Few maladies impress my clients quite like a pendulous ear swollen to ten times its legal limit. That’s what most ear hematomas look like when they arrive. Parents newly initiated to the charms of this disorder are invariably impressed—and, dare I say it—overly concerned.
Of course the pet is stressed and uncomfortable, though perhaps only marginally more so than just before the ear was hit or shaken hard enough to burst some of the ear-flap’s vascular plumbing. It’s this leaky pipe in the space between the ear cartilage and the skin that’s to blame for the bubble of blood that makes an ear swell so prodigiously. And the ear was usually uncomfortable to begin with, thus occasioning the vigorous flapping that ended up in this skin and cartilage-bounded blood-balloon.
Last week’s patient was fairly typical of these cases. Her pendulous black Lab ears had been bothering her for days with the same summer concern that dogs her every year: allergies yielding to external ear infections. Such infections are more itchy and chronically persnickety than outright painful (unlike the ouchy middle ear infections parents fear in their human offspring). But a few firm flaps (or one good whap against a wall) and now she has a blood blister worthy of veterinary attention.
Mom’s reaction was also typical: “I came home from work and there it was! I can’t believe she’d been suffering all day like that!” Meanwhile, little Miss Blackie was happily showing off her submissive grin and wagging her butt in undeterred Labrador enthusiasm. The bulge hanging off the side of her head could have been a Santa hat for all she cared. (That’s a Lab for you.)
Now it was time to disabuse Mom of the notion that said bulge might imminently explode (as a neighbor had cautioned her might transpire were she to ignore the impending doom implied by the swelling).
After talking her down from the ledge (no, it’s not any more painful than the superficial ear infection she’s had for a few days now and no, it’s not going to explode in a shower of bloody fluid all over your white furniture—I promise) and treating the ear infection, I then gave her the option of having it surgically reduced (most commonly this involves slicing the ear neatly, extracting the fluid then quilting down the layers over the affected ear) or living with the consequences (a slow return to relative flatness with some crinkling of the ear as it heals).
So you know, most cases find me trying my best to talk people into living with the ear-bubble as it slowly recedes into its less-than-perfect end-state. That’s because the alternative is one of a couple different surgical procedures with a series of frequent bandagings and rebandagings that sometimes go on for a couple of weeks. It’s a pain—quite literally—for a sensitive, post surgical ear to have to undergo such attention. But most people fear the thought of an ugly ear more than they can imagine the stress and pain of an ear in bondage.
The decision often comes down to cosmetics (and human stress over the sight of a pet’s current discomfort), which is why I find that many vets don’t even offer the alternative of leaving the ear to its own physiologic devices. But you should know that most ear hematoma cases can do well without surgery.
Having suffered this condition multiple times with my long-lost Agatha (a boxer who saw me through vet school), it irks me a little that hematomas are almost invariably treated surgically. The first episode found me repairing the ear with painful consequences. The two following episodes healed blissfully (though somewhat less attractively) on their own. Given a choice, I’d opt always for less pain, more crinkling.
Indeed there are some times when the ear’s swelling is so severe that it makes treating the itchy infection difficult without surgery (this seems especially true for cat ear hematomas). And there are other cases where the inciting cause is not trauma or ear infection. A blood clotting problem combined with a simple bump to the ear can also make ear hematomas happen. Surgery in these cases is contraindicated.
So next time you’re faced with the itch and stress of Miss Blackie’s condition, consider all your alternatives. Every vet’s going to have a different take, no doubt, but as always, you should listen to your options, ask good questions and never listen to your neighbor—that ear’s not going to explode (I promise).
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My lab mix pooch's first hematoma was treated surgically ... laser holes and quilt stitching. The result? A permanently wrinkled, bent ear (the mix part of his heritage endowed him with erect ears). Letting it heal on its own might have been the better option. I wasn't really given a choice. The vet felt letting it heal on it's own would have left the skin permanently detached and susceptible to another hematoma. Ha! He got another in spite of the surgery. I am sad that his ears no long match but I tell him and myself he now has a rakish look.
jane August 13th, 2007 11:21:00 AM
How about leeches? These have been used very successfully on humans with large hematomas. They are quick, efficient and cheap. Let them attach and feed for 30 minutes to an hour. They also leave an anticoagulant effect locally so a good deal of the remaining bllod can leak out on its own. They are painless and the dog won't be squeamish even if the owner is. Take a look at http://student.bmj.com/back_issues/0898/data/0898e...
kate7047 August 13th, 2007 12:20:00 PM
A number of years ago, I had a Lab / Golden cross that would get the occasional hematoma.
My vet at the time had a simple way of dealing with them.
A incision was made to release the pressure and get rid of most of the blood under the skin. Then he put a drain in the area for about a week so any remaining fluid would drain on its own.
I don't remember there every being any type of quilting or wrinkling of the skin as a result of the treatment that was used.
Stacy August 13th, 2007 12:35:00 PM
"Meanwhile, little Miss Blackie was happily showing off her submissive grin and wagging her butt in undeterred Labrador enthusiasm. The bulge hanging off the side of her head could have been a Santa hat for all she cared. (That’s a Lab for you.)"
HaHaHa.....haven't had any fat ears yet, but could've sworn that was my Labby boy CJ you were describing! Especially the bit about butt wagging.
The way he chases tennis balls though, I'm expecting major head trauma just about every day -
this boy's brakes are nowhere near adequate for the eagerness he shows. Haematomas will be almost a relief compared to the cracked skull or broken nose l envisage - but if I don't throw the ball for him, he throws it himself......
jcat August 13th, 2007 05:17:00 PM
I volunteer at a shelter, and once we had a cat who came in with a crumpled ear -- it had a hematoma in the past. Before I knew what had happened, I thought he had some kind of infection. He kind of looked like a [human] boxer with a cauliflower ear. Poor guy was also older, and not especially outgoing. I think the ear put a lot of people off, even when we put a note explaining that it wasn't a tumor or infectious.
Mr. Scruffy August 13th, 2007 09:39:00 PM
The weirdest ear hematoma I ever did was on a Siberian Husky, not exactly the poster child for ear problems. This pet had a very itchy right ear that finally developed a hematoma on the right pinna. After relieving the hematoma and doing my suturing, I did an otoscopic exam--and found a very fat and happy tick about halfway down the ear canal that was attached!
Needless to say, the tick came out, and I added Frontline to the medications that were sent home.
Andrew Abshier August 13th, 2007 09:46:00 PM
Kate7047: I love the idea of leeches! Maybe that's weird but my boyfrind (a vet surgeon) thinks they're cool, too. We discussed the issue while driving through Vermont yesterday (they have great WiFi all over the state) and he thinks leeches' anti-coagulant effect would likely make them a contraindication in ear hematomas. Worth a look-see, though. He doesn't know of anyone using them in vet medicine except in wound management. btw, I met a surgeon last January at a conference who was discussing their use in a lecture--so your suggestion is right on point with where we're headed in animal medicine, too.
