What are rods and cocci in dogs ears?

What are rods and cocci in dogs ears?

A coccus (plural cocci) is any bacterium that has a spherical, ovoid or generally round shape. It is one of the two distinct bacterial shapes found in ears, the other being bacillus (plural bacilli) which are rod-shaped. Cocci can be arranged in pairs, e.g. Neisseria spp.

What causes rod bacteria in dogs ears?

Pseudomonas species are Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacteria. P. aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen commonly implicated as a cause of otitis externa/media in the dog. When inflammatory change occurs in the ear due to primary underlying causes, Pseudomonas overgrowth can occur leading to secondary infection.

What are rods in ear cytology?

Coccoid bacteria are likely to belong to the Staphylococcus or Streptococcus genus, while rods are usually Pseudomonas spp or Proteus spp (Angus, 2004). As mentioned before, the presence of rods on ear cytology is an indication for bacterial culture and sensitivity to be performed.

How do you treat a yeast infection in a dog’s ear?

If your dog has a yeast infection of the outer ear canal, the vet might prescribe a topical antifungal ointment or cream. Miconazole and ketoconazole are two antifungal medicines that are often effective.

What are rods and cocci?

Bacteria exhibit a wide variety of shapes but the commonly studied species of bacteria are generally either spherical in shape which are called cocci (singular coccus) or have a cylindrical shape and are called rods or bacilli (singular bacillus).

What causes a yeast infection in a dog’s ear?

If your dog swims or is bathed frequently, trapped water or debris in the ear canal can lead to yeast infections. Allergens like pollens, mold, dust, feathers, cigarette smoke, cleaning products, and certain foods can also lead to ear infections in a dog.

Can you treat a dog’s ear yeast infection with apple cider vinegar?

For skin and ear issues, topical use is ideal using a diluted 50/50 water and apple cider vinegar mixture in a spray bottle or on a cotton ball to clean out the ears.

What kind of yeast is found in dogs ears?

Yeast (Malassezia pachydermatis) may be found in low numbers in healthy ears of dogs and cats but frequently multiply with otitis externa. They are sometimes found on the surface of exfoliated squamous epithelial cells in surface cytology samples from affected ears.

Are there pathogenic organisms in dogs ear canals?

The external ear canals of most dogs and cats harbor small numbers of commensal gram-positive cocci and yeast. These organisms may become pathogenic if the microenvironment is changed and encourages their overgrowth.

What is the purpose of skin and ear cytology?

Skin surface and ear cytology is the most frequently used dermatologic diagnostic technique in practice. Its’ purpose is to help you identify bacterial or fungal organisms (yeast) and to assess the infiltrating cell types, neoplastic cells or acantholytic keratinocytes.

How to treat yeast otitis exudate in dogs?

Yeast otitis typically responds well to topical therapy that includes an antifungal and steroid to help reduce inflammation. In addition to stained cytology, otic exudate should be examined for eggs, larvae, or adults of the ear mite Otodectes cynotis and Demodex spp mites in dogs and cats, and Psoroptes cuniculi in rabbits and goats.