Don’t wash away the evidence! It is not unusual to hear, “Doctor, Fluffy’s ears have been bothering her for several weeks. There has been a lot of discharge and odor. I cleaned her ears really well last night so you could see in there better. Can you tell me what’s causing that?” Usually, the answer [...]
Yeast otitis is a common condition in dogs and cats, especially those with allergic conditions such as Atopy. The most common yeast infecting pets’ ears is Malasezzia pachydermatis. This yeast organism not only affects ears, but it can infect pets’ skin, also. To diagnose yeast otitis we first observe abnormal material in the ear canals. [...]
He sauntered slowly down the street, as if he had nowhere specific to go. “No,” he said. And, “No,” again, to an invisible friend walking with him. Or, was there some other reason this stray cat, dumped in our neighborhood after Hurricane Katrina, was shaking his head? Very likely this kitty shared a problem common [...]
Cytology is a technique used in many aspects of veterinary and human medical practice. “Cyto” comes from the Greek kytos, meaning “cell.” Logos is Greek for “science.” So, cytology is the science (or study) of cells. More specifically in everyday use cytology is used to study cells placed on a microscope slide from a body [...]
During a routine, well-patient vaccination visit we discovered that Clare had moderate inflammation of both ear canals, along with some ceruminous discharge. No diagnostic information could be obtained with the otoscope alone, so we performed a test called Cytology. I was surprised that no infectious organisms were found, as infection is the most common cause [...]
Recently we discussed Lucy, whose chronic ear problems required her to undergo a surgical procedure called Zepp Lateral Ear Resection. We performed the procedure and it went uneventfully. The only down side is that, after the procedure, when we were easily able to access the horizontal ear canal, we found it to also be swollen closed. [...]
Otodectes cynotis is an equal-opportunity parasite that is more than happy to infect dogs or cats. You know them by their common name, ear mites. It is important to recognize that ear mite infestation in cats is a very different syndrome than the condition in dogs. Ear mites in dogs tends to be a condition [...]
In an ongoing series on the four types of mange in dogs today we will look at Otodectic Mange. Also referred to as ear mites, the creature’s scientific name is Otodectes cynotis.Easily the most overdiagnosed condition in the history of animalkind, ear mites are the actual cause of ear problems in only a small percentage [...]
Continuing the topic of minimizing recurrent ear problems in dogs and cats, today we will discuss proper treatment. In order to have treatment success the duration of treatment must be adequate. Do not stop treatment just because the ears look better! Even with first-time ear infections one cannot hope to clear the infection with three [...]
I love a bad ear. I suppose it would be more accurate to say I hate a bad ear, but either way the reward of making a bad ear into a good ear is priceless. The Mississippi Gulf Coast, where I practice, is a place where many people make their home for a short period [...]
Today we have a really short but really touching story to tell. It’s stories like this that keep us going back to work for our patients and their pet-loving owners. Rascal came in for an appointment for an ear problem. His left ear had been itchy for a couple of days and this was the [...]
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