Otoscopy

If you’ve ever noticed your pet repeatedly shaking his head or scratching at his ears as if something were in them, it’s probably a good idea to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian for a thorough ear examination.

Dr. Shy, of Starkville Veterinary Hospital has several areas of special interest in the field of veterinary science, and one of them is otology, the study of diseases of the ear. Ear disease is a common condition in companion pets. Examining your pet’s ears, however, can sometimes prove to be challenging. Dogs, for example, have an L-shaped ear canal which makes them more difficult to check. In order to successfully examine, diagnose, and treat chronic ear conditions, Dr. Shy uses video otoscopy.

A video otoscope is a small device that has a tiny video camera with a highly magnified lens that transmits images from the deeper parts of the ear canal, the eardrum, and the middle ear to a television screen. The scope provides an exceptionally detailed view of the inside of the ear using fiber optics to transmit a bright light to illuminate the ear canal. Additionally, video otoscopes have a working channel through which instruments can be inserted to grab or biopsy objects or to flush and remove debris in the ear. We are also able to document our findings with photographs and video recordings. At Starkville Veterinary Hospital, we use the Med RX Video Otoscope and Irrigation System, the latest in video otoscope technology, to examine and treat your pet.

We evaluate ears for several problems, including:

• Inflammatory polyps
• Parasitic, bacterial and mycotic diseases
• Laser ablation guided by the video otoscope for cerumen gland adenomas
• Evaluation of the tympanic membrane; rupture, tear, bulging (myringotomy to relieve pressure and irrigate the middle ear and infuse antibiotics)
• Follow-up evaluation and medical progress of the tympanic membrane and middle ear

A veterinary otoscope is the perfect tool for accurately diagnosing and treating challenging cases of chronic ear infections as well as for detecting ear problems early. Early detection and treatment means less expense for you.