Dr. Patty Khuly August 14th, 2007 11:13:00 AM
Patty, Hematomas are the MAIN indication for the use of medicinal leeches in humans, and their anticoagulant effect is considered helpful. They were initially re-introduced to medicine to deal with risky blood collections in transplanted patients. I don't think they have a lot of systemic anticoag effect, but it remains locally for awhile. The site will leak out a lot of the remaining blood, so while it may be messy with a dog that you really can't bandage, it really seems to do a good job. I saw it used once when I was in medical school (at Jackson) on a plastic surgery patient. It was very cool. One leech is good for about 20 cc of blood, so a good size hematoma might need 3 or 4 leeches, but they're only around $8 each and they will fedex them to you overnight. If my Golden had one I'd like to give it a try!
kate7047 August 14th, 2007 02:13:00 PM
Kate: Love it! Will look into it further!
Dr. Patty Khuly August 14th, 2007 04:51:00 PM
I've just recently started reading your blog - and thoroughly enjoy it!
I always treat othæmatomas as outpatients - first doing nothing for 2-3 days (to let the blood get a chance to clot), then I drain the hæmatoma, inject a bit of long-acting prednisolone and bandage the ear with moderate pressure around a roll of gauze - in most cases the othæmatoma resolves with 1-2 drainings and 10-14 days of bandage, and no cringling of the ear. Only twice have I resolved to surgery in these patients.
Mette August 14th, 2007 05:59:00 PM
Mette: Goes to show there are as many ways of treating hematomas as there are docs! Welcome to the blog!
Dr. Patty Khuly August 15th, 2007 10:50:00 AM
My lovely, sweet big fluffy pink kittycat Ozzie got a big, nasty-looking hematoma on his right ear a few months ago, and I felt just like the alarmed clietnts you described. Fortunately, my vet also took the wait-it-out approach, and convinced me (not TOO hard to do) to let it heal on its own. He mentioned the possibility that by creating a wound, treatment could easily exacerbate the problem, especially if the cat then began worrying at it (as cats are so wont to do). There is still considerable bumpiness in the ear, but it is getting better, and most importantly, has caused no additional problems.
What a pleasure to have a vet who doesn't push for treatments when waiting is a good option. Even several years after leaving a practice where more treatment was almost ALWAYS not just recommended, but actively pushed (as in, you aren't a very good person if you don't do this!), I still find this amazing and refreshing. The vet I left was in many ways a good vet, but he certainly knew how to make a lot of money treating things that would probably resolve just as well without treatment. And I then had less money available to take care of more serious things that came up...This vet is a very good vet, and this whole episode illustrates one reason why. Sometimes all we really need is information, and IMHO a vet who tells you what you need to know, including talking you out of doing something that isn't really the best first tactic, is very good indeed. I'll trust him when he tells me something really does need to be done.
I just stumbled onto your blog today and have been so impressed. I greatly enjoy your thoughtful approach to the topics I've read so far, and your writing is exquisite. I'll be reading (and posting, no doubt)much more. Thank you for putting the time into this.
Judy Ditmer August 19th, 2007 05:53:00 PM
My 13 year old Border Collie Sheltie mix (Abbie) had an ear hematoma. The vet recommended a lazer treatment that would pierce several tiny holes in her ear to relieve the build up of blood and then seal the holes at the cost of a whopping $800.00.
With her age and the cost I decided to treat her naturally so I researched the web and found a site that recommended homeopathy. I gave her arnica montana, ferrum phosphoricum and hamamelis virginiana twice a day. I also gently bathed her ear with diluted white vinegar and water once per day. Within eight weeks the hematoma was gone and tho' her ear has a little floppyness to it I am very grateful that I did not have to put her through the trauma of surgery and myself through the trauma of forking out such a large sum of money!
Lizzie September 2nd, 2007 08:29:00 AM
Lizzie,
I love what you did for your dog. I was wondering where did you get the arnica montana and other stuff and how much did it cost? Has the hematoma come back? Thank you for sharing that information.
Belinda
Belinda Valenzuela September 18th, 2007 01:16:00 AM
I just went through a terrible stint with my beautiful black lab and his hematoma. The vet strongly advised surgery, so I did it. My dog came out with 8 buttons around the incision. He was left alone for 15 minutes and managed to ripp his collar and 2 buttons. A few days later he ripped 4 more buttons out, opened the incision wide open and bloodied my carpet and walls. I took him back to the Vet in tears, I must have looked pathetic. He was bandaged and kenneled for the next week. As soon as the incision closed he is back to the very same puffy filled ear, plus a scar. I am now going to try the natural way, I put hot compresses on it every nite. The stress and money were not worth the surgery what so ever. My walls got a good scrub down and the carpet freshly shampooed though....
N October 15th, 2007 10:26:00 AM
MyWeimaraner has had surgical intervention for four hematomas of the ears. Poor thing just can't get a break. She flaps her ears and whamo, a hematoma forms. Last time the surgery had to be repeated because the flap kept closing and puffing up again. I have treated her allergies faithfully and yet her ears itch. I'm at my wits end, I don't think there can be any more vessels left to break!
Susan October 15th, 2007 10:02:00 PM
I found this blog last week after my 12 year old cat developed a hematoma in one of her ears last Friday. Don't know how it happened but it's there. It takes up her entire ear. We have been using the wait it out method but so far we haven't seen any improvement. How long should it take before we see some improvement? She seems really uncomfortable and unhappy so I'm starting to think about breaking down and taking her to the vet. But I hate to do that because she hates going to the vet and that will add stress and because I know the vet will charge a ton to treat this. Which I would gladly pay if I knew it wouldn't go away on its own.
So, I guess I'm just looking for some reassurance that it will go away and also some timeframe when I can expect her to find some relief.
Karen B. October 18th, 2007 03:34:00 PM
It has been 3 weeks since my dog had surgery, which failed and the ear filled back up, however it is now showing signs of healing, but it will be rather thick compared to his other ear. It is no longer inflammed and does not appear to bother him. I am hoping it will completely heal soon.
Jo October 25th, 2007 12:05:00 PM
Hi- I opted for surgery to heal an aural hematoma and my Chessie strategically removed the bandage within a few days. The vet then removed the drain because of slight infection and wham after a couple of days the hematoma came right back. After getting a second opinion from another vet office, I was told to either do surgery again or leave it alone. I think I'm going to opt for leaving it along since the past week has been extremely stressful for me and my dog. His ear is being treated for a yeast infection. Does anyone know how long it will take for a large hematoma to go away on its own?
JL November 12th, 2007 10:07:00 AM
JL,
My cat's hematoma appeared on 10/12/07. And was HUGE (filled the entire ear flap). We have done the wait it out approach and just about a week ago I noticed that it was starting to heal and go down. The swelling is about 1/4 of what it was at its largest. It is going to be all wrinkled and I don't know if her ear will ever be erect again, but I think we made a good choice for her.
Hope this gives you some idea about how long it can take to heal. (It's taken a lot longer than I thought it would already and we've still got a ways to go.)
