Ear Hematoma in Dogs, A Non-Surgical Option!

[schlusselmensch]

Just days ago had a surgical correction of this done to my Red Heeler. All things considered, should it reoccur, I will not put him through it again unless there is some complication. General anaesthesia has a not insignificant risk, and he was in no pain until after the operation. His ear looks like it was manufactured by Dr. Frankenstein and he was miserable post-op. Plus that damned cone collar is like having a 55 pound cookie cutter on the loose around the house.

[rockout0420]

My dog also has one it is about the size of a small fist. It is her entire ear filled. It's been about a month and half and still not getting better. We tried draining some with a needle but it filled back up.

[845MX5]

Hey Doc Pawsitive! Great name. I have a blue tick coon hound. Last night we noticed she had an aural hematoma. She has always had horrible ear infections that we treat with special meds but they persist. My question to you is, when is it neccessary to bring my dog in to have the hematoma drained? It is just slightly larger then the hematoma shown in this video. In the video you say it will go away by itself. So that means it wont hurt her if we leave it for up to a month?

[845MX5]

@845MX5 If we can avoid the expense of the vet, we will wait and watch it to see if it goes down. What signs would indicate that it isnt going to go away by itself? Any advise would be great. Would it be a terrible idea to drain it with a sterile syringe as long as we use antibiotic on it and make sure the fluid doesnt drain into her ear canal? Opinions?

[afelds813]

@845MX5 :My dog, Taylor, still has a little bit of an Aural Hematoma left. When I came home frm work one Friday night a couple of weeks ago, I looked at ear, & it doubled in size in like a 12-hr period, I was like "wtf?", cuz I had been keeping a close eye on her ear prior, then I went online & researched it a bit. I ended up taking Taylor to the Vet the next day, & I thought she was going to have to get surgery the following Monday when I first talked to the Vet on phone about

[afelds813]

(continued)....the Hematoma. So when I was at the Vet, they told me that the worst thing you can do to the Hematoma on their ear, is to drain it yourself....because it'll keep filling back up, & could get infected. Then they swabbed her ear, & the Dr. went to check the wax under the microscope. The Dr. came back after looking at it, & said she had a yeast infection in her ear. And so to treat her yeast infection, they gve me "Otomax" Solution to put in her ear every 12hrs. for 14 days

[afelds813]

(continued again)....along with an Oti-Clens Solutions (for Dogs or Cats) to help maintain good hygiene in her ear & it breaks down the buildup of wax. To treat her Hematoma, the Dr. said it'd be costly & it could end up being a lot of after-care maintanence and/or more painful for her. Then she said she doesnt recommend surgery, & that I should try the steroid, Prednisone, first for 30 days cuz it reduces inflammation & pain, etc..but makes animals more thirsty = more urination lol..

[afelds813]

(LAST cont.)....& Dr. said if it hadnt changed w/in 30 days, then Id have to schedule for surgery..somethin along those lines.

The Prednisone Dosage was 10mg every 12hrs. for 10days, then 10mg once a day for 10days, then 10mg every other day for 10 days.

Its been bout 3 weeks now, & her Hematoma is almost gone :) And my Vet bill w/ Exm fee n all 3 Meds were $120. Well worth it over surgery option! Love it where I take her. I highly suggest the route I chose, & def saved alot of $!

[afelds813]

Hope that kind of helps :)

Andd also, Taylor is half - Pitbull, & half - Greyhound and a big smiler :) haha it's the cutest thing! :)