ABSTRACT
KEY POINTS • Do not examine the ear in isolation. Obtain a
history and examine the animal first. • Ear canals may require cleaning before a proper
examination is possible. • Always examine both ears, even if a unilateral
problem is suspected. • Adequate restraint is essential. Use a sedative or
neuroleptanalgesia if necessary. • Cats require general anesthesia before they are
subjected to otoscopic examination. • Remember that the presence of hair in the external
ear canal is normal in some dogs. • Do not expect to visualize Otodectes cynotis unfail-
ingly. Use a microscope as well as an otoscope.