Karen
Karen B. November 12th, 2007 10:28:00 AM
Thanks for your reply! Did you ever take your cat to the vet? Did they say it was life treatening, etc.? Just wondering because I heard two different opinions from both vets I talked to. One said leave it alone, the other recommended surgery- which is what I opted for since she stated a 90% success rate but obviously it didn't work for us.
So, looks like we'll be waiting for at least a couple of months for the hematoma to go away :(
JL November 12th, 2007 03:14:00 PM
It has now been a month since my labs failed surgery and his ear is looking like it will heal on its own. There is a thickening of the skin and some fluid still in there but it does not bother him at all. I have watched his ears closely. I would opt for naturally healing over surgery.
Jo November 13th, 2007 04:15:00 PM
Wish I'd read this when it was posted; my English shepherd developed a hematoma a couple months ago, and I felt all alone in rejecting my vet's recommendation for general anesthesia and surgical intervention. (Moe has suffered a full week of misery after both PennHIP and neutering anesthesias.)
I elected to let it heal on its own, and it has. It's a little lumpy, and he's no longer symmetrical, but doesn't seem to mind. It wasn't bothering him while it persisted. To me, no pain + no danger = leave it the hell alone.
It remains a mystery. Moe has small semi-erect tulip ears, not houndy flaps. There was no infection, he wasn't scratching or shaking his head, no parasites, nothing inside the ear. Maybe he got something in there and did the damage dislodging it. My vet insisted that I make him wear an e-collar "because he *must* be scratching it." The e-collar touched the ear and was clearly irritating, causing him to shake his head! I released the little dude from the hated cone and he stopped shaking. Gradually the fluid went away.
I didn't *think* I was bucking some kind of universal veterinary consensus when I declined surgery and earned the hairy eyeball, but it's good to find some confirmation somewhere. All the usual veterinary websites presented the surgery as the automatic option.
H Houlahan December 9th, 2007 01:47:00 AM
I'm so glad I came across this page. I found my dog's hematoma this morning (Dual! One on each ear!) and was obviously worried about it. Everything that I had read prior to this told me that she'd need an expensive surgery. We have three dogs now and have just recently made the decision that if the result is just ugly or cosmetic in nature...well, we'll just have to let it pan out. The costs are just too extravagant and I don't mind a bit of personality to her ear if that's what happens. This is the first page that I came across saying it might be okay if she's not showdog pretty!
I did make the diagnostic decision that it was allergic in nature...only her lobes looked effected (probably shook her floppy ears too hard) but the inner ear showed no redness and she wasn't sensitive to my touch. Her ears were dirty and had some scratches, so I used an over-the-counter ear cleaner tewice today. I gave her a a benadryl to stop the itch and help her rest, and a baby aspirin to ease the pain and thin the blood (hoping it would help the clot recede).
I also pinned her ears with an ace bandage so she couldn't shake her ears and add to the injury.
I applied a cold compress to her ears every once in a while...only because I thought she'd be more uncomfortable not being able to expell heat through her ears and because it seemed to make her feel better...no science behind it. I just tried to make her comfortable. I even pinned her ears on top of her head a couple times (after I cleaned them to help them air and dry out). Maybe it's just me but she seemed cooler. Also, when she tried to shake off the ace bandage (which held pretty well on it's own) I used an old tee shirt sleeve as a "babushka"...I also used a bandana in the same manner earlier...just for kicks. My poor dog...it's been like playing dressup!
I started this morning at 9:00am and it's now about 6:30pm. Good thing it's a lazy Saturday. One ear has completely receded (making me think that I caught it at just the right time) it only showed slight swelling (it felt overly puffy... like there was a little balloon in the middle...that's how I describe it). But it's back to normal now.
The other is still puffy but hasn't gotten bigger for hours...I think mostly because she's been able to leave it alone since they're tied and maybe the cold compresses are keeping the swelling down. I could keep this up pretty easily tomorrow too on a lazy Sunday.
Obviously, anyone reading this should do their own research or consult their vet. All I'm saying is that if this is what I have to do to avoid surgery then I'll try it. It's a lot of attention but almost free (minus the $10 I spent on some ear cleaner, an ace bandage, and some baby aspiin).
Alicia December 15th, 2007 06:57:00 PM
My weimaraner has a hematoma that has been drained twice but keeps filling back up. It is to the point that it looks like it will explode. It consumes the whole ear so that her ear canal is almost swollen shut. The last time my vet looked at it she was worried that it may burst. Is there truth that the ear won't burst. Will it eventually go down on its own? Right now it is so heavy she holds her head down on the side of the hematoma when she walks. I would really like to wait it out because of how sore she was from draining it the last time. Does anyone have experience with an ear being this full and it going down on its own?
gina December 17th, 2007 07:26:00 PM
GINA: One of my rules is that a hematoma occluding the canal deserves a surgical solution (unlike many of the others where surgery id optional. The only time I've ever seen one "explode" or weep was when it was continually drained (not by me!) and ended up infected. Your dog is clearly uncomfortable and needs the infection in his ear attended to. That won't likely happen until it's gotten surgical attention. I'm not your vet so I can't say for sure but this sounds like a whopper of a hematoma I would fix surgically ASAP.
Dr. Patty Khuly December 19th, 2007 12:47:00 PM
Well my typical African dog (which I rescued from the local Mombasa SPCA) also developed an aural hematoma. I left it a couple of days, but the ear was so filled with blood that you could tell it was really aqnnoying him, and he was walking iwth his head to one side and obviously distressed. So I took him to the vet. I thought the ear would be drained, but oh no - the vet suggested a full blown op.Wow, I was so surprised at this recommendation. But I went along with him,cos he's the expert.
He had the op. on Thursday and the vet told me to take the bandage off today, Saturday. Well I took the bandage off and there seemed to be quite a lot of watery blood discharge. And then I had to laugh - the poor guy had four shirt buttons sewn in his ear to stop the crinkling, I suppose. Well, the bandage had only been off for one minute before he started to try and claw these buttoms off. So "Mum" immediately ran for the Elizabethan collar and put it on now. Now he is one very very unhappy guy with this collar on, but whats the alternative?? My nearest vet is one hours drive away and I dont want him ripping the stitches and buttons out. If I have to live with this for 10 days till the stitches come out, I really dont know who is going to be more stressed out - Rusty or me!!
Rozanne December 22nd, 2007 11:09:00 AM
I have been researching this topic for since my baby popped up with a nice hematoma. I have been back and forth about the procedure and what is right to do for him. I know it nice to find Dr's who can be humans and not just $ signs. Thank you for that, I have a hard time trusting the idea of surgery but I also hate to think I will regret letting his ear heal. I have kept ice and heat soothe his discomfort, what do I do for mine? This is killing me. I have yet to see a picture of these crinkled ear and if anyone can offer one, please. I just wish this did not happen to me or to any of these sweet babies.
