Christelle Navarro
Virbac, France
Title: Clinical efficacy of two ear preparations in dogs with otitis externa in China: a comparative field study focusing on the onset of activity
Biography
Biography: Christelle Navarro
Abstract
Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and the onset of activity of two ear preparations containing two different corticosteroids: hydrocortisone aceponate (Easotic, Virbac, France) or betamethasone valerate (Otomax, MSD, France) in dogs with OE.
Materials & Method: 120 privately owned dogs with nonparasitic OE were selected from two different Chinese veterinary hospitals. Dogs were divided into 2 groups (60 dogs each) treated with Easotic (1ml pump, once daily for 5 days) or Otomax (5-8 drops twice daily for 7 days). Clinical efficacy was assessed every day up to Day 7, via a bacterial and fungal cytology score (0 to 5), the presence of an auricular discharge, the number of ear scratches per ten minutes and a medical efficacy score (-1 to +3). Scores between groups in each site were analysed by one-way ANOVA.
Results: Altogether, 73% of dogs had a mixed bacterial and Malassezia OE, 21% had only bacteria and 6% Malassezia yeast. On Day 7, bacteria and yeasts were absent in both treatment groups. A significantly faster decrease in bacterial score (from D2 or D5, in site 1 or 2 respectively) and fungal score (from D2 or D1) was seen with Easotic than with Otomax (p < 0.05). Auricular discharge and pruritus disappeared before Day 7 in both groups with a quicker improvement for Easotic than with Otomax (as from D1 for pruritus, p<0.05) (Fig. 1). Both medications led to a complete OE recovery (medical score = 3). There were no adverse reaction observed with both products.
Conclusion: In this comparative field study, both ear treatments were effective to cure nonparasitic otitis externa in dogs. Dogs treated with Easotic had faster improvement of clinical signs than dogs treated with Otomax, and both products were equally effective on day 7.