How Do You Determine If A Dog Has An Ear Hematoma?

An aural or ear hematoma is a blood filled space under the skin of a dog's ear flap. Ear hematomas generally develop when blood vessels in the pinna, or flap, burst due to injury, scratching at the ear or vigorous head shaking. If you suspect that your dog may have an ear hematoma, it is important that you take her to a vet for proper diagnosis and treatment. Look for swollen areas on your dog's ear flaps. The flap may be partially or completely filled with blood so the swollen area can be quite large or relatively small. The swelling with an ear hematoma will not generally decrease within several hours or days so if swelling persists, a hematoma may be present. Feel your dog's ear flap and the swollen area. The swollen part of the flap will have a squishy, liquid-filled feel to it, like a water balloon. The swollen area may also be warm to the touch. Search online or in dog care books for pictures of other animals with ear hematomas and compare them to the appearance of your dog. ...  more