I am not sure what to give him for pain, I had read asprin, baby asprin, Benadryl..how often should I put vinegar/water in his ear to clean it? I can't handle overdoing it and hurting him more so I have yet to give him medicine and have cleaned his ears once with the solution but I have been cleansing the ear outside and soothing it for him. I managed to keep him from flapping his ears, he got away with it one time. I am going to read these posts over again.....anyone want to address me, I would greatly appreciate it....I am at home for the holidays with my sick baby being a baby. Thank gosh my other dog and my cat are helping me be nurse mate. I added pics click on link to see two pictures...not sure what I am dealing with!!! Never even knew this could happen!! Happy Holidays!!!
http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/3361/img1896ac5...
http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/3585/img1900ri5...
but my baby's ear...this just stinks all the way a December 24th, 2007 07:32:00 AM
I have to say that my stress levels are soaring by the minute. With his Elizabethan collar on, Rusty has now demolished my favourite CD player as well as the table it was sitting on. He is an outdoor "watchdog" and so sleeps out - I could hear all this weird noise last night and wondered what it was - then I realised it was Rusty trying to get the E-Collar off. When I got up this morning, there was Rusty grinning from ear to ear as if to say "Hey Mom - Look what I did in the night - No collar, good eh?" Not only that, one of the four shirt buttons has already been clawed out.
This is Christmas Eve - and I am at my wits end - cos this is Africa, man - and you wont find a vet on duty till next Friday at least. IN the menatime, what do I do if he rips the other buttons out and starts to bleed?????
Rozanne December 24th, 2007 10:50:00 AM
I am wondering how bad the crumpling usually is wish there were more pictures online of end hematoma results, both with surgery and without.
My cat has a hematoma that fills the top half of her ear. It was smaller to begin with, but due to finanical limitations I could not afford surgery. It got much, much bigger, and has not stopped growing yet! And it has been a week. She is going in for surgery tomorrow because it just continues to grow. The paycheck I was waiting on finally came in, so I can afford it now. My question is, what kind of results can I expect in terms of the appearance of the ear? It is bent over with the hematoma. What are the chances that her ear will stand up again after the surgery?
LivingArt February 4th, 2008 12:25:00 PM
My lab has a hematoma that is taking up half his ear. He was being treated with antibiotics at the time and was flapping away when it formed. It does not interfere with his orifice and does not appear painful. What are the risks if I do nothing and wait?
NA February 8th, 2008 03:25:00 PM
Joey just lost half of one ear. The stretching of the skin caused the tissue to die off. He is my little Nemo.
Joey March 14th, 2008 09:52:00 AM
My Demi (cat) got a hematoma a couple of months ago when her "sis-fur" whapped her upside her head. Luckily I had and honest and ethical vet who told me that as long as it was the result of trauma and there wasn't an infection or infestation as the root cause to treat, my best course of action was to allow the hematoma to be reabsorbed by the body naturally. It took quite a while to go down - don't expect results in a few days, it could be a couple of months. This is how she looks now with her crinkled little ear, but I would rather that than have had to put her through the stress and risks of surgery: http://www.possibleplaces.com/catnipped/Demi21/
CatNipped
Lori Crews April 17th, 2008 05:17:00 PM
Oh, thank you for this post. My dog just got his first hematoma and while it's getting a little bigger than it was this past week, I can't afford the surgery. Plus, he is a much older dog (going on 11 years!) and I'm afraid it would be too much for him, during and after. We're going to keep attention on it and work on getting his ears clean with the vinegar and water method. I think it will go down, we've bounced him back from ailments many times before without a vet. He won't mind the messed up ear - just as long as he gets his treats from mom, lol.
Brooke July 21st, 2008 11:46:00 AM
My 4 yr old black cat Jimi (named after Hendrix of course) has a large jematoma that developed overnite. Jimi had what we refer to as a "trauma" 2 years ago that has left him terrified of strangers, especially noisy trucks and men! We moved a mobile home off our property and two miles up the street and into the hills. Jimi was hiding up inside the insulation under the mobile when it was moved. The mobile was then placed on a pad in the middle of no were in the woods. It was snowy (January), 17 degrees and there he was for a full week, huddled underneath the mobile in the insulation wondering where the heck he was and not having a clue how to get home. Well, after a week of searching for him, I finally hiked the 2 miles to the mobile, found him and took him home. He has been in his "trauma" mode since then - scared to death of everything and everyone who comes over. So, taking him to a vet, having surgery, etc. for his hematoma is not something I want to put him through. I am choosing to wait it out, hoping that there is no infection that will make him sick. We are on about 4 days of the hematoma, so I guess it will be quite awhile before I notice any change...
Marilyn Campbell August 23rd, 2008 01:17:00 PM
Just found a hematoma on our 11 yrs cat this a.m. and took him to the vet. We were told that the non-surgical path would take about 2 mo. and would get the krinkle effect. He does not have an infection. We were given the information about the surgery and the collar he'd have to wear and have decided not put him thru that and to wait it out. May try a cool compress to give him relief as the skin feels really warm to the touch. The cost would be between $600-$1000 if we had his teeth and ears cleaned at the same time.
S Hunt August 23rd, 2008 11:15:00 PM
My 17-yr-old cat currently is suffering from an aural hematoma. My vet wisely advised against surgical intervention as my cat is aged and unlikely to survive the anesthesia. I have opted for the leech approach just to alleviate the pain/pressure. Should receive my medicinal leech in the mail on Thursday and will give it a try.
Natalie August 25th, 2008 10:08:00 PM
My lab has an ear hematoma. I am so confused and scared about what this means. Most websites I've found suggests surgery. I am a broke college student and would do ANYTHING for my dog but surgery is expensive. I went to one vet, who very sternly told me that she would need surgery. She did not discuss any other option. She took her temperature (normal), she checked her ears (no sign of mites, or ticks, or excessive wax). I explained to her that my Lady Dawg shakes vigurously after every romp in the water. We also have another dog who plays with her and sometimes they play rough. She agreed that these could all have been the cause of the hematoma but she said that in any case, surgery was my only option. I paid my bill for the examination and left very scared. I cant afford the surgery but I will beg, steal, and borrow to have it done if necessary. I have even filled out a loan application but I am not sure I will be approved. At this point, I am just waiting and praying. The hematoma is on her ear flap and her ear canal seems clear and unobstructed. She shakes her head (occasionally), she is not scratching the ear, and in fact it doesn't seem to bother her at all. I just want to do what is right, for her. I love her very very much.
Vickie August 25th, 2008 11:44:00 PM
Vickie,
I'm not a vet, but I spoke to two vets about my cat's ear and both said a hematoma is not life threatening and usually are best left to heal themselves. My mom had surgery on her cat's hematoma and the ear is still crinkly after a $98 surgery which was probably more painful for the cat than the hematoma was in the first place. I would say get a second opinion if you're concerned for your dog, but spending the money for surgery is probably not necessary from what I've been told and read.
