TECA-BO Surgery in Dogs

What It Is, Why It's Needed, What to Expect, and How We Support You

Why Might Your Pet Need This Surgery?

A Total Ear Canal Ablation with Bulla Osteotomy (TECA-BO) is a surgical procedure performed to treat chronic, end-stage ear disease that no longer responds to medical therapy. Common reasons for this surgery include:

  • Chronic, painful ear infections (otitis externa/media)
  • Severe calcification or narrowing of the ear canal
  • Recurrent ear hematomas, abscesses, or drainage
  • Tumors or polyps obstructing the ear canal
  • Deep middle ear infections causing head tilt or pain

This surgery is considered the definitive treatment for long-term comfort in dogs with severe, or end-stage ear disease.

Referrals Required for This Surgery

Our hospital does not provide diagnostic or consultation services for suspected total ear canal ablation. Instead, your pet's care is transferred to us once a referring veterinarian has performed the diagnostic workup and recommended surgery.

We require a referral for the following reasons:

  • The decision to pursue surgery should be made with your primary veterinarian, who knows your pet's medical history, has completed the necessary diagnostics (such as x-rays or ultrasound), and can discuss the full range of treatment options with you.
  • Our surgical team's role begins after surgery has been advised. We do not offer in-clinic imaging, diagnostics, or pre-surgical consultations.
  • A referral allows us to prioritize patient safety by reviewing complete records and understanding the medical background before proceeding with anesthesia and surgery.

What qualifies as a referral?

We're flexible. A referral can be as simple as:

  • A shared set of medical records from your veterinarian
  • A treatment plan indicating that surgery has been recommended
  • A brief summary emailed, texted, or faxed from your vet's team
  • Direct communication between our team and your rDVM

Our team will review the records in advance, and if we have any questions, we'll reach out directly to the referring clinic.

If you're a pet owner, please talk with your veterinarian first about whether surgery is the right option. Once that decision is made, we're here to provide safe, compassionate, and efficient surgical care.

What Does the Surgery Involve?

TECA-BO involves surgical removal of the entire ear canal down to the bulla (middle ear chamber). The bulla is opened (osteotomy), cleaned of infected material, and flushed thoroughly. The skin is closed over the site. Sometimes a drain may be placed if infection is present.

The procedure is done under general anesthesia with full monitoring and pain management.

Are There Alternatives?

In early stages of ear disease, medical management with topical or oral medications may help. However, once the canal is mineralized or infected deep into the middle ear, surgery is the only option that can relieve pain and resolve infection.

What Are the Benefits?

  • Permanent relief from chronic pain and infection
  • Resolution of ear discharge, odor, and head-shaking
  • Prevention of long-term neurologic complications
  • Improved comfort and quality of life

What Are the Risks?

  • Anesthetic complications
  • Bleeding, infection, or wound breakdown
  • Facial nerve damage (may cause temporary or permanent drooping)
  • Vestibular damage (may cause temporary or permanent instability and dizziness)
  • Fistula formation or drainage from the surgical site
  • Rare recurrence of infection in the bulla

What's Included in Our Surgical Care

Surgery Package: $1,534.00

Price includes:

  • A personalized anesthesia plan with multimodal pain control
  • IV catheter placement and fluids
  • Anesthesia and multiparameter monitoring
  • TECA-BO with bulla flushing and closure
  • Post-op stabilization and in-clinic recovery
  • Take-home medications (pain control and antibiotics)
  • Discharge instructions and recovery plan

When Additional Care Is Needed

In some cases, pets require more intensive or ongoing care after surgery. Because we are an outpatient only clinic, transfer to an overnight hospital may be recommended.

Pets may need overnight care, especially if:

  • They are slow to recover from anesthesia due to age, size, or preexisting conditions
  • They require IV pain control or sedation after surgery

If this happens, we will coordinate a transfer to an emergency or specialty facility, and any costs associated with that transfer and continued care will be the owner’s responsibility.

Aftercare: What to Expect at Home

Your pet will go home with:

  • Prescription medications for pain and infection control
  • Instructions for activity restriction and wound care
  • Details on when to return for recheck or suture removal

Most pets start to feel better quickly once the infection is removed, but healing takes time. We're here to help every step of the way.

Have Questions?

Please reach out to our team. We are happy to review records, coordinate with your veterinarian, and guide you through this process.