This is usually the result of the dog violently shaking his head or scratching at his ears, often because of ear infections, skin allergies, or debris (such as dirt or foxtails) getting lodged in the ear canal. Once the bleeding starts, the ear can swell significantly until it looks like a giant, over-stuffed ravioli.Īlthough ear hematomas are more common in floppy-eared dogs (since their ears flap against their heads when they shake), dogs with straight ears, cats, and even humans can develop ear hematomas. Pets with blood-clotting disorders can also develop them spontaneously, even without any trauma to the ear. Once an ear hematoma forms, it causes pain and irritation, causing the dog to shake his head even more. Any dog parent who’s come home to a dog with a ruptured ear hematoma knows how incredibly scary it is to see blood sprayed all over the walls from the poor dog shaking his head everywhere! If not treated, an ear hematoma can continue to grow so large that it blocks off the opening to the dog’s ear canal, or worse, it may rupture. Therefore, it’s best to treat ear hematomas in dogs as soon as they start. Diagnosis Of The Problemĭiagnosis of an ear hematoma is pretty straightforward – the dog’s ear looks like a swollen pillow and feels squishy to the touch. However, it’s important to diagnose the issue that caused the problem in the first place so it can be treated immediately. The veterinarian will start with an examination of the ear canal, looking for the presence of ear mites, a bacterial or yeast infection, or any sort of debris which might have gotten stuck inside the ear. Constant ear scratching is one of the most common causes of ear hematomas. If the ear canal looks healthy, the vet will then examine the dog for signs of allergic skin disease, which is the most common reason why dogs scratch at their ears.
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