I was just reading over an article Marlo forwarded my way about a condition your pet may be prone to called Ear Hematomas. Now I’ve heard of hematomas in humans, but didn’t realize it also afflicts our furry friends on a fairly common basis. Have you dealt with ear hematomas in your pets? Let’s go over some of the facts, causes, and how you go about treating something that left alone could permanently disfigure your pet’s ears.
According to Utah Veterinary Clinics, an ear hematoma is defined as, “a firm, fluid-filled swollen mass that is visible on the inside of the ear flap.”(www.uvma.org) They are blood vessels that have ruptured in the ear, and the pressure from these ruptures cause the ear to swell. This can become quite painful for your dog or cat, and as they shake their heads or scratch and dig at the pain, it can make their condition even worse. Without immediate attention, your dog or cat could end up with a disfigurement of their ears due to scar tissue.
So what actually causes an ear hematoma? There are several factors that can lead to an ear hematoma, including the general make-up of your pet’s ears. Dogs with floppy ears are more prone than those with upright ears, and cats are the least prone. Shaking of large, floppy ears may break the delicate blood vessels in the ear, allowing for infection and ear hematoma development. Itchy skin due to allergies may cause your pet to dig in or violently shake their ears. Yet another cause could be a foreign object in the ear(s) cause a similar reaction to allergies. Ear mites and bug bites or stings can also lead to ear hematomas.
If you’ve had a pet with an ear hematoma, what caused it to form? How did you handle this potentially painful situation? Anytime you question something that has your pet shaking or constantly scratching, you should give your vet a call or bring them in for a check-up. It’s better to be safe than sorry! If your pet is diagnosed with an ear hematoma, the best treatment is to surgically drain the blood, which will allow your vet to figure out what caused the swollen mass. Future recurrences are quite possible, but with constant cleaning and checking of their ears, you may be able to keep this condition from developing, or catch it before the hematoma worsens. Check out this article for more ways to prevent ear hematomas: http://ezinearticles.com/?Ear-Hematomas-in-Pets&id=2435971
Sure hope you can get outside with your pets and take advantage of our GORGEOUS weather! We’ve got a long summer ahead of us, and it’s not often we can kick off July without heat and humidity.
Until next week- Bryan & Chase ^..^
Off Topic
An FYI for all friends from the ASPCA
Have a safe, sane Independence Weekend!
Kim and Clan
Fourth of July Festivities:
Should You Bring Your Pet?
As the country dons its red, white and blue to celebrate Independence Day, nothing says patriotism like a good old-fashioned barbecue with a side of fireworks. But beware pet parents, what’s fun for people can be a downright drag for our furry friends.
The ASPCA recommends keeping your pooch indoors as much as possible during backyard parties and Fourth of July festivities, even if he is a pro picnicker. From toxic food and beverages to raucous guests and fireworks, the holiday weekend is a minefield of potential pet problems.
“Even the most timid dog can leap a six-foot fence if he’s spooked by loud noises,” says Dr. Pamela Reid, Vice President of the ASPCA Animal Behavior Center. If your dog shows signs of distress from fireworks or boisterous revelers, Dr. Reid suggests giving him a Kong toy stuffed with peanut butter. “The consistent licking should calm his nerves,” she says.
The ASPCA offers some more expert advice to keep your pet singing, “Oh Say Can You See,” all the way to the fifth and beyond:
* Keep your pet on the wagon. Since alcohol is potentially poisonous to pets, place all wine, beer and spirits well out of paws’ way.
* Avoid scraps from the grill. Stick with your pet’s normal diet—any change, even for a day, can result in stomach upset. Certain foods like onions, avocado, chocolate, grapes and raisins are especially toxic to pets.
* Avoid lathering your pet with any insect repellent or sunscreen not intended for the four-legged kind. Ingestion can result in drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and lethargy.
* Stay fire-smart. Keep your pet away from fireworks, matches, citronella candles and lighter fluid, which if eaten can irritate the stomach, lungs and central nervous system.
* Be cool near the pool. Don’t leave pets unsupervised around a pool or lake—not all dogs are expert swimmers! Also, pools aren’t large water bowls—they contain chlorine and other toxic chemicals that can cause stomach problems.
As always, if you suspect your pet has ingested something poisonous from the picnic table, please contact your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. And be sure to check out our more complete list of holiday pet care tips for a safe and happy Fourth!
The topics that come up on this blog are so interesting. I have never even heard of a dog getting an ear hematoma. Although it makes sense, just never thought of it.
I have been so lucky with Lucca that his health has always been good and that he’s never really needed to go to the vet except for his normal grooming and annual shots. I have been blessed.
Everyone have a wonderful 4th of July and take care of the furry ones during fireworks. BTW Brian, I loved the outfit you had one this morning during the broadcast. You crack me up.
I thought it was a very interesting article too.
A few years ago we had a German Shorthair who was rough housing with the other dogs and acquired a ear hematoma. We didn’t have anything done with it and her ear turned out looking like a cauliflower ear.
When my cat Boo was alive he loved to go outside and hunt and occasionally would get into fights. One day he came home with a nice big hematoma on his ear so off to the vet we went. My vet drained the fluid and put some x-ray film on his ear to hold it’s shape. The poor baby looked like a one antler reindeer with his bandages on.
Don’t forget to hug your fur monsters
Marlo and crew
Thanks for the Topic , I will at least once a week just take the time and run my hands over the dog , just to see if I can feel any lumps , bumps or cut on her . I have never looked in her ears for any of the hematomas .
Stay safe all .
Judy
Hello all! PeeWee has a tendency to get ear hematomas. He was stung by a bee and developed his first hematoma. When Blue moved in, they had a ‘discussion’ and through a bite, redeveloped another hematoma. And, yes, it wasn’t treated, and now he has ‘cauliflower ear’. He also needs his ears cleaned regularly to keep any dirt under control. He has always had ear issues ever since he was a kitten. Take care everyone! Pam