Swollen Ear

[cmayer31]

Frankie is having issues shaking her head and just seems really mellow compared to normal. Her ear is quite swollen and red on the inside. I'm assuming it's an aural hematoma and will take her to the vet in the morning as she is sound asleep in her crate right now.

We were doing some yard work so I don't know if she got hit with something the mower or weedwacker threw up, or if she stuck her head into a hole and got bit by a bug.

Anyhow, please keep fingers crossed that it isn't anything too terrible and I'll update after the white coats diagnose her properly.

[Freedom]

Frankie, here's hoping the white coats can help whatever is bothering that ear really fast so you feel better!

[lizbud]

Did Frankie see the Vet yet? Smokey is usually the one here to get
ear problems. I Hope it is not too serious.

[cmayer31]

I don't know whether to be happy that I guessed right or bummed. She has a hematoma starting to form at the base of her ear. The vet gaver her a Torbugesic injection for pain and to reduce her head shake, a Keflin injection for possible bacterial issues, and a shot of Vetalog (Triamcinolone) steriod for inflamation.

He said that if we can keep the swelling down and prevent further damage to the blood vessles that we may luck out and the body will reabsorb the fluids, blood and serum. If the swelling continues and it becomes a large hematoma then surgery is the next step.

So she gets to be rubbed some Otomax every 12 hours, injest Torbugesic suspension as needed every 2-4 hours, and swallow some Keflex every 12 hours. I get to keep my fingers crossed that the swelling goes down.

[pitc9]

Paws crossed!!

[Kfamr]

Poor Frankenstein!

I think I would be happy that you diagnosed it correctly by yourself. Shows that you know your stuff. :)

Sending get well vibes for Frankie and hugs as well.

[cmayer31]

I seem to have forgotten what a pain in the rear it is to convince Frankie that pills are good things. She's my healthy girl and almost never, knock on wood, needs medication. Riley on the other hand gets monthly pills and eats them as if they were candy; Frankie not so much.

Old mother Hubbard's cupboard is bare, so I didn't have much to offer her, but here's how it went down:

Round one - I made her go through the sit, down, stay routine and as a reward I offered the pill; no go.

Round two - Hide the pill in the food; now she won't even go near the contaminated food dish.

Round three - Made a 1/4 peanut butter sandwich and hid the pill inside. Nope, She ate the bread, licked the pill clean of peanut butter and spat that pill right out onto the bed.

Round four - Open mouth, insert pill, hose down with water from a syringe, close mouth. Ok so it wasn't the nicest thing I could do, but it worked and we agreed to not look at each other for the rest of the night.

Lesson learned? I need to buy some snausages or cheese treats and avoid the hassle. I'll get them tomorrow at work.

[wolf_Q]

Aww poor Frankie, I hope her ear gets feeling better soon! I really hope the swelling will go down on its own and she won't have to have surgery. Good luck with the pills, Keva and I had the same scenario when I had to give her pills last week. Bread/peanut butter/cheese/etc. did not work. I tried putting a pill in a dab of the nutro desserts and gave it to her on a spoon and she swallowed it right down every time without a fuss.

[ramanth]

Poor Frankie.

Excessive scratching and head shaking due to allergies is what caused Kia to have a hematoma in each ear. And it's why her ears now flop over instead of stand erect.

*hugs to Frankie!*