Aural Hematoma Remedies

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.

Herbal Cure

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Kilihunebabe (Tacoma, Wa) on 12/01/2014
★★★★★

I just recently cured my dog's aural hematoma after only one week using:

1. turmeric in food (light sprinkle, ~1/8 tsp)

2. Chinese Herb Yunnan Baiyao, made into a paste and applied topically 2x/day (but can also be given internally - I just didn't have the time to figure out how best to do so because it is BITTER gross nasty)

3. Arnica tablets 30c, 2 crushed tablets 4x/day on day 1, then cut back to only three times a day.

Hope this helps!

Replied by Eugenia
(Altadena/ca/usa)
01/01/2015

Kilihunebabe, thank you for the information. I wonder how big is your dog? I need to decide the right dosage for my 30 pounds Shiba Inu. Thanks!

Replied by Deborah
(Fishkill Ny)
03/07/2015

Does anyone know the oral dosage for cats?

Replied by Lisa
(San Francisco, Ca)
07/04/2015

Hi my dog has a small aural hematoma & I'd like to first try herbal treatment. Can you let me know how you made the yunnan b powder into a paste, did you use an oil or just a little water & how long did you leave it on? Should it stay moist or dry while on? Thanks!

Replied by Kilihunebabe
(Steilacoom)
01/31/2017

I just added a little water to the yb powder and applied a thin coating to the bump and let it dry. Someone else I know that tried this gauzed the ear and kept the yb powder moist and had the same results. So, either way is probably fine.

Replied by Kilihunebabe
(Steilacoom)
01/31/2017

My dog was thirteen pounds.


Kenalog Injection

Posted by Tiffany O. (Enola, Pa) on 11/01/2016

Kenalog for Aural Hematomas

I just made a vet appointment since we have been through this before with my little guy. All vets want to lance and drain and stitch and make a mess. I found a vet on our first experience with this little problem, that treated with an injection of Kenalog. I work for a Retina (Eye) specialist and we use this drug to treat bleeds in eyes. It works like a charm as long as you don't fuss with the ear as it's healing. (I pressed on his little ear the first time and you could feel the blood rushing back in :/) Needless to say it dried up without a return visit. He hasn't had one in 3 years and I think this is now the opposite ear. We now live in another state and finding a vet to do this procedure took a couple of phone calls but I found one!

Average cost of injection is about $30 plus vet visit $50ish, so much better than $350 base for a messy surgery! The best results come from early treatment, the longer the blood sits the thicker it gets and is harder to remove. Good luck with your best friends, hope this helped someone <3

Replied by Theresa
(Mpls., Mn)
11/03/2016

Kenalog aka Triamcinolone Acetonide is an injectable steroid. Some dogs tolerate steroids very well, and for others with undiagnosed health issues can result in death. Please have your pet checked out for any potential health problems such as heart murmurs BEFORE you administer steroids.


Leave the Hematoma Alone

2 User Reviews
5 star (2) 
  100%

Posted by ML (Santa Monica, CA) on 01/15/2021
★★★★★

My golden retriever got a small hematoma at the bottom of her ear flap last month. After reading the posts on Earth Clinic about Aural Hematomas, I decided to leave the hematoma alone unless it got too big. That was a wise decision. It didn't get any bigger and disappeared after a few weeks. I had also read that draining it at the vet is not always the best decision as it can make the hematoma bigger.


Leave the Hematoma Alone
Posted by Loraine (Orlando, FL) on 07/20/2014
★★★★★

Hey EC....How is everybody doing? A few months ago, I had wrote in to EC asking for help when my cockapoo came down with hematoma in one of his ears....well I had promised to let you guys know what worked for me so here I am.....hopefully this can help someone out there. After much research and some wonderful advice from you guys...I decided not to go ahead with the surgery which was costing me $400.00 plus my dog was going to be in a lot of pain as well, and just wait this thing out as was suggested by this one lady whose name I can't remember.....sorry....anyways, after six weeks, my dog's ear is back to normal...can't believe it even now..all I did was just leave it alone although sometimes, I would put some ice on it and rub a little arnica cream on it but other than that I pretty much leave it as is....a lot of people had said that the one ear would be kinda deformed....not this one...I am so grateful, this dog is my big baby...lol....hopefully, this can save someone's dog from surgery, a lot of pain and some money.....thanks for listening...

