A Primer On Ear Hematomas

A hematoma is a localized swelling filled with blood. It is caused by a break in the wall of a blood vessel Ear hematomas in dogs are not uncommon.

Dog ears come in many sizes and shapes. Some are big and floppy. Others are smaller and pointy. Unfortunately, all dog ears have the potential for developing an ear hematoma in common.

Although ear hematomas can occur in dogs or even cats, they are most common in dogs with floppy ears.

A Primer On Ear Hematomas: Although ear hematomas can occur in any dog or even in cats, they are most common in dogs with floppy ears.

Introduction

Dogs often shake their heads. They shake when they are wet or when the ear is irritated, such as with an ear infection.

As the ears fly back and forth, tiny blood vessels in the ear flap can rupture. That leads to bleeding under the skin.

What does it look like

Bleeding can also start if a dog strikes an ear flap against something (e.g., a coffee table) while shaking. The bleeding in the ear flap is irritating. As a result, your dog shakes their head even more, setting up a vicious cycle. Blood and other fluid can continue to accumulate in the ear flap. The swelling can reach the size of a lemon in some cases. Sometimes, the hematoma will rupture during a shake, spewing blood in all directions.

Any swelling in the ear flap is suspicious of a hematoma.

The swollen area usually feels warm and squishy, like a bag of fluid. Your veterinarian will examine the ears for signs of any problems that may have set off head shaking, such as an ear infection or a bite wound.

Treatment of ear hematomas

What happens when you don’t address your dog’s hematoma? The ear flap can eventually scar up, resulting in a deformed ear that may be prone to infections.

Although your vet can drain the fluid out of an ear hematoma with a syringe, the problem almost always returns, requiring more extensive treatment. Many therapies are used, including surgery to open the hematoma and to insert a temporary drain that will continue to allow fluid to escape. Often, the ear flap is bandaged alongside the head to allow it to heal. Your vet will discuss the various treatment options and what is best for your pet.

Related articles:
Swelling (Edema) in Dogs

Further reading:
Hematoma of the Ear in Dogs

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Jana Rade

I am a graphic designer by day, dog health advocate, dog writer, member of the Dog Writers Association of American and an award-winning author. Jasmine, the Rottweiler of my life, was the largest female from her litter. We thought we were getting a healthy dog. Getting a puppy from a backyard breeder was our first mistake. Endless veterinary visits without a diagnosis or useful treatment later, I realized that I had to take Jasmine's health care in my own hands. I learned the hard way that simply seeing a vet is not always enough. There is more to finding a good vet than finding the closest clinic down the street. And, sadly, there is more to advocating for your dog's health than visiting a veterinarian. It should be enough but it often is not. With Jasmine, it took five years to finally get a diagnosis for her initial issue. Unfortunately, other problems had snowballed for that in the meantime. Jasmine's health challenges became a crash course in understanding dog health issues and how to go about getting a proper diagnosis and treatment. I had to learn and I had to learn fast. Helping others through my challenges and experience has become my mission and Jasmine's legacy. I now try to help people how to recognize and understand signs of illness in their dogs, how to work with their veterinarian and when to seek a second opinion. My goal is to save others the steep curve of having to learn things the hard way as I did. That is the mission behind my blog and behind my writing. That is why I wrote Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog, which has turned out being an award-winning guide to dog owners . What I'm trying to share encompasses 20 years of experience.

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