Otitis

Question 1

which nerves are inside the middle ear of cats?

Answer 1

cranial sympathetic cervical nerves

Question 2

what are the predisposing factors for otitis?

Answer 2

narrow ear canal
pendulous ear pinnae
iatrogenic factors
many hairs in ear canal
frequent swimming

Question 3

what are the common primary causes of otitis?

Answer 3

parasites (Otodectesm, Demodex)
allergies (food vs environmental)
neoplasia/polyps
foreign bodies

Question 4

what are the perpetuating factors of otitis?

Answer 4

microbial infection
chronic changes of the ear canal
otitis media

Question 5

what are the majority of otitis media cases in dogs from?

Answer 5

chronic otitis externa

Question 6

who is otitis media more likely to happen in?

Answer 6

dogs:
chronic>acute otitis
bacterial>yeast infection
rods>cocci>yeast
brachycephalic dogs

Question 7

which types of dogs are predisposed to otitis media?

Answer 7

brachycephalic dogs

Question 8

what is the most common cause of recurrent otitis in dogs?

Answer 8

allergy

Question 9

what are the signs of otitis externa?

Answer 9

pruritus
erythema
edema
prominent discharge/waxy debris
pain
odor
hearing loss

Question 10

what are the signs of otitis media?

Answer 10

horner’s syndrome
facial nerve paralysis
hearing loss
dogs: usually purulent otitis externa
not all/any signs might not be present

Question 11

what are the signs of otitis interna?

Answer 11

head tilt
keratoconjunctivitis sicca
nystagmus
hearing loss
circular movement towards affected ear
ataxia

Question 12

what should you pay close attention to in the ears of a dog with otitis?

Answer 12

any pain?
discharge
ear canals condition
ear drums condition

Question 13

what should you treat otitis in the external ear canal with?

Answer 13

only topical antimicrobials
clean ear canal

Question 14

what is a biofilm?

Answer 14

dense interaction accumulation of microbes
extracellular matrix that is composed ot extracellular polymeric substnaces

Question 15

is culture and sensitivity helpful for otitis externa?

Answer 15

not really

Question 16

what is the best long term management of allergic otitis?

Answer 16

topical steroid ear drops twice a week
topical tacrolimus: compounded ear solution

Question 17

what can you do if there are non-reversible changes to the ear canals (like mineralization)?

Answer 17

total ear canal ablation with bulla osteotomy

Question 18

what should you clean the ears with if there is purulent discharge?

Answer 18

saline
+/- n-acetylcysteine

Question 19

what medications are safe for the middle ear?

Answer 19

fluoroquinolones
rifampin
ceftazidime
silver sulfadiazine (SSD)
water-based steroids
azoles, nystatin
squalene, triz-EDTA

Question 20

what medications should you give if the tympanic membrane has been perforated?

Answer 20

ear drops based on cytology:
do not use dense
steroids
systemic antibiotics based on culture and sensitivity

Question 21

what medications are typically indicated if the tympanic membrane is not visualized, and there are signs of otitis media/interna?

Answer 21

systemic antibiotics
systemic steroids

Question 22

what are possible causes of otitis media/interna signs if the tympanic membrane is intact?

Answer 22

polyp/neoplasia in middle ear
primary otitis media
was a past tympanic membrane perforation that healed, but middle ear infection still present

Question 23

what should you do if there are otitis media signs without polyp or neoplasia with intact tympanic membrane?

Answer 23

myringotomy with deep ear flush and culture and sensitivity of middle ear
ventral bulla osteotomy with middle ear flush and culture and sensitivity from middle ear

Question 24

is microbial infection the cause of otitis?

Answer 24

no- never

Question 25

what is the septum bulla like in feline and canine ears?

Answer 25

feline: almost completely divides middle ear into dorsal and ventral compartments
canine: incomplete, small shelf

Question 26

how do the cranial nerves and the middle ear differ between feline and canine ears?

Answer 26

feline: cranial sympathetic cervical nerves travel through middle ear
canine: cranial sympathetic cervical nerves are outside middle ear

Question 27

how often does otitis media develop in chronic canine otitis externa?

Answer 27

50%

Question 28

when is otitis a diagnosis, not a symptom?

Answer 28

parasites
foreign body
neoplasia
congenital conformational changes: ear canal atresia

Question 29

when might culture and sensitivity be needed for otitis externa?

Answer 29

Pseudomonas infection
otherwise not very helpful

Question 30

what do you need in most cases of otitis externa to reduce inflammation and stenosis/proliferation?

Answer 30

topical steroids

Question 31

what should you give for yeast infection in otitis externa?

Answer 31

azoles
nystatin
terbinafine

Question 32

what should you avoid using if the ear drum is ruptured?

Answer 32

dense ointment-type ear drops

Question 33

who is predisposed to primary secretory otitis media?

Answer 33

cavalier king charles spaniel
possibly brachycephalics

Question 34

what are the clinical signs of primary secretory otitis media?

Answer 34

head/neck pain
spontaneous vocalization
neurological signs
pruritus around ears without otitis externa
hearing loss
lethargy

Question 35

how can you manage primary secretory otitis media?

Answer 35

tympanostomy tubes
tympanostomy and middle ear flush

Question 36

what is ceruminous cystomatosis?

Answer 36

non-neoplastic or benign
blue cysts on ear