Replied by Theresa
(Mpls., Mn)
07/21/2014

Hey Loraine!

Thanks for the follow up! How nice to know that you CAN take the 'do nothing' approach in this situation and simply allow the ear to heal in it's own good time!

Replied by Loraine
(Orlando)
07/21/2014

Yes Theresa...I was stunned that this worked.... I saw a vet on youtube encouraging people to just wait it out and insisted that most of the time it would heal on its own and it did....of course there are exceptions, that's why you have to closely observe while you are waiting....

Replied by Lizzy
(Asheville, Nc)
07/23/2014

Hi Lorraine! So glad to hear the ear healed - yahoo!! My dog's right ear also healed beautifully after leaving it alone for a month. However (sigh), I was away all last week and didn't ask my husband to clean his ears out once a week like I usually do. So he started scratching his ear again a few nights ago and guess what... another small hematoma formed in the same right ear! I can't believe it! Lesson: We need to stay on top of keeping the ears clean to control yeast overgrowth/severe itchiness. I use a great pet ear solution that I got from the vet, by the way. It stops the itchiness fast and I only have to use it once a week. I also smell his ears frequently to see how much yeast is building up. When they get really smelly is the time to clean the ears. Best, Lizzy

Replied by Theresa
(Mpls., Mn)
07/23/2014

Hey Lizzy!

I like Zymox for itchy, sore, yeasty ears - but as you know, keeping them clean in the first place heads off issues and is key.

Another thing that may help is the addition of Borax [unscented laundry booster/sodium borate] added to the drinking water. Consider one quarter teaspoon into one liter as his regular drinking water. This will help combat an internal/systemic yeast infection [manifesting in the ears].

Replied by Lizzy
(Asheville, Nc)
07/23/2014

Thank you, Theresa! I will definitely try the borax in the drinking water.

Replied by Loraine
(Orlando, US)
07/24/2014

Hi Lizzy....I'm so glad that you chose to wait and see what happens instead of running to the vet and have them cause so much pain to your dog and on top of that pay them for that as well...after I read about the draining etc. after the surgery, I chose to just wait it out and now my dog is happy....are you going to wait this one out as well? I am thinking since it's small you should, but then, that's up to you......if you don't mind, can you give me the name of the medicine for the ear? Let us know the outcome....take care...

Replied by Debbie
(California, US)
08/13/2014

I find this really helpful. I have three dogs, and my middle dog has recently gotten hematoma in her left ear. I was worried because her ear began to droop and I didn't know if it was serious or not. We also can't afford to take her to the vet because my oldest dog has come down with a nail infection and she is actually experiencing some pain, so she needs treatment and we can't afford treatment for both of them. After some research though, it seems like she'll be just fine if it's left alone since the bulge isn't large, painful, or bloody. I think if the bulge in her ear gets worse and does not cease to get better I will take her to the vet, but if it stays the same, my baby will be just fine :)

Replied by Erica
(Amarillo, Tx)
02/21/2015

Hello I just saw your reply about your dog and swollen ear.. I know it's been a while since you wrote this, but my cat has same thing and I'm just struggling to know if I should take him to vet. He seems fine, it's just realy swollen and hangs front.. So my question is you didn't do anything? Didn't drain it either just left it alone?

Replied by Dekcotta
(New Albany, Indiana)
04/01/2015

I have a full bleeded boxer and her ear flap is swollen. So can I try to put ice on in to see if that will help?

Replied by Terry
(Tallahassee Florida 32308)
04/16/2015

My dog's ear flap is full. I can't afford to go to the vet as I recently lost my job. I'm trying to sell my furniture to take her. She doesn't act like it's bothering her but I don't want her to suffer. She's 10. How long can I leave it and is there anything I can do. Please give me some suggestions. Thank you.

Replied by Bonnie
(Npr Fl.)
04/26/2015

My cat has ear hematoma, been two days now. I cleaned the black stuff, what I could, out of her swollen ear. Where can I buy the arnica at?

