Summary

The investigation and management of ear disease occupies a significant portion of a veterinary clinician’s time. Otitis externa, in particular, is likely to be seen by a busy small animal clinician at least once a day. Otitis Externa: An Essential Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment provides a comprehensive source of information on the relevant structure, function, medical treatment, and surgery of the ear, from Otodectes cynotis to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The book details the salient points of diagnosis and treatment and includes more than 200 colour illustrations.

Topics include:

• The anatomic relationship of the components of the external, middle, and inner ear and normal ear function
• Diagnosis of otitis externa, including history, examination, biopsy, and imagin
• The aetiology and pathogenesis of otitis externa
• Proper ear cleaning and assessing the integrity of the tympanum, the discharge, and the canal
• Medical management of ear disease and primary and secondary causes
• Clinical signs, diagnosis, and management of otitis media
• Ototoxicity and other side effects of otic medication
• Aural ablation and bulla osteotomy

Chronic, and chronic recurrent, otitis externa is frustrating and costly to the owner and often painful for the animal. Concise and user-friendly, this text helps clinicians identify signs of this condition, make an appropriate diagnosis, and plan the best treatment options.

Table of Contents

The Normal Ear
Introduction
Pinna
External auditory meatus
Middle ear
Microscopic structure of the external ear canal
Microclimate of the external ear canal
Cerumen in normal and otitic ears

Approach to the Diagnosis of Otitis Externa
Introduction
Signalment
History
Physical examination
Otic examination
Otoscopic appearance of the external ear canal and tympanum
Cytological characteristics of normal and abnormal ears
Biopsy
Imaging

Aetiology and Pathogenesis of Otitis Externa
Concept of primary and secondary factors, predisposing factors, and perpetuating change
Primary causes of otitis externa
Secondary causes of otitis externa
Perpetuating factors

Ear Cleaning
Introduction
Assessing the integrity of the tympanum
Assessing the discharge
Assessing the canal
Cleaning process
Home cleaning

Medical Management of Ear Disease
Dealing with primary triggers
Dealing with secondary causes
Chronic or recurrent otitis externa in dogs

Otitis Media
Aetiology
Clinical signs
Major differential diagnoses
Diagnosis
Management
Treatment of nasopharyngeal polyps in cats
Prognosis

Ototoxicity and Other Side-Effects of Otic Medication
Introduction
Meatal and tympanic inflammation
Effects within the middle ear
Ototoxicity
Systemic effects of otic medication
Ototoxicity of systemic drugs
Summary

Aural Ablation and Bulla Osteotomy
Introduction
Presurgical investigations
Vertical canal ablation
Bulla osteotomy
Special problems relating to surgery of the middle ear in cats

References

Index

Author(s) Bio

Richard G. Harvey, BVSc DVD, Dip.ECVD, FSB, PhD, MRCVS
The Veterinary Centre, Cheylesmore, Coventry, UK

Sue Paterson, MA, VetMB, DVD, DipECVD, MRCVS, RCVS and European Specialist in Veterinary Dermatology
Rutland House Referral Hospital, St Helens, Merseyside, UK