Aurel Hematoma

G

Geno

New member
Do any of you guys have experience with this symptom-a soft mass in the dog's ear that feels like a small water balloon? Will it heal itself if left alone? Thx.
 
It needs treatment from a vet. It's pretty painful for the dog, and can get pretty gruesome if left alone. The vet procedure doesn't even need anesthetics. They cut a small hole under the pouch, place a stint in the pouch that keeps the hole open to drain all the blood, and put the dog on antibiotics. The stint keeps the hole open for a couple of weeks to fully drain all the blood and let the pouch heal. The antibiotics are really important to keep up on because obviously that pouch being held open to the elements is fantastic medium for bacteria. Not much fun, and the draining blood for two weeks takes patience (it gets everywhere), but you both will be none the worse for wear.
 
Wilson, thanks for the comments. I'm not even sure that's what it is and the dog is in no pain at all. I thought maybe an insect bite or allergies to either the algae infested lake water by my cabin that he plays in-or I have been giving him cheese slices as a treat which I never did before. He doesn't have an infection, discharge or odor just a small soft lump. I had another golden that had this same symptom earlier this year and it went away on it's own with no problem-that's why I asked the question. Somebody told me it might be a hematoma so I did some research and I'm not sure about it. I guess I better let a pro look at it. The internet info indicated surgery was the solution with anethesia and that sounds risky to me plus $$.
 
My older dog had one. Had it drained and did the antibiotics as well. The problem with just draining though is it may just fill up again in time. In my case it did.

There is a surgical procedure for this which the vet actually makes some long incisions along the inner ear and then sutures the loose section down to the ear preventing it from refilling. Works, but ear will be unsightly looking once everything heals.

After the initial drain, I just let it go and after filling up again it finally just went down on it's own. The vet said it was fine to do that, but you will get what is called a "cauliflower ear" which is kind of gnarly looking. But what the hey, if the dog doesn't mind I certainly don't.


Most cases a ear hematoma is caused from excessive shaking or scratching of the ears from ear infections etc... blood vessels break and the inner ear cavity fills with blood. but not always the case.
 
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Tom, thanks for telling of your experience. I am going to see if that happens since my dog is in no pain and is not slowed down by it. How long did it take for the ear to drain? Did your dog get cauliflower ear? The ear on my older dog I mentioned above returned to normal with no disfigurement. This is the 3rd week since I noticed it and it really hasn't changed much.
 
Not sure I have all the facts straight here. Are you saying your dogs ear filled then returned to normal with no disfigurement, but now has filled again?

If it repeatedly fills then drains the surgical procedure is fairly routine for any vet. Ask your vet about just letting it drain on it's own.

Yes my older dog has what I would call a cauliflower ear if you flip it over and look at the inner flap. Not grotesque or anything but much different than the other ear.
 
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Sorry for the confusion. I had 2 goldens. My older one died on 6-6 and she was almost 14 but earlier this year had the swollen hear thing and it healed on it's own and had no disfigurement. I had no idea what it was and didn't go to a Vet about it. It just went away. My other golden is the one that now has the hematoma or whatever it is and it has not changed in 3 weeks. I did call my Vets office and talked to an assistant and the 1st response was surgery with sedation which I will avoid like the plague if this thing will heal on its own, even with a cauliflower ear. I think we can live with that.
 
Here's what his ear looks like now. Not all that bad considering. Notice just to the right of my thumb, that is where the it was drained.

hemotoma2.jpg
 
Most vets will probably always side with the permanent solution and that is surgery. It will subside on it's own and will be re-absorbed back into the ear. But the chance is always there that it may refill now that a cavity exits. That is if were actually talking about a Aural Hematoma. Has the vet seen it on this dog?

Got any pics?
 
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Birdshooter, my ears are uglier than that:) No I did not bring him to the Vet to show him the ear. The technician's answer would echo his own I'm sure.
 
As the other poster mentioned if you do decide to have it drained then you bring in the possibility of infection so antibiotics are needed.

It may take awhile for it to drain completely on it's own. Shoot me a pic if your able.
 
Tom, I don't have the equipment to take a picture. If you are old enough to remember when "rabbits foot" key chains were popular, that's what it feels like. It's not his whole ear, just the bottom portion of the flap and it's almost not noticiable if you didn't know it was there. I can apply some pressure to it and it doesn't bother him at all. When I researched the Internet info and saw both the drain procedure and what it entailed, as well as the surgery with the staples, halo collar, 3 week heal period, etc. I decided to ride it out. I'm single and have a day job and he stays in the bedroom during the day when I'm gone so that is a consideration too.
 
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