Unilateral Otitis Externa

Re: Unilateral Otitis Externa

Thomas Johnson — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 08:35:14 GMT

[quote user="Andy Elliott"]

Thank you. There is a concurrent OM, the ear drum is not intact however there is no discernible thickening to the bulla on radiography. I am just wondering what I am going to use to treat this dog when the C&S comes back with Pseudomonas resistant to everything! Any thoughts?

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You don't necessarily need to pay too much attention to antibiotic sensitivity as topical products achieve such high concentrations compared to systemic products, so if it does come back as a multi-resistant pseudomonas a topical fluroquinolone may still be appropriate. In the past I have used Otodine with Baytril added to it.

Re: Unilateral Otitis Externa

David Mills — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 20:13:35 GMT

[quote user="Andy Elliott"]

[/quote]

Depends where the swab is from (outer or middle ear) But LWR to start would be a great help. Then look at something topical, e.g. flamazine diluted in water is my fave. Disregard contraindications about ruptured tympanic membranes as its insignificant if its P.a.

Re: Unilateral Otitis Externa

Andy Elliott — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 19:26:18 GMT

Re: Unilateral Otitis Externa

Stephen Courtney — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 23:23:23 GMT

Atopy and food allergy can easily cause otitis externa in young dogs, and it is often unilateral. It is also often unilateral in older dogs too.

dogs with OE usually have an allergic base. Why one ear and not the other - probably down to some small difference e.g. slightly narrower or hairier canal .

In younger animals i think of food allergy first, and I try to go for diet switch to a novel protein source - don't have to go prescription food, often a switch to one of the 'good' name brands that do e.g. fish and potato or salmon and rice, or similar, assuming the dog is on a bog standard rich in chicken type diet, will sometimes do the trick. Arden Grange, Wainwrights, Burns, Canagan, Barking Heads. as for-instances. Also warn clients not to discuss exclusion diets with pet shop staff as they tend to forget everything you said and buy a bag of gluten rich hyper-allergenic crud recommended by the latest sales rep....

Had one client spend £400 at a dermatology referral, only to balk at buying the recommended prescription food and bought something from the local pet shop instead which had no bearing on what the dermatologist recommended

Re: Unilateral Otitis Externa

Utlendigur — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 22:50:26 GMT

I wonder with some of these cases whether it is just a vicious circle. If the initial OE was very severe or prolonged, causing stenosis, changes to the lining of the ear canal, more wax build up, reduced ventilation, higher risk of recurrence of infection etc etc.

Re: Unilateral Otitis Externa

Sara Ramsey — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 22:39:44 GMT

I would be thinking more along ruptured ear drum and persistent middle ear infection acting as focus. Has the middle ear been investigated?