Natalie August 26th, 2008 09:54:00 PM
I used the leeches I purchased on my cat's hematoma for the first time with a certain amount of success. The only difficulty is soothing the cat while the leech does its job. I used an inch of a clear drinking straw and inserted the leech head first in the straw and then as the leech made its way to the end I presented it to the ear. It attached quickly and then I just held the cat's head so it wouldn't shake the leech loose. They attach their other sucker end to another part of the ear while feeding. I don't think the cat felt it other than the squirming of the leech at first annoyed the cat. I didn't see a noticeable decrease in the blood mass because I was only able to distract the cat for about 20 minutes before he shook the leech loose. The ear did continue to bleed at the site for a while after which was good. The literature with the leech explained that leech saliva has an antibiotic quality as well as an anticoagulant so I hope it continues to improve the ear somewhat. We'll keep trying it at short intervals as long as the leeches and cat will tolerate it. I would guess a dog might be a better patient as a long, floppy ear would be easier to work with and a dog might be a more willing patient. Hope this info helps others who might want to try this method.
Natalie August 28th, 2008 10:42:00 PM
hi my dog had surgery for an ear hemotoma on 7-24-08, he it is now 8-29-08 the insicion is still opened and has shown no signs of closing, i have been back & forth to the vet its so unfair to my dog he has been wearing that e-collar for over amth, shouldnt that insicion have closed by now??
Dee August 29th, 2008 08:31:00 AM
Dee: Sometimes they don't heal so well. Infection and/or failure to scar down properly are common complications.
The complication rate for ear hematoma surgeries is high...even when everything's done right.
Sometimes I've had to anesthetize my patients again to debride the edges, scarify the tissue that's not wanting to heal on its own, and culture the wound so that the appropriate antibiotics can be administered.
So sorry you're one of the statistics in the high rate of complications. We wish you well.
Dr. Patty Khuly August 29th, 2008 09:11:00 AM
he has 11 stitches around the wound which is open and he still has them in for over a mth, i really dont think this dr knows what he is doing,i dont want to go to another vet bc i dont think if there has to be more surgeical medical done i dont think i should have to pay for it, the dr told me befor the surgery that the insicion would close 2-3 weeks after being done. what can u advise for me if anything?
thanks
Dee August 29th, 2008 09:31:00 AM
one more thing, there is no scar the wound is still wide open
Dee August 29th, 2008 09:32:00 AM
I would love to hear more about the use of leeches. I am seriously considering using them on my golden. Very calm and patient. Her hematoma is walnut to golf ball sized, seems to be in the middle, near the bottom. Can the leech bite through the thick skin to the hemotoma? Why won't the hematoma fill up again? Thanks, Marie
Marie September 15th, 2008 06:56:00 PM
My cat had a full recovery after the leech treatment. Not even any crinkling of the ear. His hematoma was not as large as your dog's. I used 2 leeches and after 3 treatments they were "full" and reluctant to bite. Luckily I didn't need them anymore. Leeches can survive for a month and longer on one feeding. To treat your dog, you would need probably a dozen or so leeches I would think. The leeches have no problem biting through the skin, especially in an engorged area of the hematoma. The leeches saliva has properties of both an anticoagulant and antibiotic that helps heal the damaged blood supply in the ear which caused the hematoma. The leech drops off when it is satiated and then I would sit with a cotton ball of peroxide and keep the ear bleeding as long as possible. That helps the healing process. I purchased my leeches through Carolina Biological Supply and had them shipped to my vet. He has now "adopted" my leeches since I have no further use for them. The supplier discourages releasing them into the environment as they are lab leeches. Here are some helpful websites to visit...
www.biopharm-leeches.com www.leechesusa.com
Natalie September 16th, 2008 10:06:00 AM
My 2 year old German Shepherd developed aural hematomas in both ears...but instead of being higher up on the pinna, they are down very low, closer to going inside of his ears (if that makes any sense) Well I had been draining them everyday with a syringe, but they had just been filling back up because I can not get him to stop shaking his head to save my life! He is on a steriod and antibiotics, and now wears a e-collar 24/7 On 12/13/08 I took him into the vet and they put drains in his ears...the right ear, which had the bigger hematoma is draining well, but the left is not. It is either clogged, or the drain itself is not in the hematoma pocket, because, despite the drain I have had to apsirate the hematoma with a syringe once again. My poor boy is miserable, he has staples in his ears to keep the drains in place, and always has the dumb e-collar on...my vet said he has to have these drains in for 3-4 weeks! I am very concerned that this issue is never going to fully resolve itself...I can tell my dog is in pain, he winces every time you go to pet his head, and has just been mopey, which is extremely out of character for him. He is going to another vet tomorrow, more of a specialist, to see what the problem with the left drain is. This is a very stressful and nerve-wracking experience, and we still have 3 weeks to go!! After reading all of your stories, I am concerned if I made the right decision to take care of this surgically immediately, are just do the "wait and see" approach. My main concern is infection, even though he is on amoxicillin and I clean his ears everyday, and pain, he just seems so distressed! Comsmetically, although he is a beautiful dog, and I have always loved his erect ears, I do hope he has no crinkling or his ears droop, but right now, I just want him better..
Lyssa December 16th, 2008 07:43:08 PM
Hi, My 8 year old pitbull has a hematoma at the top of his flap. Not affecting the ear canal. I took him to the vet and they drained the ear and sent home with no medications. Of course, it came back then we drained again and kept dressing on for at least 12 hours. Today, I once again took him back for a draining and requested they put a steroid injection in it. He then..get this.. took a tampon in the cardboard wrap and stuck it in his ear canal and wrapped up. He expected this to stay for 5-7 days. There is no way. My dog, Chaos, can not handle anything touching this part of his ear and has constantly shook his head. We have removed this dreaded tampon and applied pressure to the hematoma and rewrapped. I am so stressed about this. I have read your site over and over about these hematomas. My vet of course says if this doesn't work then he will need to do surgery. To me right now financially is not an option and reading some of the horror stories I just don't want to put him through that. I just need some advice as to what I should do. The hematoma will fill up tight but it has not grown in size, doesn't seem to bother him too bad. Should I continue with the drainings or just let the pressure build up and leave it alone. The cosmetic defect of the ear won't bother me or him, I just don't know what to do in the meantime. Thanks in advance for you suggestions.
Angie December 26th, 2008 04:03:25 PM
my german shepard developed a hematoma on the end of her ear. it caused her ear to hang over. i could tell she was in a lot of pain. she did not want anyone to touch it. my vet said she needed surgery. he said it could grow larger quickly. after surgery she was in a bandage that covered her head. the damaged ear was pinned back under the bandage and the other ears was out. she had wear an e=Collar. after a couple of weeks they checked the bandage and put a fresh bandage on. they took the stitches out a week or so later. it is healed now but the ear does not stand erect where the incision was made to drain. it cost me about 800.00, and she is doing fine now.
judee December 28th, 2008 02:15:47 AM
Thank you all for the information. My dog (AmBulldog/Mastiff) has a big bump on his noggin, right smack in the middle of his head. It looks like he's bumped his head pretty hard. I've not seen much on hematomas that are not on dogs' ears--does anyone have any recommendations? Over the past few days, it's grown bigger. He kinda looks like one of those dinosaurs with the big bump on his head. I am wondering if this is something that will have to be drained? I am going to take him to the vet, but would like any and all advice. THANK YOU! :)
danielle December 30th, 2008 08:58:09 PM
My Labrador just had the $800 surgury to repair his hematoma 2 weeks agao and today we woke up to the same ear being puffed up again (about half as puffy as the first time). Thinking about the leeches. I read up on the web sites Natlie provided. I have a question though. The sites say that the wound needs to bleed for up to 10 hours after the leech has fed. This is necessary for the healing process and to avoid infection. Natalie, was this overly messy? Did you stay with your pet and keep blotting or were you able to wrap the ear/head? Was your pet also on an antibiotic while you went through this process? I am surprised that you found a vet that would try this approach. How is I hope your cat is doing well now.
