What should you know about veterinary use of an otoscope?

A veterinarian may use an otoscope to look for wax, inflammation, discharge, parasites, a foreign object, or injury in an animal’s ear. The animal’s anatomy, temperament, and discomfort affect how safely the canal can be examined, and sedation may be considered by the veterinary team when handling is unsafe. A device used for an animal is not a substitute for a human medical assessment, and findings in one species cannot be applied directly to another.

Arrange a veterinary appointment if your pet is scratching the ear, shaking its head, developing an odour or discharge, holding the head differently, or reacting when the ear is touched. Do not put household liquids, cotton buds, or human ear medicines into the canal unless a veterinarian has advised it. For a person with ear symptoms, a clinician can use an [Otoscope](/technology/otoscope/) during a [GP Consultation](/treatments/consultations-and-assessment/gp-consultation/).

A pet that has sudden loss of balance, marked swelling, severe pain, bleeding, or unusual sleepiness should be seen promptly by a veterinarian. For a person, sudden hearing loss, facial weakness, severe dizziness, or bleeding after an injury needs urgent medical care. Keep people and animals from sharing ear drops or instruments, even when symptoms look similar.

Ask the veterinarian whether the eardrum was visible, whether a sample or cleaning is needed, and how to give prescribed treatment safely. If a child has ear symptoms, ask about a suitable [Child Health Consultation](/treatments/consultations-and-assessment/child-health-consultation/) rather than comparing the child’s symptoms with the pet’s.