Prevalence of Pseudomonas associated otitis externa in dogs

Abstract

Otitis externa is a common multifactorial inflammatory disorder of the external ear canal in dogs and a significant contributor to sensorineural hearing impairment. The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of otitis externa and its association with age and breed. A total of 263 dogs presented with various ear affections were screened and among them, 52 dogs were diagnosed with otitis externa, yielding an overall prevalence of 19.77%. Pseudomonas spp. were isolated in 36.54% (19/52) of affected cases Age-wise analysis showed the highest prevalence (46.2%) in dogs older than five years and least in dogs less than one year (7.6%). Breed-wise distribution indicated the highest occurrence in German Shepherds (30.8%) while other breeds reported least prevalence (3.9%). The study concludes that Pseudomonas associated otitis externa remains a prevalent clinical condition in dogs which demands early diagnosis and appropriate management to prevent chronicity and complications.