Replied by Schalana
(Van Buren, Arkansas)
05/05/2015

Thank you for this post.

Replied by Anna
(Ontario, Canada)
08/25/2015

Thank you for the cheerful news! My dog got the ear hematoma on one ear on the weekend.I went to the vet, he sugested as an only option that works a surgery which was estimated for over$ 1000! I was so devastated because my dog had a surgery a month ago and it cost me apr. $2000. I will try to wait and see. How big it can grow? I am scared that it could burst? Thank you, Anna

Replied by Melina
(California)
03/06/2016

Thank for the advice.

Replied by Kayleigh
(Walsall)
05/27/2016

I promise it won't burst, my boy has one in each ear and they will go away but it will take time! The main thing it to treat what caused it in the first place, so clean ears daily, and check for fleas :) x

Replied by Cherry
(North Carolina)
07/17/2017

I would like to apply arinca gel but can't afford it. My dog is is in pain it hurts me so much.

Replied by Rhonda
(Elberta Al.)
10/05/2017

I just freaked out seeing how they did surgery on this. Then it could come back as well as the cost. My husband and I are both on disability and could not afford the cost. Then I read about your situation and think I should do the same. I have been given him a dose of antibiotics (cephalexin and benadryls). I have read in other's post to leave it alone. I even read someone used preparation h to refuse swelling. Have you heard of this as an option.

Replied by Dave
(Denver, Co)
03/14/2018

Did you use the ice before, after or separate from the Arnica?


Let It Heal on Its Own

4 User Reviews
5 star (3) 
  75%
1 star (1) 
  25%

Posted by Berklan (North Carolina) on 10/10/2017
★★★★★

My dog had this so I came here to learn more about it. She didn't appear to be in any pain if not touched. I knew there was no way I could afford the surgery and planned to order the oil (forgot the name of it), but then a week later her ear had gradually gone back down to its original size.

Replied by Miachelle
(Oregon)
02/24/2018

Healing on its own is great information and thank you so much for your input. I myself suffered a hematoma on inside of left thigh the size of a flippen cantaloupe and it too went away on its own.


Let It Heal on Its Own
Posted by Berklan (North Carolina) on 10/01/2017
★★★★★

My dog's (aural hematoma) went back to normal in about a week.


Let It Heal on Its Own
Posted by Linda (Pitt Meadows, BC Canada) on 08/14/2008
★★★★★

My lab cross had 2 aural haematomas the first one occured in April 2008. It was quite large the size of a fat sausage and we were concerned but the more research I did on the internet the more I discovered that the haematomas bother the owner more than the pet and if there is no obvious discomfort just leave it. Early May my dog got a second haematoma closer to her ear canal. I became worried and did more research and tried leeches...yes leeches ordered 8 of them from Niagra Ontario. It wasn't as bad as I had imagined but really wasn't the right treatment as although it caused no harm to my dog it would not and could not resolve the problem as the balloons of blood were not isolated but part of her regular flowing system so as you removed the blood more filled it's place and the leeches really only remove about a tsp each. It is now mid August 2008 and I am happy to report that my dogs ear looks as good as the day before she had the problem. There has been no cauliflowering or mishealing and she is happy not to have had surgery and face further complications that stictches etc. can provide. If she had another one I would leave it to heal again I think sometimes its best not to try and treat everything. Too quickly someone wants to take your money for an unnecessarry procedure. My dogs ear was very swollen and without any surgery is perfectly fine today. That was my experience.

Replied by Lynda
(Mar Del Plata, Arrgentina)
01/16/2009

i am so relieved to have read leeches and your kind visitors comments.......she let nature take its course.....im gong through the same problem with max my beautiful belgian shepherd even though he is being medicated at the moment the vet is pressing me to have him operated on as soon as possible and now from reading this article im going to wait.......here in argentina vet procedures arevery expensive and local vets are anxious to inflate their pockets!!!!!!!!!!!!.....again thanks for being on internet.........lynda

Replied by Ruth Foster
(Wetwang, England)
05/18/2009

I was very encouraged to see the info about the haematoma and wondered how Lynda's Beligum sheppard's ear is a my dog has the same problewm and the same types of ears as a belgium sheppard. My other dog had the same, he had surgery which I would like to avoid if possible as it was very distressing for him.

