Swelling on my dog’s ear?

  • By: Mick Whitefield
  • Time to read: 10 min.

Have you noticed some swelling on your dog’s ear? Is it inflated and squishy, resembling a marshmallow? Has your pooch been shaking his head, tilting it to one side, and scratching his ear vigorously? If the answer to these questions is yes, then it is very likely that your pet has contracted an ear infection. To keep your canine friend healthy, it is crucial that you know what to do when they start displaying these kinds of symptoms.

Why is there swelling on my dog’s ear? A soft swelling in or on your dog’s ear is usually a condition called hematoma, which develops when blood vessels in the ear are broken. Common signs of hematoma are that your dog: –
• has a soft puffy swelling on or around its ear
• continuously shakes its head
• constantly scratches or rubs their ears
• displays unusual aggression when it’s touched
Hematoma swellings are often a secondary cause, created by some other initial problem that you might not have seen.
Thus, we would suggest that you seek professional advice as it would normally be treated by a vet as a minor surgical operation with any appropriate post-operation treatment or medication to follow up.

In this post, we will take a look at the common symptoms and various causes of the condition known as a hematoma. We will also look at the type of dog that is most prone to hematoma, while highlighting the possible treatment options available as well as how to prevent a possible relapse in the future.

Puffy swelling on my dogs ear

A huge, puffy swelling on your dog’s ear, could be an “ear hematoma”.

Aural hematoma is a serious condition that requires medical treatment, failure to do so can lead to the ear becoming extensively scarred and even deformed. Usually by the time this appears you will already have observed some excessive head shaking and possibly frantic scratching of the ear.

The original cause of what led to the hematoma and thus the head shaking, needs to be determined. In most cases the hematoma itself won’t cause the dog any pain, the underlying cause most likely will. Get your furry friend to the vet sooner rather than later.

A Common thing for Dogs with Floppy Ears

Unsurprisingly dog breeds with floppy ears are usually the most susceptible to hematomas. This is because the condition comes about when the blood vessels in the ear are fractured. These dogs have soft ear flaps where the blood vessels are easily exposed to injury when playing fighting or just running about in heavy bushes.

What is a Hematoma?

A hematoma is a swelling that is brought about by a broken vessel in which bleeding has occurred. The blood flows out of the ruptured vessel and collects within the skin folds of the ear, the result is a swelling.
It is also possible to get these swellings inside the ear but is thankfully rare, should you see this, take your dog to the vet immediately.

“Ear hematomas” or “Auricular hematomas” are fluid-filled swellings that by the time you notice them could be anything from the size of a pea to the size of a golf ball and may resemble a large blood blister.
They develop on the floppy surface of the ear in animals like dogs, cats, and pigs. This condition is, however, more common in dogs than it is in cats.
The pathogenesis for the growth of the laceration has not been fully understood, though a lot of it can be credited to head shaking and scratching of the ear by the dog (usually in an attempt to stop the itch) a hematoma is, to a large extent, associated with the existence of otitis externa- an inflammation on the auricle, external auditory canal, or both.

What are the Signs of a Hematoma?

Hematoma is generally easy to diagnose. Dogs suffering from the condition tend to exhibit very distinctive symptoms. You need to look for the following symptoms associated with this condition:
• Swollen/ Puffy Ear- A swelling will be visible on your dog’s ear flap. The size may vary; it could be just like a small pea and sometimes it is big enough to block the ear canal opening.
• Warm and Soft Ear- The swollen ear is usually soft and warm because of the blood flowing close to the surface.
• Head Shaking- Your dog will keep on shaking his head because of the pain, usually from the associated infection.
Reddening- The affected ear assumes a reddish color due to the pooling of blood.
Rubbing and Scratching- Your dog continuously scratches and rubs the ear against items in the house to try and relieve the pain or irritation.
Tilting- Your dog will continuously tilt his head to one side as if to remove something stuck inside.
• Aggression- Your dog may display a certain level of aggression when someone touches the bulging ear flap. He may back up or growl.
Changing Ear Shape- The additional weight of the swelling in the earflap is usually uncomfortable for the dog and can sometimes cause the shape of the ear to permanently change.
Odd Walking Style- Your dog might display unusual behavior. He may walk in circles or look like he may be having issues with his balance as a consequence of the discomfort in his ear.
Hair loss- Sometimes, the hair around the region in which the hematoma has developed may start to fall off or it may simply appear thin due the the expansion of the skin.

