Prevalence of Canine Otitis Externa in Jammu

To examine dogs with otitis externa in order to study the prevalence of otitis externa in dogs, a study was undertaken on 273 dogs presented at the Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex and Referral Hospital R.S Pura, Central Veterinary Hospital Talab Tillo and private pet clinics in Jammu region during the period starting on August to December (2011). The incidence of otitis externa stood at 21.97 percent (60 cases), from all the skin infections in canine population (273 cases). The influence of age, breed and sex on the incidence of otitis externa was also studied. The results of the study revealed higher occurrence of cases during the month of August (28.33 percent), followed by October (26.66 percent), and the least in December (10.00 percent). The dogs belonging to the age group of 3 years and above showed greater susceptibility (55 percent) to ear afflictions, followed by 1 to 3 year age group (25 percent), and the least (20 percent) in the age group below 1 year. German Shepherds followed by Labrador Retrievers and Cocker Spaniels were the most frequently affected breeds. Male dogs showed greater involvement than females.