Nancy January 2nd, 2009 09:32:00 AM
Can ear hematomas cause a dog's face to be puffy as well? My mother in laws golden lab had surgery to fix the first hematoma a couple months ago. She also had a small cancerous tumor rupture on her face the month prior to that. The cancer was completely removed and had not spread. Now today the dog has a hematoma in each ear and a new sore on her backside. She is a very passive dog and refused to let anyone investigate her back. Her ears dont appear to hurt her when touched. Along with all this, her face and eyes apear to be puffy and swollen. She is going on 12 years of age this year. Any comments are appreciated. She is going to the vet again in the morning. Just curious if anyone else has experienced anything like this.
Christy January 2nd, 2009 05:45:46 PM
My cat has one. We brought him in twice to get it drained. It kept coming back. It was completely full again today so I brought him back in. I told them I couldn't afford the surgury and they did something different. They took gauze and sort of threaded it through his ear so it will keep draining. Its really gross. They never mentioned that I could just leave it alone. I would have. I thought it was something that I had to tend to. My dog had this happen before and we did just leave it be and it was fine. But since the cat ear is so much smaller it looked MUCH worse. I honestly was afraid it would explode. I hadn't seen anything like that before. My vet just said that it was rare that the dogs healed on its own and that we had gotten lucky with that but it wasn't the norm. Now this poor guy is super miserable. Has his E collar that is now all bloody. And now has a cold or upper rep infection to top it off. So I feel aweful for him. I am not sure what to do. They sent me home with antibiotics but nothing for pain. I wish I found this site before I went in. They said it had to stay this way for 3 weeks. Its only been 3 hours and I want to take it out. What to do, what to do. Great site though.
Loren January 2nd, 2009 06:43:48 PM
my dog had surgery on his ear do to a hematoma. It came back his ear was drained, it came back again, my vet does not want to do anything else because we had alot of problems when he got out of surgery, for one his back gave out and was hard for him to walk for about a week, she told me because of his age that might of caused that, I was carged $500.00 plus going back to drain the ear, I am on disabilty cannot afford no more what can I do it keeps coming and going poor thing will it explode? Should I not pay her for this need help.
charlyne January 14th, 2009 08:38:30 AM
I am cruisin around looking for info on cat hematomas as my 21 yr old Maine Coon mix has one. I find myself utterly FASCINATED by the idea of leeches! He is so old that I don't even want to think of surgery for him and cantankerous enough ("YOU KITTENS STAY OFF MY LAWN!") that he wouldnt sit still for long term bandaging. I've gone through dog hematomas on the ear flap but because it is so much smaller an area on cat wasn't sure about leaving it untreated. Given how much my elderly dust ruffle sleeps I am thinking I will leave it overall and check to make sure it isn't too deep now and then. And maybe... just maybe... ORDER LEECHES!!!
Rebecca January 17th, 2009 12:07:11 AM
I have briefed over all the information I can about a cat hematoma. So far I tend to agree to just waiting for it to heal on its own, but not sure now because I did take my 7 yr old male "Sunny" to the vet a couple of weeks ago. They said he had a hematoma but his ears are healthy, no infections, no mites, etc. They spoke about surgery and could tell I wasn't sold on that, so they withdrew some blood from Sunny's ear and reinjected a steroid and told me to wait a few days to see any decrease in size. No change, they prescribed Tresaderm 7.5ml, 2-3 drops every 12 hours to help hematoma before recheck in two weeks. No change, and he is due for recheck in two days. What should I do?!?! Before I could get Sunny to the vet the first time, I used sterile lances to prick his ear and release blood, but it eventually filled up again. Tried this three times, it always came back. But now, since the vet did inject the steroid, although no decrease (or increase) in size has ocurred, I wonder if I should try lancing it again to see if it will come back. Even if it does, couldn't I just wait for it to heal on its own? A crumpled ear doesn't bother me if it doesn't bother Sunny (and I don't think it will.) I welcome your opinions, please reply. Thanks, Lynn
M. Lynn January 18th, 2009 01:07:21 AM
My Texas Heeler (Australian Shepherd - Blue Heeler mix) suffers from allergies and is prone to ear hematomas. With his first one, the vet made me believe there was no other option but surgery, and that it must be done promptly. After the surgery, my dog had horrible ear pain for several weeks, during which I repeatedly took him to the vet but had trouble getting pain meds or treatment. The vet practically dismissed my concerns.
His ear, which once stood erect, ended up crinkly and deformed, which is apparently what would have happened had he not had surgery. Add to this the awful pain he went through, and I have sworn never to put him through that again. Now he has a hematoma in his other ear and as long as it doesn't seem to be causing undue pain, I am planning to let it heal naturally. If the swelling gets worse or doesn't start getting better soon, I may see if I can get non-surgical treatment from the vet (steroids, probably). It's been 2 or 3 weeks since the hematoma formed and the swelling seems to have possibly reduced, but only a tiny bit. It doesn't seem to be painful.
I do not want my dog to have more ear surgery. But since the surgical results turned out so badly compared to what I've been reading online, I'm wondering if it was a case of veterinarian malpractice.
Sharon January 23rd, 2009 12:10:31 PM
I see that a lot of people whose dogs had recent hematoma surgery are having the same problems my dog had after surgery -- extreme pain, failure to heal, and horrible, long-term trauma for the pet (and for myself). Definitely I would not put a 21-year-old Maine Coon Cat through the surgery. Nor will I put my dog through it again, for the hematoma he now has in his "good" ear. I wish I could go back and let the first hematoma attempt to heal naturally, rather than having opted for surgery at the time. But it's too late and my dog's ear is badly disfigured as a result of the surgery.
Sharon January 23rd, 2009 12:28:18 PM
Note that my dog had the surgery yet his ear crinkled up nonetheless. He once had beautiful, stand-up ears but now one ear looks like a crumpled piece of paper. It doesn't just lap over -- it's crinkly and sticks out from the side of his head -- even though he DID have the surgery. I would not have put him through the pain and suffering he went through for many weeks following surgery, had I known I could have let the ear heal on its own and that the worst result of a wait-and-see approach would be the same crinkled ear that resulted after surgery. He now has a hematoma in the other ear and I will NOT get surgery. I can hold the ear and stroke it and it doesn't seem to cause any pain, and the hematoma seems to be very gradually shrinking. So far the ear has not crinkled at all, though it flops over from the weight of the hematoma.
