How to Treat a Dog Ear Hematoma at Home

A dog ear hematoma, also known as an aural hematoma, occurs when blood pools between the layers of the ear flap, causing swelling. While veterinary treatment is often necessary for severe cases, mild hematomas can sometimes be managed at home with proper care. This guide provides safe and effective methods for treating a dog ear hematoma at home, along with tips on when to seek professional help.

What Causes Dog Ear Hematoma?

A dog ear hematoma is a swelling formed by the accumulation of blood in the ear, usually due to a rupture of a blood vessel in the ear. Here are some possible causes of dog ear hematomas.

①Mechanical injury 

Dogs scratching their own ears, shaking their heads or flicking their ears too vigorously can cause blood vessels within the ear to rupture, especially if there is already itching or discomfort in the ear.

Accidental injuries from fighting or playing between dogs, or external impacts such as hitting a wall or sharp object may also cause ear hematomas.

Excessive rubbing of the dog's ears by the owner may also cause ear hematomas.

②Ear infections and inflammation

Ear infections such as otitis externa and otitis media can cause discomfort in the dog's ears, which can trigger frequent head shaking or scratching, which in turn can lead to ear hematomas.

Infections such as ear scabies (ear mites), bacteria (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus), and fungi (e.g., Malassezia) can cause itching in the ear, which can easily lead to ruptured blood vessels when the dog scratches.

③Allergic reaction 

Dogs may have an allergic reaction to certain foods, environmental factors, or medications that can lead to ear itching, which in turn can lead to ear hematomas.

④Other Diseases. 

Certain diseases may cause an increase in the fragility of your dog's capillaries, such as purpura, making the ear prone to bleeding and forming an ear hematoma when subjected to minor pressure or friction.

Tumors in the ear or head may also cause ear hematomas.

⑤Structural features of the ear 

Dogs with drooping ears, such as Labradors and Golden Retrievers, are more likely to develop ear canal disease due to their ear structure, which tends to lead to accumulation of dust in the ear and inability to keep it ventilated, which in turn increases the risk of ear hematoma.

Dog Ear Hematoma Symptoms

Symptoms of dog ear hematoma include the following.

• Swelling of the ear

Thickening of the ear several times, drooping, fluctuating sensation and pain when pressed. As the condition progresses, there is a firmness around the hematoma, a fluctuating sensation in the center of the hematoma, and a local increase in temperature.

• Pain and discomfort

Touching the dog's ear will cause it to feel pain and resistance, and the sick animal frequently scratches the affected ear, throws its head, and is emotionally disturbed, not allowing the owner to touch the ear.

• Fever

Because the ear hematoma is caused by ruptured capillaries and localized inflammation, it will become feverish.

Also Read: How to Tell If Dog Has Fever Without Thermometer

• Hearing loss

A severe ear hematoma can affect your dog's hearing if it blocks the ear canal.

• Loss of Spirit and Appetite

If your dog's ear hematoma symptoms are severe, he or she may experience general symptoms such as depression and loss of appetite.

• Secondary Infections

Ear hematomas are prone to secondary infections, and when infected, abscesses are formed, which may lead to symptoms such as elevated body temperature and enlarged lymph nodes.

If you find your dog with the above symptoms, it is recommended that you take it to a veterinary hospital for examination and treatment in a timely manner.

How to Treat Dog Ear Hematoma at Home?

Treating a dog ear hematoma at home consists of the following steps.

• Confirm the diagnosis

The first thing you need to do is confirm that your dog has an ear hematoma. Symptoms of an ear hematoma usually include a swollen ear, a softness that feels like a bag of water when touched, and the dog may frequently toss his head or scratch his ear.

• Treating Ear Disorders

Before treating an ear hematoma, you need to treat the ear disease that may be causing it, such as ear mites or an infection. If the ear disease is not cured, the ear hematoma may recur.

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• Use of medication

Yunnan Baiyao aerosol (white bottle) can be used to spray through the ear piece twice a day. Cotton balls can be inserted in the ear holes before spraying to avoid the spray getting into the ears. Most cases begin to show results after about 20 days of consistent spraying.

• Wearing Elizabethan rings

From the time of diagnosis, you need to consistently wear an Elizabethan collar on your dog until it heals. This prevents the dog from aggravating the ear hematoma due to high frequency head tossing.

• Avoid internal medications

It is not recommended to give your dog other medications internally if they are not necessary, as the medications may interact with each other and may be taxing on your dog's body in the long term.

• Other treatments

Ice: Ice packs can be applied for 10-15 minutes at a time, 3-4 times a day to help reduce swelling and pain.

Extraction of blood and water: If the hematoma is large, you can use a syringe to extract fluid from the swollen area, but you need to pay attention to sterilization to avoid infection.

Hemostatic medications: Hemostatic medications such as Anloxacin (adrenochrome tablets) can be used, given according to the dog's weight, to help reduce the leakage of blood and tissue fluids from the lesion.

