together.
This is a picture of a dog with a really, really big ear. Obviously this is not normal. What is going on here is a condition known as an aural (ear) hematoma. The ear pinna, or ear lobe, is filling with a bloody fluid and is painful and uncomfortable. These hematomas usually come about from the dog (or cat) shaking their head and/or rubbing it on the floor. In most cases an underlying cause can be identified, as is the case with this sweet guy. Skyler is his name and he battles chronic ear infections, however this was the first time his infection lead to an ear hematoma. It would seem logical the only treatment needed to alleviate the hematoma would be drainage, but in most cases it requires surgical intervention. If all we did was drain the fluid, in just a few short days the fluid would return and we would be right back where we started. In the picture I have made an "S" shaped incision into the ear, drained the bloody fluid, and removed the blood clots that form as the hematoma sits. In order to prevent the hematoma from recurring, we place sutures in the ear pinna to tack it back together. The picture to the left shows the finished product. Oftentimes, as in Skyler's case, we tack the ear to the top of the head to prevent the ear from further damage due to head shaking. In other cases we may bandage the head in an effort to reduce shaking or place an Elizabethan collar on the patient...also known as the cone of shame. Although the hematoma has been repaired, treatment does not stop there. As stated earlier, hematomas are a result of an underlying cause, and that issue must be addressed to prevent recurrence. In Skyler's case, we placed him on ear washes once a day and prescribed laser treatment. Ear infections are a condition we treat with the laser with excellent results. Skyler had a total of five laser treatment every 2-3 days. Some cases require 6-8 treatments. Fourteen days from the date of surgery, his sutures were removed. His ear infection was clear, and his Elizabethan collar was removed. Skyler is happy to be at home!
4 Comments
kelley
5/15/2013 05:57:39 am
My Dog has had 3 of these in the last couple of years, but the vet has never found an underlying reason. No mites or infections. He does shake his head a lot, though. I hope we dont have any more!
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Dr. Haley
5/15/2013 09:47:29 am
Wow, that is a lot of hematomas! How frustrating for you! Rarely these can have an underlying immune mediated component or the inciting cause can lie deeper in the ear than the conventional otoscope can see. More commonly they can be idiopathic, which seems to be the case with your dog. Poor guy! I hope he doesn't have any more!
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Darcy
5/16/2013 01:10:45 am
Poor Skylar. He has been through so much with his ear problems but this is the first swollen ear. Hope it is his last. He's such a good boy and is doing good. He is a trooper being through all that he has. Thanks for the pics of our lil/big guy. Hope this may help someone else if it happens to their love one. I have never seen this before. Thanks for all you guys do for our lil furry ones.
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D. haley
5/16/2013 01:31:50 am
Skyler is awesome! He makes our job very easy! I am glad he is doing better!
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Dr. Haley Hydrick Clark
Dr. Haley Hydrick Clark graduated from the University of Georgia in 1998 with a degree in Animal Science and from Tuskegee University in 2002 with a degree in Veterinary Medicine. Archives
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