Fighting Ear Disease: from Veterinary Practice News!

Most veterinary clients don’t realize that veterinary dermatologists are also otology experts. Owners of Cavalier King Charles spaniels may be most educated on that front.

“Primary secretory otitis media is a primary disease of the middle ear found most commonly in Cavalier King Charles spaniels,” says Lynette Cole, DVM, Dipl. ACVD, of Ohio State University. “The condition causes head, neck and ear scratching as well as neurologic facial drooping and balance problems. The condition is diagnosed with an X-ray, CT scan or MRI.”

Dr. Cole is conducting a clinical study of 74 Cavalier King Charles spaniels to test the use of a mucolytic drug that could prevent recurrence of middle ear infections in the breed. Currently, the treatment consists of making an incision in the pars tensa, draining and flushing, but the condition tends to recur.

“We think the disease is caused by a dysfunction of the Eustachian tube prohibiting normal draining from occurring,” Cole says.

“Veterinarians are not taught a procedure to put tubes in animals’ ears to relieve building pressure in the ear, as commonly performed in the ears of children with the same condition. Since dogs’ ear canals are vertical and horizontal, it really poses a problem, but I am working on a way to perform the procedure.”