Canine otitis externa — Treatment and complications

Otitis externa is an inflammatory disease of the external ear canal, including the ear pinna. Otitis externa may be acute or chronic (persistent or recurrent otitis lasting for 3 months or longer). Changes that occur in the external ear canal in response to chronic inflammation may include glandular hyperplasia, glandular dilation, epithelial hyperplasia, and hyperkeratosis (1). These changes usually result in increased cerumen production along the external ear canal, which contributes to increase in local humidity and pH of the external ear canal, thus predisposing the ear to secondary infection