Pyotraumatic dermatitis in dogs: etiology, characteristics of the course, and treatment approaches

The article presents the results of clinical examination and diagnosis of 23 patients with otitis externa, in whom various causes of the development of the disease were found. These included allergies (14/23), foreign bodies in the external auditory canal (6/23), hypothyroidism (2/23), and neoplasms. Otoscopy revealed erythema of the affected ear canal in 100% of cases, with mild erythema in 21.7%, moderate erythema in 43.6%, and severe erythema in 34.7% of cases. Various degrees of exudation, ulceration, and stenosis of the external auditory canal were also observed. Microflora analysis showed a predominance of yeast infections (34.7%) and mixed infections (30.4%). Pathogenic microorganisms including Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and Malassezia pachydermatis were identified. Treatment resulted in improvement of the patient's condition within 3 days to 2.5 months, depending on the etiology of the otitis. The fastest recovery was observed with foreign body removal, while allergic and endocrine disorders required longer therapy. The data obtained emphasize the importance of a comprehensive approach to the diagnosis and treatment of otitis externa