Diagnosis and Therapeutic Management of Otitis Externa Due to Malassezia pachydermatitis in Dogs

48 dogs of different ages and sexes presented at Veterinary Hospital, Bhoiguda, with history of ear problems were examined for its etiology using otoscopic and cytological examination. The clinical symptoms observed were erythema of pinna, head shaking, ear scratching, mild pain upon touching the ear, mild yellowish discharge. Samples were taken from affected ears with sterile cotton swabs and cultured on sabourauds dextrose agar media with Chloramphenical. Staining of the colonies with new methylene blue stain revealed several foot print shaped Malassezia achydermatitis along with numerous gram positive cocci. The in vitro drug sensitivity revealed highest sensitivity to Ketoconazole followed by Clotrimazole, Amphotericin B and Nystatin. Recovery was uneventful with a combined local application of Ciprofloxacin and oral Ketoconazole.