Smith et al: Comparison of bacteria cultured during a total ear canal ablation and subsequent incisional dehiscence in 12 dogs
Veterinary Surgery 3, 2025

🔍 Key Findings

• Only 1 of 12 dogs (8.3%) cultured the same single organism (Staphylococcus schleiferi) at TECA and dehiscence sites.
• In 58.3% (7/12), none of the bacteria from TECA cultures were found at dehiscence.
• Staphylococcus spp. were isolated in 83.3% of dehiscence samples.
• Methicillin resistance was high among Staphylococcus isolates: 80% at dehiscence.
• Antibiotic susceptibility differed in 57% (4/7) of cases where the same bacteria were cultured at both time points.
• TECA cultures were not predictive of bacteria at incisional dehiscence.
• 75% of dogs healed with either medical or surgical management.

Recommendation: Repeat cultures at dehiscence to guide antibiotic therapy.