What Causes Hematoma in Dog’s Ears?

The major underlying causes in most cases include:

  •  Injury/ Cuts/Trauma- When dogs are playing or get into a fight, a blood vessel may break in the ear and lead to a hematoma.
  • Excessive Head Shaking- Vigorous shaking of the head by the dog possibly due to infection can result in a hematoma.
  • Itchiness- An itchy ear may cause the dog to scratch it in an attempt to relieve the irritation. This may lead to lacerations in the ear that eventually lead to the condition.
  • Ear Mites- Mites are tiny parasites that feed on the wax inside the dog’s ear. Ear mites are very common in the majority of ear problems in dogs including hematoma.
  • Allergies- Dogs, just like humans have allergies of things like pollen, molds, or certain foods that can cause ear infections. The microscopic inflammation on the skin brought about by allergies allows the overgrowth of bacteria and yeast that end up living on the skin.
  • Grass Seeds- Such things as grass seeds, thorns and the like can get stuck in a dog’s ear which then leads to further problems or infections.

What Does a Hematoma look like?

A hematoma can be identified by seeing a soft lump or swelling in the flap of the ear. Generally, a hematoma is reddish in color and resembles a small balloon filled with water. The skin over the hematoma is usually puffy and soft. Depending on the stage of the condition, the hematoma will vary in size from just a small pea size swelling to one large enough to cover the opening of the ear canal.

Can a Hematoma Heal on its own?

Given the little strength of the ear tissues where aural hematoma develops, clotting of blood may take a while, more so if the dog keeps on interrupting the clotting by scratching, rubbing, and shaking.
In spite of this, it is actually possible for hematomas to heal on their own but will normally leave behind a crinkled, scarred, and possibly shrunken ear flap.
However, I suggest the best thing to do would be to take your pet to the vet’s office as the hematoma may relapse if the underlying causes are not fully treated.

How do I Treat a Hematoma?

There is no domestic treatment for the condition. Whenever you suspect that your pet may have contracted the condition, simply take him to the veterinarian.

Proper treatment of the hematoma will involve dealing with the underlying problems. If the cause is a foreign body lodged in the ear canal, the physician will find a way to deal with it.

If the cause is a bacterial infection, the vet will prescribe the relevant antibiotics and if ear mites have invaded your dog’s ear, there are topical ear mite medications that can be administered.

For a dog with a history of allergies, the trigger of the allergy has to be identified.

Proper cleaning of the ear should also be performed to remove any lingering earwax.

However, the hematoma needs to be dealt with as well. If left unattended to, your pet stands the risk of having a damaged and ugly ear. The ear may have wrinkles and thicken due to the scarring.

Most vets will suggest surgical correction when you take your pet for treatment. The actual surgical method varies depending on the individual case and the vet’s preference but will commonly involve some known basic steps.

Step 1: The first step is to remove the skin covering the hematoma by making an incision then draining the blood accumulated in the ear to get rid of any blood clots. Normally, this procedure is carried out with your dog conscious using a tool known as cannula; or a needle and syringe. In a more comprehensive process, the pinna is cut open to let the fluid drain out.

Step 2: In the next step, the empty space (medically referred to as “dead space”) is eliminated by placing a number of sutures to the ear to facilitate the formation of scar tissue. This re-attaches the cartilage to the skin tissue, helping to wade off any future recurrence of the hematoma. A surgical drain may in some cases be placed to enhance drainage.

