External Ear Disease in Dogs and Cats

Introduction

External ear diseases are particularly pertinent to dermatology, as the outer ear is formed by an invagination of skin within which various cutaneous disorders can occur. It is important to emphasize that the word otitis refers to an inflammatory sign, not a specific diagnosis; in other words, when treating otitis, the veterinarian is usually treating a sign rather than the primary or underlying disease that causes it. Ear disorders have a prevalence of about 15-20% in dogs and 6-7% in cats (1). There is no gender predilection but the condition is most common in dogs aged 5-8 years and cats aged 1-2 years (2). [...]

Key Points

• Otitis refers only to inflammation of the ear; it is not a full diagnosis.
• An intact eardrum or tympanic membrane does not exclude the presence of otitis media.
• Some systemic diseases can produce otitis; indeed this may be the only clinical sign.
• Failure to identify the primary or underlying cause of otitis may be one of the most important reasons for an owner to consult another veterinarian.
• A large proportion of all therapeutic failures are due to premature interruption of treatment.