Swab samples obtained from 96 dogs with chronic otitis externa were cultured for the isolation of Staphylococcus species. Of 57 staphylococcal strains, 41 (72%) were coagulase-negative (CNS). The identification of staphylococci strains was made by standard procedures for the routine identification of staphylococci in clinical practice. S. sciuri was the most frequent species isolated (22.8%) from chronic otitis externa in dogs followed by S. intermedius (12.3%), S. auricularis (10.5%) and S. aureus (8.8%). Three (5.2%) CNS strains could not be identified. Bacterial isolates were susceptible to enrofloxacin, gentamicin, cephalothin, chloramphenicol and neomycin. Resistance was most common to penicillin G, oxacillin and ampicillin.
Dog; otitis externa; staphylococci; antimicrobial