Video-otoscopy use in the diagnosis of external otitis in dogs/Emprego da video-otoscopia no diagnostico de otites externas de caes

The objective of this study was the use of videootoscopy as a method to diagnose external otitis in dogs. Hence 20 adult dogs were used. The group A was formed by 10 animals (5 males and 5 females) with no apparent symptoms of the external otitis and the group B, formed by 10 animals (5 males and 5 females) sent by the Medical Clinics section of the Veterinary Hospital at the Universidade Estadual Paulista - Campus Jaboticabal, with otitis symptoms. All the animals tested have undergone the same anesthesic protocol (acepromazine in a dosis of 0,1mg [kg.sub.-1] and tiletamine-zolazepan in a dosis of 10mg [kg.sub.-1]). Three unilateral and 13 bi-lateral otitis were diagnosed and the findings include purulent secretion; ulcerated, hyperemic or hyperplasic epithelium; meathus stenosis and alterations in the timpanic membrane. Video-otoscopy has shown to be an effective and a fundamental procedure to help diagnosing and prognosting auricular disorders.