Sharon January 23rd, 2009 12:51:45 PM
My beautiful 4 yr old Golden Retriever (Johnny) woke up yesterday morn with a golf ball size hematoma at the base of his ear. He has ear allergies that we're always battling, and had recently went swimming in a dirty pond that I think caused an infection. The vet today told me that his ear would only get worse and stick out like an airplane wing. He said a drain wouldn't work long term, couldn't just leave it alone and highly recommended surgery as the only option. $600 estimate, and I don't have it to spend. I was feeling HORRIBLE and depressed about it until I found this sight. He does have an infection. I'm planning on calling the vet in the morning and seeing if he'll prescribe the antibiotics without the surgery. If he doesn't (I'm new in town) Any ideas for how I can get antibiotics to clear up the infection without a prescription? The last time I went to see this vet he made a big deal about pmts to another customer, I get the impression he's hurting for money and just recommending the most expensive option. How long does it take for the hematoma to be reabsorbed into the body? Thanks to anybody for help.
Heidi February 3rd, 2009 09:57:06 PM
PS The hematoma is now slightly bigger than it was this morning...should I get leeches or just wait it out. It doesn't seem to be bothering him, although it's warm to touch. Thanks
Heidi February 3rd, 2009 09:58:22 PM
I think I was very fortunate to have the vet I had. After her surgery, the hemotoma has never come back and her ear just does not stand erect all the way.It does not have the crinkly effect so much that I hear about. He did not do the buttons, but there was a lot of stichery in the ear, which they later removed. Maybe the stichery prevented the hemotoma from coming back?? He also healed her before when she had a terrible hot spot on her tail. Two other vets teatments tailed, but his did not. I give her holistic dog food (Eagle Brand) I just know when it happened I believed it was from swimming and shaking her head. But the vet told me she had an ear infection as well which he had to address during the surgery as well. So far so good for me thus far,,
judee February 15th, 2009 12:38:25 AM
I'm sorry, but if your cat has an ear hematoma be responsible and go to the veterinarian in order to give your pet the care it deserves.
CK February 23rd, 2009 06:31:36 PM
my dog sunny went to the vet three weeks ago had surgery. buttons meds eveything 800 bucks and three weeks later she had buttons removed on thursday and blood is now filling the whole ear it is twice as bad. it is only su day i noticed a decline on saturday.i will call the vet first thing. where it didn't seem to bother her before the surgery she wont let anyone touch it now.
christina March 15th, 2009 06:53:00 PM
My handsome 4 &1/2 yr old Black/Chocolate Lab has a hematoma that looks like a chile pepper in shape (a bit smaller than the pepper in size) on the lower middle flap part of his ear. He has had awful chronic ear infections his entire life (and of course this comes about during one of the few times a year when he is “healed”). He had surgery two months ago on his non-hematoma ear for a rip at the tip :-( that left him slightly aesthetically uneven (he embraces it proudly) so I am nervous to put him through another surgery so soon because the last one took weeks to heal as it was on his forever fragile ears. The hematoma does not seem to be bothering him today unlike it’s annoyance it seemed to bring yesterday afternoon when it was first noticed, it is however, a bit tender and warm to the touch from what I can tell. I made an appt with our phenomenal vet for tomorrow just to make sure it is what it is and its not infected or more serious, but I have decided to go the “wait-it-out” method as so many of you have chosen. We don’t mind a wrinkly ear in the slightest as long as it’s healthy (he’s quirky anyhow why not have the ear to prove it). Lizzy (posted 02 Sept 07) and Alicia (posted 15 Dec 07) I’m planning on taking both your advice and trying a little homeopathy to see which one is better for my big ol’ couch monkey. Now all I have to do is keep our 4mo old blk lab pup (possible culprit) away from his apparent chew-toy-like ears as she’s so grown to love. Thank you again so sooo much to the amazing staff at Dolittler.com and to everyone that has posted on both sides of the fence. You truly were a great help during a (still) trying and stressful time. I will post an update (hopefully good) soon. Good luck to all furry friends (and parents) battling the same issue! :-)
Mozzy's Mum March 24th, 2009 10:21:43 AM
Our cat developed a hematoma in her left ear after 2-3 days of scratching at it. The vet operated on it and $839.00 later the ear looks like she was in a fight and lost. Post op we were instructed to give her Torbugesic syup for pain twice a day. She hated it. Also Otomax in both ears once a day, Prednisone twice a day and Baytril once a day. The vet could not fjnd a reson for the itching ears but said the Prednisone would relieve it.
Lee Watson June 8th, 2009 05:41:26 PM
My siamese had a very small hematoma in his right ear. I immediately took him to the vet. The vet suggested it be drained with a syringe. That being the cheaper and less painless option I agreed. Within 2 days his ear swelled back up again. I had a follow up appt that next week so I just waited till then to take him back. Again the vet drained the ear. It has now been 1 week and it looks like he will be ok. No more swelling. The top of his ear still flapps over a little but its ok. He's still a cutie pie!! Draining the ear was $95 with a $40 office fee. All together I paid about $300 for both visits. I think we were really lucky considering I read alot on the internet about this procedure being a total waste of time but it worked out for us. If it had not worked the 2nd time around I was definately going to wait it out though. I just couldn't see putting my kitty through the pain of surgery for something that is more of a cosmetic issue than a real health issue.
star June 9th, 2009 06:22:32 AM
My 3YO German Shepherd had the surgery three weeks ago, and is in such pain every night. He pulled out the stitches 2 days post-surgery, and pulled off the collar twice. I just left it off . . .debating whether to go back to the Vet. I have been putting a hot compress on his ear 2x a day, and i think it may be helping. If nothing else, he lets me do it, and seems to get pain relief. . . .poor thing. I would try "no surgery" first next time, and just get antibiotics for the ear infection.
Tornado June 12th, 2009 12:31:01 AM
My daughter just had her dog's ear hematoma surgery last week. What a nuisance! We can't get the bandage to stay on, everything we do the dog is able to get it off as soon as we are done! She is wearing an inflatable collar, but I took it off today to give her a break. She shakes her head constantly and fluid goes everywhere and the smell is horrible. What is the proper way to bandage her ear. She had no bandage when we picked her up. Your help is appreciated.
Fran June 26th, 2009 12:11:46 AM
Wow! I am so glad that I came across this site. I was just about to spend a whopping $1400 to get our Golden's ear hematoma fixed. We did have them drain it and it is slowly filling back up, but we are going to hang tight and see what results in a few days, maybe a week. I am hoping that she is not in any discomfort and that I'm doing the right thing. I just can't believe that the two vets I took her too both told me that inevitably surgery will be the only cure. Where can I find an honest vet? Pretty pathetic that we are at the mercy of them because we love our animals so much. Thanks again for writing this! As hard as things are right now, we were so stressed about where we were going to come up with the money for her surgery. All the best!
