Osurnia, a new treatment for inflamed or infected canine ears, also may help with owner compliance because of its makeup and dosing schedule, according to manufacturer Elanco Animal Health. Osurnia (florfenicol/terbinafine/betamethasone acetate) comes in gel-filled, single-dose tubes that are administered seven days apart to treat canine otitis externa. A dog owner is instructed to squeeze the gel into the ear canal through a flexible, soft tip, and then gently massage the ear to spread the medication. The two-dose regimen should appeal to owners, Elanco stated today in announcing the launch of the drug. “Pet owner compliance is one of the biggest challenges veterinarians face when treating otitis externa in dogs,” said Wayne Rosenkrantz, DVM, Dipl. ACVD, of Animal Dermatology Clinic in Tustin, Calif. “With Osurnia, the innovation of an effective treatment administered in just two doses is much more convenient for pet owners and will increase the likelihood that they will complete the entire treatment program.” Osurnia was developed by Novartis Animal Health, which received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of the drug before Elanco acquired the company earlier this year. Osurnia is indicated for the treatment of otitis externa associated with susceptible strains of the bacteria Staphylococcus pseudintermedius or the yeast Malassezia pachydermatis. It should not be used on dogs with ruptured eardrums or those hypersensitive to florfenicol, terbinafine or corticosteroids, Elanco noted. Elanco is headquartered in Greenfield, Ind.
