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Treatment Choices for Acute Canine Otitis Externa in Sweden, Finland and Norway : A Comparative Study With a Focus on Antibiotic Use

Saarinen, Kaisa ; Ljungquist, Ditte LU ; Seppänen, Riitta ; Kaimio, Mirja and Andersson, Anna Maria LU (2026) In Veterinary Dermatology
Abstract

Background: Canine otitis externa (COE) is one of the most frequently recorded disorders in veterinary practices, making it an important focus for antibiotic stewardship. Hypothesis/Objectives: To investigate and compare treatment regimens for acute COE in Finland, Norway and Sweden, with a focus on antibiotic use. Animals: 1060 dogs with acute COE lasting for ≤ 4 weeks. Materials and Methods: This was a multicentre cross-sectional study based on a point prevalence survey conducted among Swedish, Finnish and Norwegian veterinary surgeons within a corporate group during spring 2024. In the survey, each practice had been asked to include the first 20 consecutive cases of acute COE and register information about their diagnostic and... (More)

Background: Canine otitis externa (COE) is one of the most frequently recorded disorders in veterinary practices, making it an important focus for antibiotic stewardship. Hypothesis/Objectives: To investigate and compare treatment regimens for acute COE in Finland, Norway and Sweden, with a focus on antibiotic use. Animals: 1060 dogs with acute COE lasting for ≤ 4 weeks. Materials and Methods: This was a multicentre cross-sectional study based on a point prevalence survey conducted among Swedish, Finnish and Norwegian veterinary surgeons within a corporate group during spring 2024. In the survey, each practice had been asked to include the first 20 consecutive cases of acute COE and register information about their diagnostic and therapeutic management. Results: Overall, antibiotic treatment was used in 18% of cases (190 of 1060 dogs), predominantly topical, with systemic use only reported in six cases. Antibiotic use was significantly higher in Norway (28%) and Finland (29%) than in Sweden (2%; p < 0.001). The most frequently used antibiotic was polymyxin B. Antibiotic treatment was more strongly associated with cytological findings, especially the presence of neutrophils and rods, than with clinical presentation. Overall, glucocorticoid treatment was used in 94% and ear cleaner in 89% of cases, with some differences between countries. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: In this study, most acute COE cases were managed with glucocorticoids and ear cleaners without antibiotics. Swedish practices stood out with a notably low antibiotic use of 2%. Our results provide valuable information on antibiotic use for acute COE in three Nordic countries, inspiring future antibiotic stewardship efforts.

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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
antibiotic stewardship, dogs, ear disease, ear infection, otitis externa, treatment
in
Veterinary Dermatology
publisher
Wiley
external identifiers
  • scopus:105041389996
ISSN
0959-4493
DOI
10.1111/vde.70094
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
32a7fe2f-f382-4500-8e60-e3efcaa5be36
date added to LUP
2026-09-15 12:12:14
date last changed
2026-09-15 12:12:33
@article{32a7fe2f-f382-4500-8e60-e3efcaa5be36,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Canine otitis externa (COE) is one of the most frequently recorded disorders in veterinary practices, making it an important focus for antibiotic stewardship. Hypothesis/Objectives: To investigate and compare treatment regimens for acute COE in Finland, Norway and Sweden, with a focus on antibiotic use. Animals: 1060 dogs with acute COE lasting for ≤ 4 weeks. Materials and Methods: This was a multicentre cross-sectional study based on a point prevalence survey conducted among Swedish, Finnish and Norwegian veterinary surgeons within a corporate group during spring 2024. In the survey, each practice had been asked to include the first 20 consecutive cases of acute COE and register information about their diagnostic and therapeutic management. Results: Overall, antibiotic treatment was used in 18% of cases (190 of 1060 dogs), predominantly topical, with systemic use only reported in six cases. Antibiotic use was significantly higher in Norway (28%) and Finland (29%) than in Sweden (2%; p &lt; 0.001). The most frequently used antibiotic was polymyxin B. Antibiotic treatment was more strongly associated with cytological findings, especially the presence of neutrophils and rods, than with clinical presentation. Overall, glucocorticoid treatment was used in 94% and ear cleaner in 89% of cases, with some differences between countries. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: In this study, most acute COE cases were managed with glucocorticoids and ear cleaners without antibiotics. Swedish practices stood out with a notably low antibiotic use of 2%. Our results provide valuable information on antibiotic use for acute COE in three Nordic countries, inspiring future antibiotic stewardship efforts.</p>}},
  author       = {{Saarinen, Kaisa and Ljungquist, Ditte and Seppänen, Riitta and Kaimio, Mirja and Andersson, Anna Maria}},
  issn         = {{0959-4493}},
  keywords     = {{antibiotic stewardship; dogs; ear disease; ear infection; otitis externa; treatment}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley}},
  series       = {{Veterinary Dermatology}},
  title        = {{Treatment Choices for Acute Canine Otitis Externa in Sweden, Finland and Norway : A Comparative Study With a Focus on Antibiotic Use}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/vde.70094}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/vde.70094}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}