Kenalog Injection
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
(Mpls., Mn)
11/03/2016
Leave the Hematoma Alone
★★★★★
Leave the Hematoma Alone
★★★★★
(Mpls., Mn)
07/21/2014
(Orlando)
07/21/2014
(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
(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].
(Asheville, Nc)
07/23/2014
(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...
(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 :)
(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?
(New Albany, Indiana)
04/01/2015
(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.
(Npr Fl.)
04/26/2015
(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
(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
(North Carolina)
07/17/2017
(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.
(Denver, Co)
03/14/2018
Let It Heal on Its Own
★★★★★
(Oregon)
02/24/2018
Let It Heal on Its Own
★★★★★
Let It Heal on Its Own
★★★★★
(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
(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.
(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.
(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.
(Crewe, UK)
12/30/2012
(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
(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.
(San Francisco, CA)
10/17/2014
(Delhi)
11/18/2014
(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.
(Los Angeles)
04/10/2015
(United States)
03/26/2016
Non-Surgical Alternatives
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
★★★★★
