PREFACE

It has been suggested that ear cases may make up more than 10% of the

typical companion animal veterinarian’s case load, so the ability to

manage ear disease well is essential for the primary care veterinarian.

Otology is one of the most rapidly expanding branches of small animal

medicine and surgery and although there are many excellent textbooks

already available on this subject, this is the first – and I hope one of the

most complete – illustrated atlases of ear disease. I am grateful that

Wiley-Blackwell has indulged my fascination for ear disease by allowing

me to compile it. Ear disease for me is a passion: not only is it the

challenge to diagnose and treat the dogs and cats that present to me every

day in the clinic but also the challenge to pass on knowledge to fellow

professionals, so that the care of ear disease in the species we deal with

can be improved. The pain that otitis can cause is in my opinion often

underestimated. Frequently it is only after medical therapy has resolved

disease, or radical surgery has removed an ear canal, that owners can

recognise how much discomfort their pet has been in, as they perceive

dramatic changes in their dog’s or cat’s behaviour. Ear disease should

never go untreated; even with the financial constraints placed on us by

many of our clients we have a duty to make animals with otitis

comfortable.


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