Unilateral atresia of the external auditory meatus in the dog

At the Clinic of Small Animals of the Free University Berlin in three dogs an atresia of the external auditory meatus was identified as the cause for different ear problems. In one dog the external auditory orifice was absent, in the second fibrous tissue occluded the external ear canal at the junction of the vertical and horizontal ear canals, in the third one a missing orifice of the external a uditory meatus was combined with a more deeper segment of the vertical ear canal beginning as a blunt end. Depending on the clinical findings and involvement of the middle ear differ ent surgical procedures were performed (resection of the lateral wall of th e external ear canal, total ablation combined with lateral bulla osteotomy) . Postoperatively the symptoms decreased rapidly. In none of the dogs probl ems associated with the initial condition were observed over a period of 3 months to 8 years.