• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.470-473
• /
• 2012

Aromatherapy and apipuncture was evaluated for its efficacy on canine Malassezia-related otitis externa. Ten dogs with Malassezia-related otitis externa were used in the present study. The control group was treated with ketoconazole, and the experimental group was treated with aromatherapy (topical aroma-oil drop) and apipuncture (injection-acupuncture of apitoxin). Clinical scores of the control group after 2-week treatment (p < 0.01) revealed a significant decrease compared with scores of pre-treatment. Experimental group scores after 2-week treatment revealed a significant decrease compared with scores of pre-treatment (p < 0.05). In the control group, ALT levels were significantly increased in the 1-week treatment (p < 0.05) and the 2-week treatment (p < 0.01), compared with the pretreatment levels. The experimental group ALT levels did not significantly change after 1-week and the 2-week treatments, compared with pre-treatment. ALT levels of the experimental group after the 1-week treatment (p < 0.05) and the 2-week treatment (p < 0.01), was significantly lower than those of the control group. In conclusion, a combination therapy of apipuncture and topical aroma-oil drop is not hepatotoxic and similar to the effect of ketoconazole treatment for Malassezia-related otitis externa in dogs.