Samples from otitis externa in the dog were cultured on a variety of media under different conditions of incubation in order to assess the most suitable conditions, especially for the isolation of Malassezia pachydermatis. Columbia blood and MacConkey agar at 37 degrees C for 24 h with air and Sabouraud glucose agar under microaerophilic conditions for 48 h at 37 degrees C were considered the ideal combination.