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Ear hematomas in pets are very common in both dogs and cats, is very painful, and if not treated could result in a permanent disfiguring of their ears. There is usually an underlying cause for the reason that your pet is mutilating their own ear and correcting the cause is the only way to prevent it from reoccurring.
This condition is also known as aural hematomas, auricular hematomas, or simply as blood blisters. In dogs, they are most common in breeds that have floppy ears such as Hounds, Setters, Spaniels, and Dalmatians. Although not quite as common in cats, it is usually more serious as cats can more easily scratch their ears and inflict damage.
Ear hematomas can affect any breed or sex of cats or dogs, at any age, and at any time. Pets with chronic ear problems, ear mites, or ear infections, as well as a pet that constantly scratches at their ears, are especially at risk.
What is Ear Hematoma?
They are blood blisters that are caused by blood vessels in the ear that have ruptured, and as a result the loose space that is located under your pet's skin fills up with blood. This pressure from the rupture often causes most of the surface of the ear to swell up. Your pet clawing or pawing at their ears, or shaking their heads violently in reaction to this pressure can cause even more vessels to burst.
This process can happen very quickly, often within a few hours after the vessels have ruptured. Once the blister has formed your pet is in a lot of pain. If left untreated it may subside on its own temporarily, but the swelling will eventually return. As it returns, the space that has filled with blood starts to generate scar tissue. Once this happens and if not treated quickly, disfigurement of the ear will occur.
Causes of Ear Hematoma:
In most every case with ear hematomas, the underlying cause is chronic ear infections. In puppies and kittens the most common cause will be ear mites. The same mite will affect both, and the most common mite will be the Otodectes cynotis mite.
These mites are extremely contagious and can be spread from dog to dog, dogs to cats, mothers to their offspring, as well as from other animals such as rabbits, hamsters, ferrets, and mice. Contrary to a popular myth, ear mites can live and thrive in any part of your pet's body, not just the ears.
The shape of a pet's ear may also be the cause this condition, especially in dogs. Large and floppy ears rupture much easier and also impede air from circulating freely, allowing for more infection. Skin allergies may also be the culprit, as your pet's ear is lined with what is called modified skin. Skin is the largest organ in your pet's body, and the term modified skin means that if your cat or dog skin itches, so does their ears.
Dogs with allergies will react at times almost violently and actually traumatize themselves; which in turn allows bacteria to infect, grow, and colonize, most often in their ears.
Treating Ear Hematoma:
There are several forms of treatment for this condition and they will vary, depending on how quickly it has been identified as well as the size of the blisters. The most common form of treatment will be a surgical process where the blood will be drained from the underside of the ear. This will allow your veterinarian to help identify the actual cause. With this treatment, the incision will be closed with stitches.
Other treatments will include the same drainage process, but not stitching the ear but rather taping it, allowing for it to heal more naturally. This is most often used with show pets to preserve their appearance. If it is a very old or very small blister, the infection may be removed with a syringe.
There is a lot of discussion among veterinarians about the proper way to handle the treatment, as there is a lot of speculation that by just bandaging after surgery allows for the infection to reoccur at a much higher degree.
Prevention:
There are several methods of helping to prevent ear hematomas, but much like sinus infections in humans, it may never actually go away in your pet. As a result, they may need preventive measures for the rest of their lives.
There are several medications that you can use to help specific causes: medications that acidify the ears to help in preventing both bacteria and fungus, medications that contain antibodies to help with flare ups, and medications that contain corticosteroids to help reduce the pain and swelling.
Vitamin C for your pet is also very helpful, as your pets adrenal glands naturally produce a steroid that helps with inflammation. Vitamin C will help these glands work more effectively.
Mineral oil or unscented baby oil is also very effective as well as very safe for your pet. Simply filling you pets ear canals and than massaging the base of the ears will help remove debris. These oils will also kill ear mites.
Almond oil as well as Olive is also extremely effective. Just a few drops of either one will smother ear mites instantly. They also work as soothing and healing medications for your pet. The best way to maximize any type of an oil treatment is to clean you pet's ears with a soft cotton ball prior to dropping the oil.
Summary:
Ear hematomas can cause your pet a lot of self trauma from the scratching or shaking of the head. Prompt diagnosis and treatment, as well as identify the underlying causes will save you pet a lot of pain. Although you may never be able to cure in, you can help in preventing it by using some of these methods.
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