1st Edition

Otitis Externa An Essential Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment

    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.

    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

    Biography

    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

    "As ear disease is so frequently a cause of suffering in our pets and also a cause of great frustration for both clients and vets, this book should be in every practice library. Its compact size means it will hopefully be regularly used in the consulting room and the lab."
    —D. G. Bentley in Veterinary Record

    "All topics are dealt with comprehensively and should help the clinician a great deal in dealing appropriately with all aspects of otitis externa… All in all, a nice addition to a practitioner’s library!"
    Inge Geens, DVM, CertSAD, MRCVS, Veterinary Surgeon, Laurels Veterinary Centre, UK

    "Overall, this is a good reference to have on your shelf."
    —Sandra R. Merchant, DVM, DACVD, Louisiana State University, in Vet Med Today