21 Otoscopic Exam in Dogs and Cats
Proper use of the Otoscope is important, as irritation and pain can be caused by poor technique. Like every skill, Otoscope technique improves with some understanding of anatomy and of course practice! Be mindful that an infected ear can be very painful, and sedation may be needed in order to look into the canal to assess the T.M. and level/type of infection., or treating inflammation and pain and rechecking ear in a couple of days.
Anatomy
Steps to avoid the Dorsal Auricular Process (DAP)
- Turn on light and check tightness of cone
- Have assistant gently hold head using treats to distract
- Gently apply traction to pinna to straighten canal with non-dominant hand
- While looking through the Otoscope, keep cone in center of canal, use finger tips to steady Otoscope and protect the patient’s head
- If needed, while applying traction to the pinna and looking through the Otoscope, move the Pinna and Otoscope in unison ventrally in order to see around the DAP to visualize canal and the Tympanic Membrane (TM).