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The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Abstract

Tympanic membrane epithelial migration (TMEM) is essential for homeostasis and self-cleaning function of the tympanic membrane and external ear canal. Otitis externa is common in small animal practice, and topical preparations are widely used for management. Although several treatments have been reported to alter TMEM rates in dogs, evidence on the effects of topical antibiotics on TMEM is limited. This study evaluated the effect of topical enrofloxacin on TMEM in healthy dogs. TMEM was assessed in both tympanic membranes of three healthy dogs (six ears) using a within-subject design with control and experimental conditions. In the experimental condition, enrofloxacin (5 mg/mL) was administered topically into the ear canal every 12 hours for 14 days, with sterile saline as the control. A 1-week washout period separated the control and experimental conditions. The TMEM rate was evaluated on days 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 using video otoscopy under sedation. Ink migration distance was measured three times in pixel units from each image, and the mean value was converted to micrometers using a calibration ratio to calculate TMEM rates. The TMEM rates between the control and experimental conditions were compared using both a paired t-test and a Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Repeated measurements of ink migration distances demonstrated excellent intra-observer reliability (average-measures ICC = 0.999). The mean TMEM rate was lower in the enrofloxacin-treated ears (97.25 ± 36.54 µm/day) than in the control ears (126.0 ± 42.07 µm/day), representing an approximately 23% reduction. The paired t-test suggested a lower TMEM rate in the enrofloxacin-treated ears (95% CI, −57.12 to −0.46 µm/day; P = 0.0476; Cohen's dz = 1.066), whereas the Wilcoxon signed-rank test did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.0625). No significant differences were observed between left and right ears in either condition (P > 0.05). These preliminary findings suggest that topical enrofloxacin may delay TMEM in healthy dogs. Further studies with larger sample sizes and under different clinical conditions are warranted to clarify these findings.

DOI

10.56808/2985-1130.4013

First Page

1

Last Page

8

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