A dedicated owner focused, non-product branded website featuring information about healthy ears. Covering the why, when and how to work with your vet to manage ear problems. An ear cleaning video, ear management diary and information about why antibiotics aren’t always needed. It is all designed to increase a pet owners understanding of otitis externa and support the management of your patient.
It´s loud and clear - all ears are not the same
What is the best treatment for Otitis Externa?
There are many options for treating otitis externa (OE) and there is no ‘best’ product for every case.
To make an informed decision there are multiple factors to consider when choosing the most appropriate treatment including:
- degree of inflammation
- nature of discharge
- microbial overgrowth/infection
- antimicrobial guidelines
- case specific circumstances regarding ease of administration or cost.
Do we need to be concerned about antimicrobial resistance?
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the top global public health and development threats and AMR can spread from animals to people and vice versa. A publication in the Lancet from 2022 reveals that bacterial AMR was directly responsible for 1.27 million and contributed to 4.95 million deaths in humans in 20191. All veterinary professionals should be proud of their efforts to reduce unnecessary use of antibiotics and the annual European Surveillance of Veterinary Antimicrobial Consumption (ESVAC) reports positive results with significant reductions of overall usage2.
Although topically applied antibiotics are not as problematic as systemic, we should all do our best to reduce unnecessary use.
Yeast shouldn't be treated with antibiotics
Malassezia pachydermatis is a commensal of the canine ear canal, and secondary overgrowth of yeast is a common finding in an inflamed dog ear.
Learn more about yeasty dog earsIt's loud and clear - yeast shouldn't be treated with antibiotics
DuOtic® is the first antibiotic free, long acting steroid and antifungal combination for Malassezia only canine OE.
Why should I use DuOtic?
DuOtic helps you reduce the unnecessary use of antibiotics by being the first targeted treatment combination for Malassezia only OE in dogs.
The long acting gel formulation, applied by you in practice helps ensure treatment compliance when owner administration is challenging.
Introducing DuOtic
DuOtic 10 mg/1 mg ear gel for dogs
Indicated for the treatment of otitis externa associated with Malassezia pachydermatis
Each dose (1.2 g) contains:
Terbinafine 10 mg, Betamethasone Acetate 1 mg
Shelf life 2 years
No special storage conditions
Instructions for use:
- Clean the ear before the initial application
- Administer one tube per affected ear
- Open the tube by twisting the soft tip and insert the flexible soft tip into the ear canal
- Apply the gel by pressing the tube between two fingers
- Gently massage the base of the ear briefly to facilitate even distribution of the gel into the ear canal
- Repeat the administration after 7 days
Canine otitis externa is rarely a quick fix
The workup for a case of acute OE usually involves an intial appropriate history taking, observation of clinical signs, combined with compatible clinical examination and otological and cytological findings, leading to a diagnosis.
However, diagnosis of an acute OE is often just the start.
Dechra recommends considering 4Ts when undertaking an OE work up:
You spoke and we listened
In-depth interviews with practicing vets alongside results of a survey of vets across Europe¹ revealed that owner communication is an important and sometimes stressful part of case management and that help in this area would be appreciated. To assist you with these conversations we have developed a series of helpful tools to use in practice as advised by you, or for use by your owners in preparation for invaluable revisits.
1. Internal report OTI21
You spoke and we acted
The Lifelong Ear Partnership is our commitment to help you achieve good clinical outcomes in every case of otitis externa. We offer a comprehensive platform of otitis-focused education, a variety of tools to support pet owner communications, and a growing range of tailored treatments and ear cleaners to match the needs of you and your patients.
1. Owner communication tools
Owner website for dogs with ear problems add
Educational videos for owners add
During many otitis consults the owner will be waiting to see you, for cytology results or even needing to wait for a sedated dog to recover.
By encouraging the owner to watch short videos describing:
- Primary cause
- Importance of follow up appointments
- Further diagnostics & long-term planning
- Cytology
- Treatment options
You can easily increase their understanding of the condition and process to support your clinical recommendation and choice of treatment options.