Replied by Christina
(Grass Valley, Ca, Usa)
07/28/2012

My dog had this a few years ago and the vet took care of it, but couldn't find a cause, no ear infection or mites or anything. The only time I had noticed her shaking her head was when she was shaking her floppy toys so I sadly took away her favorite toys and left her with the more compact variety and she has not had a recurrence.

Replied by Bpaisley
(Chicago, Il, Usa)
12/12/2012

I recently noticed a hematoma developing on my chocolate lab pup (10yrs old) and monitored it. I have been giving her Belladonna (30c) to no avail. Today I started with an oil blend of cypress and lemon which seems to help. I also switched her remedy to phosphorus 30c - waiting on the outcome. The ideal oil is Helichrysum, however I do not have this yet. I ordered four medical leeches and will try this approach when they arrive. It is uncomfortable to the touch so I am quite careful when applying the oils. I also started her on vitamin C in her breakfast. If the leeches are unsuccessful, I will put her on a Chinese herbal formula. I will let you know how it goes. Fingers crossed! I have ruled out surgery as I do not see this as a necessary means to the end.

Replied by Cam
(Crewe, UK)
12/30/2012

Your dog is in discomfort and you are waiting for enough leeches each removing a teaspoon? I'm not sure you have considered your dog's well being.

Replied by Sun
(Australia)
02/03/2014
★☆☆☆☆

WARNING!

Hi, I'm writing today because my dog was suffering a second haematoma on the opposite ear last week, the first ear cost us over $1000 in surgery. At the time of the initial surgery the vet was quite blaze about it, it made me blaze this time around and before doing anything thought I would look up online about it. This was one of the sites I came to. I did ring the vet last Friday, two or three days after the haematoma appeared. I had her scheduled for surgery yesterday morning, being Monday. I am a psychic and Friday night spirit was badgering me and telling me I would have to take her to the vet on the Saturday morn. I accepted that even tho we live in the country and there is a lot of travel involved, 3 hours of driving alone. I rang the vet and said I was concerned, she assured me she would be fine for her surgery on Monday, she was in no pain, a little discomfort, that was all. I still felt so unsure and asked if I could send some photo's which I did, they came back to say a second time, no she be fine till her scheduled surgery on Monday morning. Spirit woke me at 3.30 am Monday morn badgering me to go and have a cigarette, they hate me smoking and I had to get up early to take the dog. I got up anyway, had my smoke, saw our dogs feet sticking out from the underneath of our bar area, one of her favourite spots. They said call her, I did, nothing, she didn't get up. That's weird, I'm thinking, call again, same. I got up and went over to her started calling her name and shaking her, nothing..... I then stopped still for a minute to see breathing, no breathing, she was dead. We were then faced with burying our dog at 3.30 in the morn and it's safe to say the vet has copped it as well as myself for not listening to spirit in preference to a university degree.

Now, this is what no-one discusses here. If as a human you had that much blood near your brain, you would be hospitilised for fear of an aneurism or stroke, true. I feel my dog died of an aneurism, it could have been a large amount of blood in her ear or a tiny little clot but it found it's way to her brain and killed her. She died in her sleep, we had no idea anything was happening out of the ordinary for those last hours of her life.

Don't listen to everyone on here, don't even listen to vets that say it is not a serious medical condition, my dog was 6 years old, too young to die.

Listen to self and your animal, rely on your intuitive feelings. How can anyone say that would not be hurting, it's just stupid, if our ear was blown up like that full of blood, it would fricking hurt, it's just a load of bs.

Take a tip from someone who knows, get off forums on the internet telling you this and that and take your animal to the vet.

Sun

Replied by Theresa
(Mpls., Mn)
02/04/2014

Hey Sun!

I am sorry for your loss.

Thank you for sharing your journey, and your emphasis to follow your gut instinct in taking your pet to the vet if you feel strongly something is wrong. You are so right; internet advice only goes so far, especially when one cannot look at a case *real time* to see for themselves the symptoms without them being translated via keyboard into the written word.

