Kia spent a few days with Grandma and Grandpa and when I picked her up last night, I noticed her right ear was kinda floppy.
I called her to me and there was a huge cyst like bump in her ear!! :eek: :eek: :( :(
So I called the vet this morning and they got her right in.
What she actually has is a hematoma. :( *defintion below*
The doc checked her ears and they are squeaky clean, so it's likely it was caused from her seasonal allergies and her scratching and shaking. :(
The doc said it's small enough that it doesn't need to be lanced surgically. She gave Kia a shot of steriods to help keep the itchies down and to hopefully keep her from shaking anymore than she has too.
I can also tie her ears down with a bandana or some sort of contraption that some show dogs use to keep their ears up and away from the floor.
In a few weeks, the blood will harden up and the bump will recede. If it gets bigger, I need to take her back.
In the long run, her ear is damaged and the tip will be floppy for the rest of her life. :(
I feel so guilty like I could of prevented it.
:(
Ear Hematoma
Dogs with long floppy ears are more likely to get ear hematoma's than those with upright ears. Ear hematoma's are typically the result an ear infection or ear mites but can develop after any ear trauma.
Itchy or painful ears often result in the dog pawing at the ears or swinging the head around in an effort to relieve the discomfort. This swinging and scratching can cause an ear hematoma.
The hematoma is characterized by firm, fluid filled lump on the earflap. Typically it appears on the inside part of the earflap, it is often red, and feels warm to the touch. It is caused by ruptured blood vessels bleeding under the skin and forming a pocket of blood.
The vet may choose to aspirate some of the fluid from the lump. Microscopic examination of the fluid can confirm the diagnosis of a ear hematoma.
Treatment is two-fold. Surgically repair the hematoma, and treat the infection that caused this self-induced trauma. The surgical procedure requires that the dog be sedated. Then the hematoma opened and drained. Multiple stitches are required to seal the ear back together. Sutures are typically removed 10 days later after the ear has properly drained and healed. The vet may also prescribe medications for the ear infection.
Failure to treat a hematoma can lead to swelling of the entire earflap. Also, scar tissue formation within the hematoma will result in a severely wrinkled, thickened earflap that will predispose the dog to further ear problems.
Of course, the best treatment is prevention. Keeping your dogs ears clean is one of the best methods of preventing ear infections. Preventing infections reduces the likelihood of ear hematomas.