Anti-inflammatory medications: anti-inflammatory medications such as cephalosporin and amoxicillin can be used, given according to the dog's weight, to help prevent the lesion from becoming infected.

Patience and attentiveness: treating ear hematomas requires patience and attentiveness; don't give up just because you don't see results in the short term. During the course of treatment, your dog needs to be closely monitored for any improvement in symptoms and any adverse reactions.

It should be noted that the above methods are based on the recommendations of conservative treatment. If your dog's ear hematoma symptoms are severe or do not improve after a period of conservative treatment, it is recommended to consult your veterinarian promptly, and surgical treatment may be required.

How Can Ear Hematomas Be Prevented?

• Keep your ears clean

Clean your ears regularly by gently wiping the skin around the ear and the ear canal with warm water or a special ear cleaner, and avoiding sharp objects that can irritate and cause bleeding by entering the ear canal.

• Avoid over-cleaning

Over-cleaning your ears can irritate the skin tissue in the ear canal, leading to problems such as pain, redness and bleeding. Therefore, avoid using too frequent or intense methods of flushing or cleaning the ear canal.

• Prevent ear injuries

Avoid external impact or pressure on your dog's ears, such as avoiding fights between dogs and accidental injuries during play. Wear professional protective helmets or earmuffs when your dog participates in high-risk sports (e.g. wrestling, boxing, skiing, etc.).

• Treat ear diseases

Promptly treat your dog's ear diseases, such as otitis externa, ear scabies (ear mite) infection, otitis media, etc. These diseases may cause your dog to shake his head, flap his ears, or scratch his ears frequently, which may lead to ear hematoma.

• Avoid water in the ears

Preventing water from entering the ears when bathing your dog and cleaning out the ear canals after bathing can prevent otitis media as well as fungal and mite ear infections, which in turn can prevent ear hematomas.

• Avoid Harmful Medications

Certain medications, such as aspirin and anticoagulants, may cause thrombocytopenia and increase the risk of ear hematomas, and should be used as prescribed.

• Eat a healthy diet

Keeping your dog's diet healthy with foods rich in vitamin C and vitamin K will help strengthen blood vessel elasticity and prevent ear bleeding.

• Regular Checkups

Regularly check your dog's ears and deal with any abnormalities promptly. If you find any symptoms of ear discomfort (e.g. frequent ear scratching, head shaking, etc.), find out the cause and treat it promptly.

Do Dog Ear Hematomas Always Require Surgery?

It is possible for a dog ear hematoma to clear up on its own, but this is rare and even if it clears up on its own, it is prone to recurring. Surgery is the most effective treatment available, but it is not necessary in all cases.

Possibility of a dog ear hematoma healing on its own

⑴Self-healing

Very few minor ear hematomas in dogs heal on their own, and if they do, it usually takes less than half a month. During this period, if the dog's ear continues to swell, the swollen ear doesn't get smaller, the blood inside shows no sign of being absorbed, or even the dog itself shows abnormal symptoms such as fever, loss of appetite, convulsions, etc., the owner needs to bring the dog to the doctor in time, or it may easily lead to systemic sepsis.

⑵Risk of self-healing

Even though it is possible for a dog's ear hematoma to heal on its own, there is a high risk of a recurrence of an untreated ear hematoma that heals on its own. This is because even if the blood in their ear is slowly absorbed by the body, the inflammation is likely to persist. This persistent inflammation can cause ongoing damage to the dog's ear, and even if it heals in the short term, it may recur frequently and even cause various systemic complications.

The need for dog ear hematoma surgery

Advantages of Surgery 

Currently, the more effective treatment is considered to be surgery, because the fundamental problem is that the blood vessels in the dog's ear have ruptured, and sewing the blood vessels back together is the focus. The exact surgical procedure involves first incising the location of the dog's ear hematoma to drain the fluid from the ear, followed by removing the blood clot and fibrin from the swollen cavity. Multiple sutures are used to close the cavity between the skin and cartilage, which also prevents recurrence. After the surgery, the dog's ears are more likely to return to normal and have a relatively low recurrence rate.

⒈Considerations for Surgical Treatment 

Even though this is a modest surgery, post-operative care must be emphasized. The dog will need to take antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication and wear an Elizabethan ring to protect the wound, which will usually be almost healed after 3 weeks and the stitches can be removed. Try to keep your dog as sedentary as possible after the surgery to avoid irritation and licking the wound.

⒉Limitations of conservative treatment 

Conservative treatment refers to the use of a syringe to draw out the fluid accumulated in the ear, but the cure is not the root cause, it may become normal for a short period of time, but it will rebound in a short period of time. Conservative treatment is not recommended, not only the recurrence rate is high, the risk of infection is also high.

FAQs

Conclusion

While small hematomas can often be managed at home with proper care, monitoring, and natural remedies, larger or persistent hematomas require veterinary attention. By understanding the causes and providing preventative care, you can reduce the likelihood of ear hematomas in your dog. When in doubt, always consult your veterinarian to ensure your pet’s safety and well-being.