I have to say, however, that unless you had your dog necropsied [autopsy] that your guess of "death by aural hematoma" is wild speculation. Its very possible your dog did indeed die from a brain or cerebral aneurysm - but such a thing is not caused from an aural hematoma.

An aneurysm is: a localized, pathological, blood-filled dilatation of a blood vessel caused by a disease or weakening of the vessel's wall

A hematoma is: a swelling caused by a ruptured blood vessel after bleeding has occurred inside a tissue.

Aural hematoma occurs when a blood vessel within the ear flap breaks, and the ear flap swells with blood. The swelling can be partial or complete and in severe conditions may even block the ear canal totally. The ear flap can fluctuate, appear like a balloon and result in a significant change in the carriage of the ear.

Untreated hematomas may heal without any treatment over a period of time. However, this option is preferred only in cases where the dog cannot be given an anesthesia. Left alone, an aural hematoma can disfigure the ears giving them a shape that is commonly known as ‘cauliflower' ears.

I cannot find in any research that aural hematomas are life threatening. Aneurysms, however, are indeed life threatening. Common locations for aneurysms include:

  • The major artery from the heart (the aorta)
  • The brain (cerebral aneurysm)
  • In the leg behind the knee popliteal artery aneurysm)
  • Intestine (mesenteric artery aneurysm)
  • An artery in the spleen (splenic artery aneurysm)

If you step back and re-read your post it makes more sense to consider that your dog had a life threatening condition that existed in the first place [i.e brain tumor which very likely could result in a cerebral aneurysm], causing your dog to shake her head to the point of rupturing blood vessels in her ears resulting in the aural hematomas in both ears. The dual aural hematomas were the symptom of a bigger issue, and not the issue that caused her death.

Again, I am very sorry for the loss of your girl, and I wish you peace in her absence.

Replied by Ana
(San Francisco, CA)
10/17/2014

Hi! I'm having this same issue... I took my dog to the vet and they drained her ear twice... Second time it was ok for awhile then it became really swollen... She's almost 15 and I don't want to put her through surgery...

Replied by Iqbal
(Delhi)
11/18/2014

The cure for ear hematoma depends upon the cause.

If the cause is external injury, the remedy will be Arnica M. If the reason is not injury, the remedy is Lachesis.

Surgery is expensive and provides only temporary relief. And it is to be repeated many times.

Annie
(Uk)
06/12/2016

Iqbal, You are absolutely right, it worked for my Staffie.

I used Arnica oil from India and needed Lachesis (for internal injury) to reduce the swelling which took 7 weeks in total and was well worth the wait. Thank you very much for your helpful comment. Those who comment and say they need to see trials are ill informed and are not interested in solutions and do not care that the dog will suffer painful surgery. My dog went through hell when she had her other hematoma drained through surgery. My dog also broke teeth whilst she was under the care of the so called vet. I am glad I followed my intuition this time. I know homeopathy works and do not need to see trials.

I cured my dog of aural hematoma with homeopathy. I am very proud of that.

Replied by James
(Los Angeles)
04/10/2015

Simple solution, popsicle stick for support, duct tape for pressure. Let nature take its course.

Marti
(United States)
03/26/2016

Please do not put duct tape directly on the dog's skin! It could seriously injure the skin.


Non-Surgical Alternatives

Posted by Auralsplint (Justin, Texas Usa) on 08/06/2015

The first line of action once you notice your dog has an aural hematoma: Perform a hypodermic needle aspiration to remove the fresh fluids before a clot is formed.

Second: Use an 'Auralsplint' to correct the broken artery causing the hematoma and keep the ear from shriveling. Do not have the archaic and gruesome surgery which does not attempt to correct the broken artery, but instead allows the continued blood flow into the cavity and out either a drain or an open wound. The cost of surgery is mostly prohibitive and rather not needed now that the Auralsplint is in use.

Until you are able to perform the auralsplint treatment, make sure to aspirate on a four to five day schedule to keep a clot from forming. For more information visit Auralsplint.org.


Sulphur 30x

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Barbara (South Dakota) on 12/09/2016
★★★★★

Besides the Arnica oil, I've seen a video on youtube on what if you do nothing to a hematoma and the people in the comment section suggested Sulphur 30X too, to help the ear reabsorb the blood faster.



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