many factors that can contribute to its inflammation. Chronic otitis externa is a complicated disease with a multifactorial etiology. Etiologic factors have been categorized into primary, predisposing and perpetuating causes. All causes need to be identified and treated for successful resolution of otitis externa. Primary factors directly induce otitis externa. These external or internal factors produce inflammation of the ear canal epithelium. When possible, correction or treatment of primary factors will result in resolution of the ear disease. Parasites, foreign bodies, allergic diseases, disorders of keratinization, autoimmune diseases and miscellaneous diseases have been categorized as primary causes.