Matted Dog Ears Hematoma

Ways to treat a dog s ear hematoma.

Matted dog ears hematoma. It s typically caused by overly aggressive ear scratching or head shaking that results from an ear infection dogs and cats can both suffer ear hematomas though dogs particularly those prone to skin allergies and ear infections are more prone to them. Dog ear hematomas aren t life threatening but you should seek treatment as soon as possible. Treating a dog ear hematoma without treatment the hematoma may heal on its own after the fluid is slowly reabsorbed by the body but it may very well scar down and turn into an ugly looking. She is also a former veterinarian assistant and author of the popular online dog training course brain.

Leni kaplan a faculty member in the community practice service of cornell university college of veterinary medicine in ithaca new york says if she does decide to treat a hematoma she will insert a small sterile tube to help the ear drain. Ear hematomas in dogs also known as auricular hematomas or aural hematomas occur when blood accumulates in the flap or pinna of a dog s ear. They also can happen in dogs with erect or straight ears and rarely in cats. Ear hematomas are a collection of blood either fresh or clotted within the pinna.

Most often this is through damage to the ears. It will take depending on the type of dog and the size of the hematoma between a half hour and an hour to move the pooled blood out of the ear. However it is possible for both ears to have. Heavily matted ears can also cause hematomas or build up of blood in the ears which can require extensive medical treatment.

There is often an underlying cause which must be treated but additionally surgery or drainage should be done to help relieve discomfort. Hematoma dog ear after grooming. Symptoms of ear hematomas in dogs. When the ears are matted severely shave them down a little at a time removing small amounts of.

Interesting facts about dog grooming. Overall shaving the ears may just be the best course of action for dozer s health. In most cases only one ear will be affected. There are several ways to treat a dog ear hematoma and your vet will choose the best method on a case by case basis.

Adrienne farricelli is a certified dog trainer and behavior consultant. When dogs shake their heads too much or scratch blood vessels can break especially in the ear flaps. December 29 2019 october 21 2016 by adrienne. Steady pressure will slow help reduce the pooling but the circular massage is the best technique.

Without treatment the hematoma may eventually heal on its own but it likely will scar and cause a permanent ear disfigurement referred to as cauliflower ear. An aural hematoma is a pool of blood that collects between the skin and the cartilage of a pet s ear flap. Hematomas are usually caused by injury in dogs.