Image Quiz: Chronically pruritic and odoriferous ears in a basset hound (Sponsored by Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health), Answer C
A young, adult basset hound presents to you for evaluation of chronic recurrent ear pruritus and a strong "musty" odor. Which of these diagnostic tests would be most useful initially? This is Answer C from the quiz.
Incorrect. Biopsying the skin is often not helpful in inflammatory ear disease since non-specific changes are commonly reported. The exception is in rare cases of primary autoimmune or immune-mediated disorders. Histology is not a sensitive method for assessing microbial diseases of the external ear canal as organisms are normally removed by disruption of the stratum corneum during tissue processing.
Try again!
Acknowledgement: The author wishes to thank Ross Bond, DVM, BVMS, PhD, DVD, MRCVS, DECVD, for the use of the photo in this quiz and for his technical guidance.
