Post–anesthesia deafness in dogs and cats following dental and ear cleaning procedures

The canine jaw‐ear connection: The malleomandibular and tympanomandibular ligaments

“…Acute onset deafness in dogs and cats can occur following dental and ear procedures done under anesthesia (Stevens‐Sparks and Strain, ). The majority (66%) of reported cases were dental related (Stevens‐Sparks and Strain, ). This raises the question of a potential jaw‐ear connection in the dog.…”

Ear

“…90 Acquired deafness may be sensorineural or conductive. 93 Deafness or impaired hearing will be seen postoperatively after total ear canal ablation. 91,92 Deafness may be acquired following ear cleaning under general anesthesia and concurrent vestibular dysfunction was noted in some animals, with resolution of these signs in all cases.…”

Handheld tympanometer measurements in conscious dogs for the evaluation of the middle ear and auditory tube

“…Deafness may result from loss of neurons in the cochlea (sensorineural deafness) or from obstruction of sound transmission into the cochlea (conductive deafness). Conductive deafness may result from a variety of causes, including otitis externa and/or media, cerumen impaction, ear canal inflammation, ear canal foreign bodies (awns) and middle ear polyps …”

“…Conductive deafness may result from a variety of causes, including otitis externa and/or media, cerumen impaction, ear canal inflammation, ear canal foreign bodies (awns) and middle ear polyps. 9,10 Tympanometry, or impedance audiometry, is a noninvasive method of examining the function of the middle ear while varying the atmospheric pressure in the external ear canal and inferring the amount of sound energy that is transmitted through the tympanum by measuring the reflected sound energy. 11,12 Pressure is typically varied from À400 to +200 daPa (decapascals or mmH 2 O) while a continuous 226 Hz tone is presented, and the intensity of reflected sound is measured and plotted as a function of ear canal pressure.…”