Lisa July 20th, 2009 09:31:01 PM
My 10 year old husky got one a week ago. My vet recommended the "quilted" surgery for $900. After explaining my poor financial situation, I asked if there was any other alternatives. He suggested we try draining it once to see if it would work like that. He highly recommended not leaving it alone. I opted for the draining which cost $350 and included and ear cleaning and medication for a yeast infection. Everything went well. He drained the ear and it looked nice and flat. I opted for the cone collar because Yogi loves to scratch his ear. The vet also gave me some "doggy" valume to keep him calm while I was at work. It all worked well untill a couple of days ago I came home and he had torn apart my studio. :( His ear remained nice and flat so, I decided to take off his cone collar and leave him in the yard on Monday. Today, I found his hemotoma partially full again. I wish I had kept his cone on and kept him sedated a week longer. My vet said that dogs can take 25gram Benadryl and that it would help with the itching. The vet said he would redrain it for $50. That sounds like a good deal. I'm going to take him in for another drain session w/ a shot of cortizon. Then back to the drawing board. I'm also going to go ahead and order the leeches tonight just in case it fills again. I will also try the homeopathy suggestions... water/viniger washes and warm compresses. We'll see how that works. I'll repost soon and give an update.
Cris August 5th, 2009 01:36:08 AM
Well, it was a good run but my lab is back at it again, He has half of one ear and the other ear is pretty scarred. Ijust finushed a 2 week regime of Surolan for yeast, 2 days later the unscarred half of his "good" ear has a hematoma. I just spent the last 35 minutes crying as a neurotic dog lover this stresses me right out. The question of what to do, take him to Vet Emergency on sunday or wait for a appointment on monday? I suppose I will monitor it over nite, if it grows I am taking him in, if not I will wait it out. His last vet suggested complete ear drum removal, the current vet said lets see what happens. I hate this! There is no, absolutely no easy way to care for a hematoma that has been surgically worked on except absolutely diligent care to keeping the collar ON, No rests are taking a short break cause you feel bad, you will just end up where I am if you do. Hopefully I can just cry myself to sleep, he appears ok for now...
Joek aka Nemo August 8th, 2009 10:55:51 PM
re: Chris posted 8/5/09 .....homeopathy suggestions... water/viniger washes and warm compresses.
THAT is not homeopathy!!!!!!!!!!! Homeopathy has to do with specifically made remedies according to the HPUS which is the homeopathic pharmacopea of the US. You are talking about a "HOME" remedy and perhaps just common sense. Its not even an herbal Rx as no herbs are being used. Aural Hematomas have been found to be a constitutional problem, meaning that it's in the pets constitution aka, their make up, ie some dogs are afraid of thunder, some are chewers, etc.
I wish everyone would get the three "H's" descriptions down. Herbal means using herbs. Holistic is not a modality but a philosophy and some modalities, such as Homeopathy are holistic if being used as such. Homeopathy is a science and a whole system of medicine unto itself. Homeopathic remedies are made at homeopathic pharmacies and are usually put on little sucrose pellets. The combination remedies people often see really are not homeopathy nor are flower essences. I hope this helps some of you in the future!
jai August 27th, 2009 12:51:31 PM
Hi Dr Patty i have a 7 year old labrador. He recently developed a ear hematoma around 2cm large. The vet did the needle aspiration and applied pressure bandage and gave him antibiotics but the problem recurred. The same procedure was repeated again but in vain. She is now saying that she will do surgery otherwise it may spread to my dogs other ear also( which i am not able to figure out why. I am myself a MD in internal medicine.) Please can you guide me as to what should i do?? I am sure my dog will tear open the stitches post op and even my vet shares my fear. And my poor dog looks pretty happy once the bandage was opened but after a couple of days now i can again feel the swelling coming up at the same site. Help..!!
Mohit August 28th, 2009 06:33:23 AM
Hi, Patti; great site, happy I found it. My 13-yr-old cat got her first-ever aural hematoma, and it's a beaut - like to scare me half to death when I first saw it. She's an indoor cat who HATES the vet, ordinarily healthy/happy but I'm leery about surgery at that age - and the expense would cripple me at the moment, anyway. She's a headshaker, and a few weeks previous I'd noticed some crust in her ears so I cleaned them with ear-cleaning cloths I got at the vet. I'd bought some miticide as well, but she was showing improvement with the cloths - the skin was much smoother - and given the way she put up a fight at anyone touching her ears I figured "leave well enough alone". A day or two ago her ear blew up (my fault, I now realize; I should've taken the scratched arms, and continued cleaning them with the cloths). My question is this - if I go the "leave it alone" route, should I clean/treat her ears regardless.....or wait for the hematoma to resolve itself before returning to the cloths and miticide? I'm seeing too many instances of reoccurance/trauma/pain after the surgery - she's not one who's going to leave a drain or buttons in there unmolested - and it seems to me that the cauliflower ear thing is total luck of the draw, whether or not you opt for draining/surgery/Mother Nature. Appreciate any help you mmight offer.
Lou September 13th, 2009 03:41:08 AM
My 4 year old Golden just developed a Hematoma. At first sight it freaked me out but after reading it I'm not as freaked. We have an appointment at the vet tomorrow, but honestly can't afford a major (or truthfully minor) procedure. He has had ear issues for a while, mites and most likely an infection but due to our dire financial situation we haven't been able to take him to the vet, opting to try an over the counter remedy which didn't really work. I am hoping that the vet will at least give him something for his infection and do a low cost procedure/remedy. I can only hope that it doesn't turn out to be something more severe. He has been yelping every once in a while and he's seemed very sad the last few weeks. Thank you for the wonderful information you have provided.
Jennifer October 2nd, 2009 06:55:13 PM
DDos Protection DDos Protection
Mr.cool October 12th, 2009 03:36:41 AM
My 9 yr old mixed breed just developed a hematoma on her ear flap literally today. Her ears are cleaned regularly, and she doesn't scratch them much, but she has been known to shake her head sometimes, especially after being in the rain. This is the first time I have ever seen one of these things. She lets me touch it, and feel around on it gently, but I don't know if it's b/c it's not that painful or simply b/c it's me doing it. After reading all these posts, my main concern is pain. Due to her age, I would prefer to let it heal on it's own but only if it's not painful for her. In addition to a spay surgery, a second surgery to correct open sutures, and most recently, a mastectomy surgery, I just really don't want to put her through it. She's such a good dog, it makes me angry that she's had to go through what she has.
I will take her to her vet, and perhaps avoid surgery, but I would like to know from someone who really knows, what they're pain level can be with an aural hematoma?
JacquelineG October 29th, 2009 01:52:46 AM
My dog (chocolate lab) is having surgery to remove the blood. I found the hematoma last week, and thought about it over the weekend. It seems the best thing to do for him in light of the fact that he seems to be having trouble with the ballooning ear. For example, he gnawed gently at my wrist when I touched it today. That tells me it either hurts, or it is starting to bother him. Either way, I am ultimately responsible for his care and safety. I figure if I had a hematoma on my ear, I'd want my parents to do everything to help take care of it.
But I should say that I trust his vet completely. I don't believe he would recommend surgery if it is not the best option for my dog. If you don't trust your pet's vet, definitely seek a second opinion. This may be expensive, but if it is best for your pet, then do what you have to do. I am.
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