COMPARISON OF TOPICAL ADMINISTRATION OF CLOTRIMAZOLE THROUGH SURGICALLY PLACED VERSUS NONSURGICALLY PLACED CATHETERS FOR TREATMENT OF NASALASPERGILLOSIS IN DOGS - 60 CASES (1990-1996)

Objective-To examine the clinical response to topical administration o f clotrimazole in dogs with nasal aspergillosis, to compare effect of surgically placed versus nonsurgically placed catheters used for admin istration on outcome, and to examine whether subjective scoring of com puted tomographic images can predict outcome. Design-Retrospective cas e series. Animals-60 dogs with nasal aspergillosis. Procedure-Informat ion including signalment, history, diagnostics, treatment method, and outcome was retrieved from medical records of dogs with nasal aspergil losis treated between 1990 and 1996 at the University of California Sc hool of Veterinary Medicine or cooperating referral practices. Final o utcome was determined by telephone conversations with owners and refer ring veterinarians. Images obtained before treatment were subjectively assessed to develop an algorithm for predicting outcome. Results-Clot rimazole solution (1%)was infused during a I-hour period via catheters surgically placed in the frontal sinus and nose (27 dogs) and via non surgically placed catheters in the nose (18). An additional 15 dogs re ceived 2 to 4 infusions by either route. Topical administration of clo trimazole resulted in resolution of clinical disease in 65% of dogs af ter 1 treatment and 87% of dogs after one or more treatments. The scor ing system correctly classified dogs with unfavorable and favorable re sponses 71 to 78% and 79 to 93% of the time, respectively. Clinical im plications-Topical administration of clotrimazote, using either techni que, was an effective treatment for nasal aspergillosis in dogs. Use o f noninvasive intranasal infusion of clotrimazole eliminated the need for surgical trephination of frontal sinuses in many dogs and was asso ciated with fewer complications.