Brochure providing information & links to support information add
A brochure summarising the steps involved in the case management of a dog with otitis referencing short support videos and the owner website. Ideal to support your explanations of the condistion and for when you are short on consultation time.
Interactive 4D Ear Model add
A fully interactive digital tool, designed to aid client communication when managing a case of Otitis.
Visit www.4d-earmodel.com to find out more. Available on all devices
2. Ear cytology
Cytology helps you to monitor response to therapy and improves your ability to give clients pointers on prognosis whilst providing tangible and visual findings to present to owners, increasing understanding and communication.
Insights from the already-mentioned research highlighted that you would appreciate helpful tips and education on the topic of ear cytology. Cytology is an important part of managing cases of otitis externa as it increases your chance of reaching a more specific diagnosis and helps you prescribe a more targeted treatment. It also ensures more prudent use of antimicrobials by reducing the tendency to dispense empirical therapy.
All with a technique that is quick, inexpensive, and easily undertaken within your practice.
Explore our series of interactive ear cytology case studies at Dechra Academy
The case studies provide you with tips from greeting the patient to interpreting your cytology samples as well as points to consider throughout the process.
You will meet three different dogs, each with their own unique story, and learn how cytology plays a crucial part in the success of the case.
And by the way, don´t miss the opportunity to listen to Dr. Ashley Bourgeois DVM, DACVD share her best tips when it comes to making ear cytology a simple, yet important part of your daily practice.
3. Solutions for otitis externa in dogs
The Lifelong Ear Partnership is our commitment to help you achieve good clinical outcomes in every case of otitis externa. We offer a growing range of tailored treatments and ear cleaners to match the needs of you and your patients.
Do not miss the opportunity to explore our otitis escape rooms at Dechra Academy.
You will meet a selection of dogs and their owners, and search for helpful information and clues to solve the puzzle. Exploring the rooms will help you improve your product selection skills in a fun, interactive way.
YEAST SHOULDN'T BE TREATED WITH ANTIBIOTICS
DuOtic is a steroid and antifungal combination for the targeted treatment of cases of Malassezia only canine otitis externa.
The long acting ear gel helps ensure treatment compliance and the second dose offers an extra chance to establish a Lifelong Ear Partnership that can be crucial for future case outcomes.
AN EXTRA DOSE MEANS AN EXTRA CHECK
Otitis externa is rarely a quick fix, so building trust with owners is vital for
long-term success. With two doses delivered in practice, Osurnia offers opportunities.
An extra dose means an extra chance to connect with your customer and to check in with your patient.
For extra reassurance in otitis externa, Osurnia checks all the boxes
PUT CANAURAL ON FRONT LINE DUTY
In case you haven’t heard, Canaural is the only treatment to combine fusidic acid, framycetin (EMA AMEG classification D and C4), nystatin, and prednisolone. This old champ deserves to be on your front line when you need a trusted daily topical antibiotic for otitis externa in cats and dogs.
NOT ALL CASES OF OTITIS EXTERNA NEED ANTIMICROBIALS
Sound like music to your ears?
Recicort is the first veterinary-licensed steroid eardrop with acidifying, cerumenolytic, and keratolytic properties – providing an ideal solution to target the inflammation without the need to introduce antibiotic or antimycotic ingredients.
ALL EARS ARE NOT THE SAME
We offer a range of ear cleaners to help keep dog and cat ears healthy. We use distinctive pack colours to help avoid confusion when choosing products, making it easy to keep every ear clean.
It´s loud and clear - we´re all ears
Order material for a Lifelong Ear Partnership
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References add
- Antimicrobial Resistance Collaborators (2022). Global burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance in 2019: a systematic analysis. The Lancet; 399(10325): P629-655
- European Medicines Agency (2023) European Surveillance of Veterinary Antimicrobial Consumption'Sales of veterinary antimicrobial agents in 31 European countries in 2022' (EMA/299538/2023)
- Internal report OTI21
- Schmerold, I. et al (2023) European regulations on the use of antibiotics in veterinary medicine. European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 189