Proactive Treatment of Canine Allergic Otitis Externa With Hydrocortisone Aceponate: A Retrospective Observational Study
Elisa Maina, Jasmine Chantale Rigert, Carlotta Filippini, Regula Cao, Ana OliveiraABSTRACT
Background
Allergic otitis externa is common in dogs and recurrence may lead to repeated consultations and antimicrobial use. Long‐term data on proactive topical corticosteroid maintenance are limited.
Objectives
To describe 12‐month relapse frequency in dogs with allergic otitis externa receiving proactive hydrocortisone aceponate maintenance therapy and compare consecutive‐day and non‐consecutive‐day schedules.
Methods
Medical records of client‐owned dogs prescribed hydrocortisone aceponate ear spray were retrospectively reviewed. Maintenance started after clinical and cytological remission. Only dogs with confirmed continuation, stable concomitant allergy management and complete 12‐month outcome data were included. Relapse was defined as recurrent otitis externa requiring veterinary examination, cytology and additional otic treatment. Dogs were grouped by schedule: Protocol 1, two consecutive days; and Protocol 2, two non‐consecutive days weekly. Outcomes were compared using Fisher exact and Mann–Whitney U tests.
Results
Seventy‐one dogs were included; 36 in Protocol 1 and 35 received Protocol 2. During 12 months, 50/71 dogs (70.4%) had no relapse, 12/71 (16.9%) had one relapse and 9/71 (12.7%) had multiple relapses. At least one relapse occurred in 9/36 dogs (25.0%) in Protocol 1 and 12/35 (34.3%) receiving Protocol 2 ( p = 0.443). Multiple relapses occurred in 2/36 (5.6%) and 7/35 (20.0%) dogs, respectively ( p = 0.085). Relapse counts did not differ significantly between protocols ( p = 0.290).
Conclusions
Most dogs had no relapse or only one relapse during proactive hydrocortisone aceponate maintenance. No statistically significant difference was detected between schedules, but equivalence or non‐inferiority cannot be concluded.