Step 3: Finally, the ear flap is supported to limit any further aggravation of the wound and keep it in the right conditions for healing. The vet may use a bandage or alternative material that is directly applied to the pinna. Another way is to bandage the ear flap against the head altogether.

Further Veterinarian Treatment

Some vets will place a pressure wrap on the dog’s ear for a week to facilitate further drainage and avoid re-accumulation of the fluid inside the ear. Meanwhile, sutures will be removed two or three weeks after the surgery. The pet doctor will then prescribe pain drugs, antibiotics, and any other relevant medication to permanently deal with the problem.

This surgical procedure is generally safe and most affected animals end up with a good prognosis. However, some risks exist in the administration of general anaesthesia as is the case with any other type of surgery.
Early intervention will always give you a better outcome so it is crucial that you contact the vet as soon as you notice the first sign of any ear hematoma.

Eardrops for Early Diagnosis of Ear Hematoma

If you have the confidence or are fearful of the cost of veterinarian treatment, as long as the condition is mild and the symptoms are at a very early stage, you could try some home based treatment.

Sometimes, the swelling may be mild and will only require eardrops to treat. If this is the case, you can simplify the application with the following quick and easy steps:

1. Gently but firmly hold your dog’s head so that it’s still. Lift the pinna and clean the surface wax using a cotton ball and ear solution. Take care not to dig too dip into your pet’s ear or smear the wax onto the eardrum.
2. Maintain the dog’s head in the same position and place the mouth of the ear dropper on the opening of the ear canal while angling it towards the nose. Squeeze to squirt the prescribed number of drops.
3. Continue holding your dog’s head in place to prevent him from shaking off the medication. Fold your dog’s pinna down and gently massage the cartilage on the ear for about half a minute to spread the drops evenly.

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NB: In some situations, the ear is just mildly inflated so a more conservative approach is taken. Cortisone is injected into the ear flap and this is complemented by prescribing cortisone pills to assist in the shrinking of the hematoma.

As explained above, accumulated fluid in the ear calls for professional intervention.

I advise you not to wait too long as your pet may end up with an unsightly ear. If you are worried about the cost, imagine waiting for the hematoma to heal on its own and this doesn’t happen. It could be a more costly implication if your beloved pet loses his aesthetic appeal just because of a deformed ear that could easily have been prevented.

Recovering from the Hematoma?

Once the operation is complete, the vet should give you indications and directions on how to care for your dog post-operation. Some of the guidelines may include: –

  • Clean the ear canal carefully and dry it, then administer the appropriate medication once you are done.
  • Clean the unhealed incision and gently squeeze out any tiny pockets of fluid that may have developed after the operation.
  • Use an Elizabethan collar on your pet until when the sutures are removed and the otitis externa is resolved.
  • Adequately treat and consistently follow-up on the otitis externa if still present.

The prognosis of aural hematoma is in most cases good, but a relapse is more likely to happen if the underlying cause is not treated and managed.

Once a hematoma has developed on an ear, it should be closely scrutinized for otitis. Proper treatment of the otitis externa and follow up is crucial to avoid shaking of the head, which can result in the hematoma developing again.

How can I Prevent Future Recurrences of the Hematoma?

To prevent a recurrence of the hematoma, monitor your dog as much as possible. One of the triggers of hematoma is violent play or scratching the ear when diving through bushes and such, try to avoid your dog engaging in these practices.

Doing your best to prevent such things will go a long way in ensuring your pet doesn’t injure himself again. Also, keep your dog from scratching and rubbing his head against things by looking out for any signs of mites or infections.

Seek diagnosis or treatment anytime your dog starts to develop this habit.

Make sure your dog’s ear is always healthy. Normally, the inside of a healthy ear is clean, odor free with a pink color. As soon as you notice any redness, odor, or swelling; make a point of consulting your vet immediately.

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