Otoscopic evaluation of the ear canal

The most common ear disease of the dog and cat is otitis externa, which may be present in 10% to 20% of the canine population and 2% to 10% of the feline population [1]. Common clinical signs of otitis externa are head shaking and scratching the ears [2]. Some animals show few clinical signs until the otitis is severe, however [3]. When evaluating a patient with otitis externa, it is important to determine the primary cause as well as the predisposing and perpetuating factors of the otitis so as to manage the otitis properly [4]. The first diagnostic procedure that should be performed on a patient with a complaint of otitis externa is an otoscopic examination.