Veterinary prescription and owner use of topical aural products and antimicrobials for Golden Retriever Lifetime Study participants with otitis externa in the US (2012-2023).

Objective: To describe topical aural products and antimicrobials prescribed or administered to Golden Retriever Lifetime Study (GRLS) participants with otitis externa (OE) and to characterize OE in this population.

Methods: GRLS participants with ≥ 1 veterinarian-determined OE diagnosis during years 1 to 8 of enrollment (n = 1,755) were included. Reports of veterinary-prescribed or owner-administered topical aural products were identified in GLRS records by study year, classified (eg, prescription, nonprescription, antibiotic, antifungal), tallied, and stratified by presence of an OE diagnosis. Incidence rates (IRs) of first OE diagnosis were calculated.

Results: Among included participants, 57% (n = 1,006) had OE in > 1 study year. The IR of first OE (per 100 dog-years [95% CI]) was greater for dogs 0 to 4 years of age (IR, 58.9 [56.3 to 61.4]) than dogs > 4 years of age (IR, 19.0 [15.0 to 23.0]). We identified 4,960 topical aural product reports (83% [n = 4,138] nonprescription; 17% [822] prescription). Combined antibiotic/antifungal products represented 72% (n = 590) of prescriptions; aminoglycosides and clotrimazole were the most common antibiotic and antifungal ingredients, respectively. Of all prescriptions, 47% (n = 388) were reported in a year with no OE diagnosis. Most study years (93% [3,617 of 3,888]) with nonprescription products reported had no reported prescription products. Among study years with prescription products reported, 57% (360 of 631) had no reported nonprescription products.

Conclusions: Nonprescription product reports were 5 times greater than reports of prescription products used for OE. Nearly half of all prescription products were used in years without an OE diagnosis.

Clinical relevance: Results highlight the importance of educating owners on responsible antimicrobial use and obtaining a complete history of topical aural product use when managing canine OE.