Video Otoscopy and Ear Flush

Video otoscopy is the use of a special camera to look deep into your pet’s ear canal up to the ear drum. The purpose of video otoscopy is to allow your pet’s dermatologist to examine their ear canal under magnification, looking for masses, areas of infection, or sometimes foreign objects. A video otoscope can be used during your pet’s regular examinations – this is common when your pet is seen by us for chronic ear infections. In these cases, we will often take photographs of the examination to show you the areas in your pet’s ear that are the problem.

Video otoscopy is also used during anesthetized deep ear flushes, a procedure that is performed when your pet has a mass, infection, or debris in their ear that cannot be removed while they are awake. During a deep ear flush, your anesthetized pet will be closely monitored and the video otoscope will be used to guide the ear cleaning and sample collection from your pet’s ear. Often, we will collect ear cytology and culture samples to help guide treatment of your pet’s infection or biopsies to look for underlying causes of your pet’s ear inflammation.  A deep ear flush is usually a part-day procedure. Your pet will drop off in the morning and go home that afternoon – they will not stay in the hospital overnight. This procedure will be scheduled several weeks in advance in most cases, and is usually only recommended after less invasive treatments have failed.  

At home care after video otoscopy:

Your pet may be slightly sleepy when they go home that night, and they can have a half-sized meal for dinner. They should be back to their normal energy levels by the next morning. We will usually provide a few days of mild pain medication and anti-inflammatory drugs after a deep ear flush to keep your pet comfortable, but if your pet seems painful or is scratching/rubbing their ears please call us so we can help!