Fibroepithelial Polyps of the Ear Canal in Dogs: A Retrospective Analysis of 17 Cases.

Aural fibroepithelial polyps in brachycephalic dogs cause chronic otitis and are curatively managed via endoscopic removal.

This retrospective case series describes fibroepithelial polyps (FEPs) of the ear canal in 14 dogs, with 17 polyps identified between 2018 and 2025. All affected dogs were brachycephalic breeds, predominantly French bulldogs. Twelve dogs had histories of chronic-recurrent otitis externa, and ten had concurrent atopic dermatitis diagnoses. Cytological analysis revealed neutrophilic inflammation with bacterial overgrowth in 14 of 17 cases. Computed tomography detected 15 polyps, while video-otoscopy successfully identified all lesions as pedunculated masses of variable size. All polyps were endoscopically removed using polypectomy snares or grasping forceps. Histopathological examination confirmed characteristic features: fibrous cores with narrow stalks, epithelial covering (keratinized or keratinized-ciliated), and bone trabeculae in 13 polyps. Two dogs required repeat procedures for complete removal of residual fragments. Follow-up data (1-80 months) showed 13 of 14 dogs remained recurrence-free. This study establishes distinctive diagnostic and histological criteria for aural FEPs and demonstrates that their identification and removal may be critical for resolving chronic-recurrent otitis in dogs.

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