Étude prospective des otites canines dans une clientèle généraliste

The reported data on otitis externa (OE) in dogs are either old, retrospective and/or biased through case evaluations of referral centers. We aimed to prospectively characterize the features of canine OE in a private primary care veterinary practice setting. During a 6-month period (1237 visits), 82 dogs (7%) presented with an OE with 56% (46/82 dogs) consulting with clinical signs of OE and otitis being an incidental finding in 44% of dogs (36/82 dogs). Chronics OE were rare (7/82 patients, 8%). Erythematous (36/82 dogs, 44%) and erythemato-ceruminous OE (34/82 dogs, 41%) were the most common clinical syndromes, with having mild-to-moderate OTIS3 scores (3-4). Suppurative OE were more severe (OTIS3 7-8) but affected only 21% (17/82) dogs. Atopic dermatitis and foreign bodies were the most common underlying diseases (50/82 [61%] and 13/82 [15.8%] dogs). Secondary Malassezia infection was frequently diagnosed, (59/82 [72%] dogs), whereas bacterial infections, either due to cocci or rod-shaped bacteria, were less common (34/82 [41%], 11/82 [13%] dogs with OE, respectively). This study, conducted in a general practice setting, reveals marked differences with previously-published data obtained from secondary/tertiary centers.