Otoscopy is a good technique for diagnosis of ear diseases in small animals.

摘要

The present study aimed to illustrate the normal and pathological otoscopic appearance of the different ear structures and to compare otoscopy with radiography in their efficient use as diagnostic methods for ear diseases. The present study was performed on 10 healthy animals admitted to the clinic in Egypt for other surgical affections (5 dogs and 5 cats) and 20 patients (10 dogs and 10 cats) which showed clinical signs of ear diseases such as aural exudates, pain, shaking the head and rubbing the ear. All animals were examined under general anaesthesia. Radiography was done only in diseased cases but otoscopy was performed in both healthy and diseased animals. Radiographic changes in the interior bulla (osseous bulla) were clear only in 9 animals. These changes varied according to the disease from radiodensity to complete replacement of the tympanic cavity with bone. Otoscopy of healthy animals showed that the ear canal was covered with glistening rose-red cutaneous layer, which contained hair in some dogs. The tympanic membrane was a thin transparent glistening membrane, separating the horizontal portion of the external ear canal from the tympanic cavity. However, otoscopy of diseased animals was helpful in diagnosis of otitis externa, otitis media, enlarged sebaceous glands, ear mites and also for diagnosis and removal of foreign bodies from the ear canal. Otoscopy could not be done in cases with chronic otitis externa and complete obstruction of the external ear canal with polyps. In comparison to radiography, otoscopy was more accurate in the diagnosis of ear diseases and in examination of the tympanic membrane. This is in addition to its effectiveness to aid in the removal of foreign bodies from the ear, irrigation of the ear and removal of exudates and debris, which also help in treatment..