Page 212 - Zoo Animal Learning and Training

196 Tasks for the Veterinary Assistant

(a) (b) (c)

FIGURE 11.12 Cleaning the internal ear canal.

(a) (b)

FIGURE 11.13 Medicating an ear.

remaining cleanser or you can twist the cotton ball piece Occasionally, we will see a dog with hanging ears in
into a cone and put that down into the vertical ear canal. the clinic with a hematoma on the pinna. This occurs
Massage to milk the remaining solution out of the from shaking their head so vigorously because of an ear
horizontal ear canal. The ear must be dried out thor- infection and accidentally hitting the pinna on something
oughly; moisture in a warm, dark place is an incubator hard like a coffee table or doorframe. This breaks the
for bacteria and yeast. Check to see if you can see the blood vessels under the skin and causes the blood to
tympanic membrane using the otoscope. If not repeat pool under the skin. This is a secondary condition to the
the cleaning procedure until you can. Repeat for the primary disease of ear infections so both will have to be
other ear. treated. The physical sign of a hematoma is a large
Once the ear is clean it can then be medicated. Aural pocket of fluid under the skin of the pinna which
medications usually have a long tip that can be placed requires a surgical procedure to correct. Hematomas
deeply within the ear canal when there is an infection. can also be caused by a bite wound.
Remember the “patient s’ rights” and read the instruc- If you were asked to clean and medicate the ears
tions and medication label before applying. Oral and record what cleanser or solution was used, what medica-
aural are two very different medication routes! They tions were used, and if any ear swabs were done. Include
sound similar so double check to make sure you are a date, time, and your initials.
giving the right medication.
To administer the aural medications, gently grasp the
pinna with your non‐dominant hand and lift up and out. Topical Medications
Slide the tip of the aural medication as far down the
vertical ear canal as possible and give the tube a gentle Injuries and infections on the surface of the skin may
1–2 second squeeze (Figure 11.13). It is impossible to require the application of medications directly to the
know exactly how much that is but it should make a sat- affect areas. The supplies required will be a hair clipper,
isfying squishing sound as you once again massage the cleansing or antiseptic solutions, gauze sponges, and the
ear. Use a cotton ball to wipe any excess that comes out medication prescribed by the veterinarian. PPE includes
of ear or into the external ear canal and pinna. If the goggles and gloves.
excess is excessive, reduce the amount of medication Before applying the medication, the diseased skin sur-
applied in the next ear. Repeat on the other ear. face must be cleaned. The first step is usually to shave the