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What a bloody mess! Pet bleeding in vet practice (January 23, 2007)

Comments

I think most people don't want the dreaded "cauliflower" ear look after one heals on it's own...

I've had a few strays with them...gives them character...<LOL>

# Posted By LorriM | 5/27/08 7:02 PM

Do you try and treat with Pred?

# Posted By Alli | 5/27/08 7:35 PM

Oh! I've never seen a human with an ear hematoma! Ew!

# Posted By robyn w | 5/27/08 8:23 PM

Thanks for the advise. I wasn't aware that it wouldl heal on it's own. I had a dog that the vet sewed the ear, and if Socrates should get it, I'll play the waiting game..
Barri & Socks

# Posted By barri | 5/27/08 8:30 PM

We don't bandage them, but we do sort of make an ear pinna sandwich using to pieces of needlepoint canvas. It still takes 3 weeks to heal.

# Posted By DrSteggy | 5/27/08 8:56 PM

I used to have a cat who, before I took him in, had been a battling tom. Both his ears were notched and tattered; I thought it gave him an attractively piratical appearance, at odds with his mild-mannered nature (where humans were concerned, that is). I don't know what the effect of a cauliflower ear would be, but I don't think I'd be put off by it -- all scars add character, right?

# Posted By T.T. | 5/27/08 10:33 PM

Gross as it sounds, how about using medical leach to remove the excess blood there? They work and with pets would not need to sedate the patient to avoid patient squeamishness.

# Posted By rose | 5/28/08 1:17 AM

Rose: Don't think we haven't considered it! Leeches are making a comeback! The problem with an ear hematoma is keeping the slimy critter there long enough to let it do its dirty work.

# Posted By Dr. Patty Khuly | 5/28/08 8:46 AM

Dr. Steggy: i tried that flash-sterilized plastic needlepoint canvas technique once and it worked well. The problem was keeping the dog (in that case) from flapping the "sandwich" everywhere, weapon-like. An e-collar helped but the clients were aghast. Any tips?

# Posted By Dr. Patty Khuly | 5/28/08 8:48 AM

Can dogs with upright ears get these things?? I'm sure they can, but less common?

# Posted By ashleigh | 5/28/08 2:19 PM

As far as flapping healing ears, why not tape them under the dog's chin? Use in conjunction with an e-collar if it's necessary to keep them from scratching at the ears. The technique is used to get that perfect fold in natural-eared Dobermans, but would work equally well to immobilize a post-surgical ear.

# Posted By Andrea | 5/28/08 2:39 PM

Thanks for the pics, I've always wondered what "it" looked like. ashleigh, I've know Scottie folks dealing with this, although not frequently. What would be prescribed treatment in lieu of surgery?
Warm compresses & antibiotics?

# Posted By Barbara A. Albright/New Hampshire | 5/28/08 7:19 PM

In lieu of surgery we simply treat the underlying condition.

# Posted By Dr. Patty Khuly | 5/28/08 7:58 PM

Ashleigh: Yep. Upright ears, floppy ears, folded ears, silly ears, cute ears....

# Posted By Dr. Patty Khuly | 5/28/08 7:59 PM

Harv had an ear hematoma recently from shaking his head, and it took a long time to figure out that his problem was a tooth root abscess. In the meantime, we drained the hematoma, injected some steroid into it, and pressure wrapped it for a few days. It filled up a little bit after we took the bandage off, but it did heal on its own. And Harv had his tooth removed, so no more head-shaking.

# Posted By katie | 5/29/08 12:48 PM

Here is a thought - I was introduced to using a teat canula (yes for the cows) and basically punching a little hole in the ear and inserting it. You can do with lidocaine jelly or lidocaine bleb and little other sedation is required. The top has a little screw cap and you can open and drain as much as you want. You keep the pet on antibiotics and in an Ecollar but it works pretty darn well - even for the big hematomas. :)

# Posted By Jessica | 5/30/08 3:35 PM

I would rather not go in for surgery- is there any oral medication I can use? Or external application?
Thanks
Gita

# Posted By Gita | 6/22/08 9:42 PM

Our lab Jack is trying to recover from this surgery and not having a goodd time of it. We are taking him in again this afternoon becuase the ear is still swollen a little and we think ozing from a stich or two.

Can someone comment on the after care needed dureing the healing period? Cleaning the ear, pain killers (he just lays around crying and wimpering). The surgery was Friday, today is Wednesday.

Also, what type pf underlying causes should we recoomend to our vet to look for?

Many thanks!

# Posted By Peter | 7/9/08 1:37 PM

I second the teat cannula. It's noninvasive, very easy to do and to heal (takes about 4-6 weeks). No need to put the animal under anesthesia, if needed, we can just sedate. No need for a messy surgery. I have yet to see one fail for any other reason than home care which simply entails cleaning the cannula with a toothpick and keeping the cap off the cannula to allow the fluid to drain.

# Posted By becky | 7/23/08 11:59 AM

My dog Zeena, an anatolian shepherd, 12 years old, had surgery Thursday and after two miserable days, she got much better, Then tonight, six days later, I noticed it swelled again, bubbling ooze coming out, and painful all over again. The pillow stiches were oozing too. Do these actually ever get better? She doesn't have ear problems, or ear infections, so we figured she hit it on something. My vet said these things just get bigger cause the dog keeps shaking her head, making it worse, so I did surgery.
Now my dog is miserable tonight and stopped eating, so we will be at the vet in the AM. Anybody have a successful out come on an older dog?

# Posted By Lorri | 8/27/08 11:45 PM

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