The dvm360 toolkit: Otitis

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Pop quiz! What are the two most common reason why dogs visit veterinary clinics?

Answer: itching and otitis. And they usually go hand in hand, according to Fetch dvm360 speaker Ashley Bourgeois, DVM, DACVD.

Canine otitis can be a real conundrum: Should you perform a cytology every time you see your otitis patients? How often should the ears be cleaned? What’s the best ear wash? Partnering with clients is a huge piece of the puzzle, so what’s the best way to educate them about otitis prevention strategies?

With help from Dr. Bourgeois and a host of other veterinary experts, this handy toolkit will answer your frequently asked questions, detail the most important diagnostic and treatment best practices, and guide you in communicating with your clients during an otitis visit.

Start here!

Managing otitis in the clinic

• Have a question about otitis? Darin Dell,DVM, DACVD, weighs in on some particularly perplexing aspects of this ear-itating condition: Answers to some head-scratching canine otitis questions
• Give clients the facts on otitis. After all, a better educated pet owner means a healthier pet: 3 client education opportunities during otitis exams
• Use proactive communication for a positive outcome. According to James Noxon, DVM, DACVIM, “clients need (and usually want) to understand why we are managing their pet the way we do”: Otitis externa: How to partner with clients
• Make sure pet owners understand the consequences of ear cropping: Veterinary FAQ: Ear cropping and otitis in dogs

Clinical updates

• Address common diagnostic conundrums, like negative culture results when you think there is an infection, or how to perform an awake otoscopic exam: Ear we go again: Improve your otitis diagnostics
• Ask your clients critical information (hint: don’t forget about geography, household demographics and timing of clinical signs): Otitis externa diagnosis: 11 questions to obtain a better veterinary patient history
• Help clients understand one of the most important aspects of managing chronic ear disease: Succeed with ear cleaning

Client handouts

• Otitis in puppies: How to help veterinary clients watch for signs
• Types of otitis and what to watch for