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Name
Hematoma of the Ear, Canine
Short Description
Aural hematoma
Affected Animals: Dogs or cats
Overview:
When a dog has a painful or itchy ear, it may
swing its head about or scratch its ear to alleviate the discomfort.
This behavior can cause trauma to the dog's pinna, or earflap, that
can add even more irritation to the ear.
An aural, or ear, hematoma is a swelling in the earflap resulting
from an injury. When the tiny blood vessels in the ear's cartilage
rupture and bleed, the hematoma -- a firm, fluid-filled swelling --
will appear within the dog's ear. The examining veterinarian will be
able to treat this hematoma by any of several procedures that drain
the fluid. Minor surgery may be required.
Clinical Signs: The pinna of the ear will have a soft, fluid
filled, fixed swelling on the inside or concave side that can vary
in size. The swelling may be warm to the touch. Usually there is an
underlying allergy or ear disease, called otitis, that can have many
different causes.
Symptoms: The flap of the ear will have a firm swelling on
its inside that may be red and warm to the touch. The swelling can
sometimes be at the base of the ear. Many dogs with this condition
have a history of ear problems or infections.
Description: An ear hematoma is a firm, fluid-filled, swollen
mass that is visible on the inside of the earflap. Usually, a dog
will get an ear hematoma from shaking its head or scratching its ear
because it has an underlying allergy or ear disease.
Diagnosis: The veterinarian will be able to diagnose an
aural hematoma upon observation of a swelling in the pinna or flap
of the ear. An aspirate, which involves withdrawing fluid from the
swollen area into a syringe and looking at it under a microscope,
may be performed during the examination. The presence of blood in
this fluid will confirm an aural hematoma.
Prognosis: The prognosis is excellent for the correction of
the hematoma. However, unless the underlying cause of the irritation
to the ears is controlled, it is possible that another hematoma will
develop at a later time.
Transmission or Cause: The cause is due most commonly to self-inflicted
trauma such as scratching and shaking of the head. This behavior
causes the tiny blood vessels of the ear to rupture and hemorrhage
under the skin forming a pocket of blood within the earflap.
Allergies, an infection or inflammation of the ear, the presence of
a foreign body, or ear parasites all cause pain, itchiness or
irritation that a dog would seek to alleviate by head shaking or
scratching.
Treatment:
There are several procedures for treating aural
hematomas; the veterinarian's approach to the problem will depend on
the severity of the dog's condition. One method for correction --
which requires that the dog be sedated lightly -- is placing a
drain, called a teat cannula, securely into the tip of the ear and
allowing the ear to drain from the cannula for a period of three
weeks. The ear eventually seals back together as the owner "milks
the fluid" from the hematoma through the cannula each day.
Another method, performed under general anesthesia, involves making
a surgical incision into the swelling on the ear, allowing the fluid
to drain. Then, multiple sutures will be stitched into the ear to
seal it back together. Approximately seven to 10 days following the
procedure, after the ear has drained and healed fully, the sutures
will be removed.
Failure to treat a hematoma can lead to enlargement of the swelling
to encompass the entire earflap. Also, scar tissue formation within
the hematoma will result in a severely wrinkled, thickened earflap
that will predispose the dog to further ear problems.
Prevention: To help prevent aural hematoma formation, it is
essential that the veterinarian determine what is causing the
irritation that is making the dog shake its head or scratch its
ears. A thorough examination of the ears will be necessary. The
veterinarian may use an otoscope to look down into the ear canals to
determine the presence of a foreign body or inflammation in the
ears. Ear swabs often are taken and the material is evaluated under
the microscope to look for causes of otitis such as yeast, ear
mites, or bacteria. Allergies also can cause irritation to the ears.
Wounds of the pinna or earflap should be treated to prevent trauma
to the ear caused by shaking and scratching.
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