Ear Hemotoma

[eddieledford]

Has anyone had a dog with a blood vessel to bust in it's ear. (Vet called it a hemotoma) It is a pocket of blood. Wet told me it will not go away without surgery. Is there anyway I can correct this without expensive surgery? If not I don't mind paying to keep my dogs healthy but if I can save money it sure would help.
Any info from someone would be helpful.
Thanks,
Eddie Ledford

[Bunny Runner]

A hematoma is basically a bruise. An area of tissue fills up with blood from some form of trauma.
I don't think there is anything you can do, and depending on the "type" of hematoma (as there are many types or severities), may require surgery to remove it.

[S.R.Patch]

I've had a few in the ear flap.
Best to leave alone, it will be reabsorbed over time.
I've tried to drain and treat a couple and it only made the ear flap wrinkle and deform.
If allowed to reabsorb on it's own, it may feel thicker to the rest of the ear but will not be as stiff or deformed, as if it were drained and treated.
Some times, the best to do is nothing at all... The same to the hound that had the bruse lump on the side of the rib cage. The blood bruse will be absorbed by the body with time, clearing on it's own...
Some hounds will open these on their own by scratching and this can't be helped, then they must be treated, but it's best left, to clear on it's own, if possible...

[eddieledford]

Thanks gentlemen for your replies and opinions. The vet said it is not in anyway at all life threating so I may leave it alone for awhile and see if it will get better. If not surgery may be the route.
Can you still hunt a dog with this hemotoma in the ear or is it best to let him rest?
Once again, thanks for the help. This is what makes this a great website. And this is what this website is for. Not all the bickering you see most of the time on it. It is nice to know that there are still houndsmen out there willing to help each other and not try to derail each other.
Yours in sport,
Eddie Ledford
Georgia

[show dog]

I have had experience with hematomas in golden retriever. She had surgery. Had to be repeated. Was painful and uncomfortable for the dog and humans. If you continue to run the dog, the blood vessel that broke will not heal and blood will continue to drain into the ear. Let the dog rest. It takes quite a while for the blood to reabsorb. You can ice pack the ear while hematoma is fresh- reduces blodd flow to the area. After a week some heat might help return blood flow and help with the clean up of dead blood cells.

Surgery has no guarantee. They slit the dog's ear open then use mattress stitching and plastic tubing to pull the ear back together.

Carolyn

[bunnyjumper]

I have a Golden that just went through this. The vet did just as Show Dog said. I tried just as Patch said to leave it alone, it just got bigger. I didnt want to drain it myself because I had no anti-biotics to give. I think the problem you will find is, this is caused by the dog shaking its head and scratching its ears. You will probably find an ear infection is causing this. If you want to hunt the dog soon, I'd have it fixed. p.s: when they slice the ear they leave it open for about a week to continue to drain fully.

[Backwoods Beagles]

S.R. Patch,
You suggest to leave it alone and see if it will heal on it's own. My vet said it is possible but not where it is located on the ear. It is where the head meets the ear flap. Where have you had them on your dogs that you left alone?
Thanks,
Eddie Ledford

[S.R.Patch]

Ours was between the skin of the ear flap, looked like 1/2 a golf ball between the inner and outter skin. We had no mites or infection in the ears, I think the young males roughousing with each other, caused it themselves. They are always clawing and scratching each other, being roudy trying to form rank.
For me, I would kennel hound by it'self, drain lump with large IV needle on lowest part of lump and give 2cc Pen-G.
You should do what you feel is best for your hound...
It is a slow heal process. Best of luck...Patch