Mary Allen
A bloody ear, also known as an othematoma, is a painful bruise in your dog’s ear.
If you notice such a change, you should definitely take your dog to a veterinarian!
In this article you will find out how to recognize a blood ear in dogs and what happens if the blood ear is left untreated. We will also explain what treatment is necessary for a blood ear and what the chances of recovery are.
In a nutshell: what is a bloody ear in a dog?
A blood ear or othematoma in dogs is a bruise in the ear caused by injured blood vessels. This can be caused by violent romping, kinking or squeezing the ear or a previous ear infection and is very painful for your dog. Dogs with floppy ears are often affected by a blood ear.
A bloody ear must be treated by a veterinarian, otherwise deformation of the auricle and further infections are inevitable.
How do I recognize an othematoma in dogs?
Recognizing a blood ear is not difficult. You can tell when your dog’s ear is thick and swollen. Due to the swelling, the auricle takes on a different shape.
The blood-filled ear often turns dark, which you can see especially well in light-skinned dogs.
A crooked head position, frequent head shaking and ear scratching are other signs of a blood ear.
How does an othematoma develop in dogs?
The trigger for an othematoma in dogs is violent shaking of the head or severe scratching of the ear. As a result, the blood vessels are injured and the blood runs out of the vessels under the skin.
The reason for violent head shaking and severe scratching is often a previous ear infection, which causes your dog pain.
Other reasons that can cause an othematoma are bite injuries, which can result from biting or from wild play. It is enough if the ear is bent or squeezed. A tooth does not have to have penetrated the skin to cause an ear of blood.
If the blood vessels and cartilage have been injured by a contusion, an othematoma can form.
Good to know:
In dogs with floppy ears, there is an increased risk of a bloody ear forming as a result of violent head shaking and scratching! Many dogs find it amusing to play with their fellow dogs’ floppy ears. Unfortunately, this is a common trigger for a blood ear.
How do you treat a bloody ear in a dog?
A blood ear needs to be treated by a veterinarian.
An untreated bloody ear firstly means severe pain for your dog and secondly it encourages further infections and crippling of the ear.
There are two ways to treat a blood ear:
- Your vet will puncture the ear and suck out the blood. He then rinses the wound cavity and fills it with a cortisone solution. Unfortunately, it often happens that blood runs into the wound cavity again. Therefore, the treatment must be repeated at short intervals. If that doesn’t help, option 2 applies.
- If the ear keeps filling with blood, an operation is urgently needed. The othematoma is opened and completely emptied. The wound cavity is rinsed and the wound is sutured. The vet then applies an ear bandage, which prevents blood from running into the wound cavity again.
The bandage also ensures that the ear is fixed and withstands your dog’s head shaking.
Important!
In order for the treated blood ear to heal properly, you need to keep your dog calm during the recovery period. Violent romping, playing, fighting and strenuous activities are taboo during this time.
Blood ear treatment costs
Depending on how long and whether your dog’s bloody ear needs to be treated with or without surgery, treatment costs vary widely. You can count on around 400 euros just for the operation.
Home remedies for a blood ear
The first step with a blood ear is always to the vet!
You are welcome to talk to him about any alternative healing methods.
There are dog owners who have successfully treated a bloody ear with heparin ointment. The entire ear was gently massaged with the ointment several times. This causes the resulting bruise to be reduced.
Therapy with leeches is also conceivable. Please discuss all this with your veterinarian and do not start your own experiments at home!
Does a blood ear go away on its own?
The experiences with a blood ear say: No. Either way, you need to get it treated.
If the othematoma remains untreated, deformation of the auricle, scarring, and the so-called “cauliflower ear” can occur. This narrows the auditory canal and promotes the development of ear infections.
Also, don’t forget that a bloody ear causes your dog a lot of pain.
Can you prick an ear of blood yourself?
No, please don’t do that!
Never try to treat a blood ear in your dog yourself.
Under no circumstances should you prick your ear. If your dog has an hematoma, it definitely needs to be treated by a veterinarian.
Bloody ear in the dog – vet or treat yourself?
If you notice that your dog’s ear is thick, swollen, and possibly darkened, this is a sign of a bloody ear.
That means for you and your dog: Off to the vet!
A blood ear should definitely be treated by a specialist. Otherwise, there is a risk that it will continue to fill with blood and deform the ear. This is extremely painful for your dog!
Please do not doctor around on your own. This can make things a whole lot worse.
If a blood ear is treated professionally and in good time, the chances of healing without deformity and scarring are very good.