Otitis externa causes long-term, frequently recurrent episodes of discomfort and pain (Asher et al 2009).
In chronic cases, major surgery to remove the ear canal and the outside section of the middle ear (total ear canal ablation with lateral bulla osteotomy) may be the only option (Mason et al 1988). Treatment of otitis externa is based on the control or elimination of predisposing and primary factors as far as possible and on appropriate medical treatment for any perpetuating factors. Unless this is controlled, it prevents the resolution of otitis externa. These further narrow the ear canal perpetuating an environment that encourages microbial growth such that repeated infections are likely.Īs chronic otitis externa progresses, any infections present commonly spread, in time, through the ear drum into the middle ear causing otitis media.
#King charles cavalier puppies near me skin#
Inflammation of the ear canal leads to an increase in the thickness of the ear canal wall as a result of scarring and, sometimes, from calcification and thickening of the outer layer of the skin (hyperkeratosis), and increased growth of skin glands and their waxy secretions. The most serious infections, both in terms of the pain and distress that they cause and the difficulty of treatment are those caused by Gram-negative bacteria of the Pseudomonas species (Harvey et al 2001). Infections can be caused by over-growth of the normal ear canal flora eg by the Staphylococcal bacteria and Malassezia yeasts normally found in the ear canal, or by bacteria that are not normally present in the ear. These factors contribute to causing an abnormally reduced rate of air flow around the ear canal with greater humidity, reduced acidity and increased susceptibility to infections as a result. It has been suggested that the high incidence of OE in Cavalier King Charles spaniels (CKCS) is due to the pendulous ears characteristic of the breed (Baxter and Lawler 1972, Hayes et al 1987, Rosychuk & Luttgen 1995) but it has been suggested that these dogs are also predisposed to atopy (an allergic skin condition) which is a major primary factor (Mueller & Bettenay 1996, Saridomichelakis et al 2007). Conventionally, these factors have been categorised into three types: primary factors that cause otitis externa in any individual predisposing factors that tend to increase susceptibility to otitis externa but which do not, by themselves, cause the disease, and perpetuating factors which only contribute to the disease when it has been triggered by other factors but which themselves also require control in order to treat the condition (August 1988). Many factors influence the health of the ear canal. There may be a waxy, pusy or bloody discharge. The pain may cause the dog to guard the ear and show aggression when the ear is touched, or may cause decreased activity and appetite. In some cases the ear may be painful, with the dog crying as it scratches at it. Otitis externa (OE) is inflammation of the external ear canal often accompanied with irritation that may cause the dog to shake its head, rub the ear with a paw or against the floor or furniture or scratch at it with a hind leg.
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