Dogs
Hematoma typically refers to a collection of blood outside the blood vessels, which usually occurs due to hemorrhage. Hemorrhage occurs when the wall of the blood vessels are damaged, allowing the blood to escape from the blood vessels and get into the tissues. The result is the development of hematoma, which can be tiny, appearing just as a dot of blood or could be large enough to cause significant swelling inflammation, redness and pain. The condition is quite common in many pets including dogs and cats. Dogs are more likely to get it as compared to cats. Dogs usually get hematoma on the inside of the ear flap. This kind of hematoma is called aural hematoma. It usually results from an itchy ear, which compels the animal to continuously scratch the ear and shake its head vigorously. This annoying dog behavior can eventually cause the blood vessels of the ear flap to rupture. As a result, a localized swelling filled with blood develops on the ear flap.
Causes of Canine Hematoma
Rupture of the blood vessels of the ear flap is the main cause of aural hematoma in dogs. This in turn, can results from self-inflicted trauma like, constant ear scratching and head shaking or other kinds of injuries to the ear. The factors that usually cause itchy ear, and thus compel the dogs to scratch their ears constantly are, dog allergies, ear mites, accumulation of excess wax and debris in the ear, excessive growth of hair inside the ear and presence of foreign body and parasites in the ear. Yeast infection or bacterial infection of the ear can also cause this health problem in dogs. The condition is however, more common among the dog breeds, which have long and floppy ears. The incidence of dog aural hematoma is also more frequent in humid areas, as compared to the cold and dry areas of the world.
Signs of Canine Hematoma
If your dog is constantly scratching or rubbing its ear with its paw, then it could be a sign that something is wrong with its ear. Additionally, it can keep shaking its head, which too indicates that it is trying to get rid of something in its ear. If it is the underlying cause of such behavior, then you can observe a firm and small or large swelling on the inside of the ear flap. It can develop at the base of the ear as well. If it's quite large, then a larger area of your dog's ear can look swollen and red. You can feel warmth on touching the swelling. If it is painful, you can observe your dog to yelp or whine occasionally, when it touches the ear. Head tilting is another symptom that can be observed in dogs with aural hematoma.
Treatment for Canine Hematoma
It can be easily identified by veterinarians on observing the swelling of the earflap or the pinna. Sometimes, a confirm diagnosis may require the fluid to be withdrawn from the swollen area. Presence of blood in the fluid confirms the diagnosis. As far as treatment is concerned, aural hematoma can be treated in several ways. For minor hematoma, veterinarians may opt for simple aspiration, which involves draining of the fluid with the help of a syringe. This, however is a temporary solution to aural hematoma. Veterinarians usually opt for hematoma correction surgery and placement of a teat cannula to treat it.
Teat cannula is generally employed for draining milk or infected discharge in cattle. But, it could be used for treating aural hematoma as well. For placing a teat cannula in the dog's ear, the animal is first sedated. Then the teat cannula is placed on the tip of the ear, so that it can drain out the fluid from the hematoma. Usually, this device is placed for a period of three weeks, which can be a bit uncomfortable for your dog. Another option for treating hematoma is surgery. General anesthesia is used to sedate the dog, after which a surgical incision is made into the swelling. In this way, the accumulated fluid is drained out of the hematoma. After the procedure, the incision is sealed with multiple sutures. The sutures are then removed once the incision has healed completely, which usually takes 9 to 10 days.
It can be quite painful at times and it can also cause scarring, if not treated on time. Such scarring can cause a cosmetic problem, where the affected ear can crumble or get deformed as it heals. So, it is better to seek medical attention than letting the hematoma to heal on its own. However, pet owners should be a bit careful, so as to prevent its recurrence. Its prevention in the future is possible, if the underlying causes of ear irritation or itching can be ascertained. Appropriate dog care such as regular dog grooming can help a lot to avoid ear irritation by ensuring that your dog's ears are free of any foreign objects. Similarly, appropriate treatment for ear mites, and other conditions which can cause itching and irritation of the ear can also prevent the recurrences of aural hematoma.
