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

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.

Authors: K. Saarinen, D. Ljungquist, R. Seppänen, M. Kaimio and A. M. Andersson Title: Treatment Choices for Acute Canine Otitis Externa in Sweden, Finland and Norway: A Comparative Study With a Focus on Antibiotic Use Full source: Vet Dermatol, 2026,Vol Document type: Journal Article
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Abstract	Source
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.