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Dogs
Hematoma in Dog's Ear
Hematoma typically refers to a collection of blood outside the blood vessels, which usually occurs due to hemorrhage. Hemorrhage occurs when the wall of the blood vessels are damaged, allowing the blood to escape from the blood vessels and get into the tissues. The result is the development of hematoma, which can be tiny, appearing just as a dot of blood or could be large enough to cause significant swelling inflammation, redness and pain. The condition is quite common in many pets including dogs and cats. Dogs are more likely to get it as compared to cats. Dogs usually get hematoma on the inside of the ear flap. This kind of hematoma is called aural hematoma. It usually results from an itchy ear, which compels the animal to continuously scratch the ear and shake its head vigorously. This annoying dog behavior can eventually cause the blood vessels of the ear flap to rupture. As a result, a localized swelling filled with blood develops on the ear flap.
Causes of Canine Hematoma
Rupture of the blood vessels of the ear flap is the main cause of aural hematoma in dogs. This in turn, can results from self-inflicted trauma like, constant ear scratching and head shaking or other kinds of injuries to the ear. The factors that usually cause itchy ear, and thus compel the dogs to scratch their ears constantly are, dog allergies, ear mites, accumulation of excess wax and debris in the ear, excessive growth of hair inside the ear and presence of foreign body and parasites in the ear. Yeast infection or bacterial infection of the ear can also cause this health problem in dogs. The condition is however, more common among the dog breeds, which have long and floppy ears. The incidence of dog aural hematoma is also more frequent in humid areas, as compared to the cold and dry areas of the world.
Signs of Canine Hematoma
If your dog is constantly scratching or rubbing its ear with its paw, then it could be a sign that something is wrong with its ear. Additionally, it can keep shaking its head, which too indicates that it is trying to get rid of something in its ear. If it is the underlying cause of such behavior, then you can observe a firm and small or large swelling on the inside of the ear flap. It can develop at the base of the ear as well. If it's quite large, then a larger area of your dog's ear can look swollen and red. You can feel warmth on touching the swelling. If it is painful, you can observe your dog to yelp or whine occasionally, when it touches the ear. Head tilting is another symptom that can be observed in dogs with aural hematoma.
Treatment for Canine Hematoma
It can be easily identified by veterinarians on observing the swelling of the earflap or the pinna. Sometimes, a confirm diagnosis may require the fluid to be withdrawn from the swollen area. Presence of blood in the fluid confirms the diagnosis. As far as treatment is concerned, aural hematoma can be treated in several ways. For minor hematoma, veterinarians may opt for simple aspiration, which involves draining of the fluid with the help of a syringe. This, however is a temporary solution to aural hematoma. Veterinarians usually opt for hematoma correction surgery and placement of a teat cannula to treat it.
Teat cannula is generally employed for draining milk or infected discharge in cattle. But, it could be used for treating aural hematoma as well. For placing a teat cannula in the dog's ear, the animal is first sedated. Then the teat cannula is placed on the tip of the ear, so that it can drain out the fluid from the hematoma. Usually, this device is placed for a period of three weeks, which can be a bit uncomfortable for your dog. Another option for treating hematoma is surgery. General anesthesia is used to sedate the dog, after which a surgical incision is made into the swelling. In this way, the accumulated fluid is drained out of the hematoma. After the procedure, the incision is sealed with multiple sutures. The sutures are then removed once the incision has healed completely, which usually takes 9 to 10 days.
It can be quite painful at times and it can also cause scarring, if not treated on time. Such scarring can cause a cosmetic problem, where the affected ear can crumble or get deformed as it heals. So, it is better to seek medical attention than letting the hematoma to heal on its own. However, pet owners should be a bit careful, so as to prevent its recurrence. Its prevention in the future is possible, if the underlying causes of ear irritation or itching can be ascertained. Appropriate dog care such as regular dog grooming can help a lot to avoid ear irritation by ensuring that your dog's ears are free of any foreign objects. Similarly, appropriate treatment for ear mites, and other conditions which can cause itching and irritation of the ear can also prevent the recurrences of aural hematoma.
- Dog Ear Infection Symptoms
Being one of the common dog health problems, ear infection can cause severe pain and inflammation of the ear. Dogs can suffer from three types of ear infection, otitis externa or infection of the outer ear, otitis media or infection of the middle...
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Ear mites, also known as Otodectes cynotis are crab-like, eight-legged, infectious, microscopic parasites which unlike other mites do not burrow into the skin. They have a life cycle of approximately 4 weeks and can survive for several weeks outside...
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