another ear hematoma

[Faith]

we went to the park and had fun today. after we got home and had breakfast we took a nap... when i woke up 2 hours later i realized her ear looked funny. it's full of liquid it was not like that before we went up to bed.

off to the emergency vet we went. they gave her prednisone to help her body try to reabsorb it, but i have to call my regular vet on monday for a follow up and possible procedure/surgery if it doesn't go down.

she seems fine, but she definately doesn't want me to touch it.

[weezyNollie]

I'm lucky my dogs dont get those with upright ears. They are such a pain, literally too!

I would get the procedure done to fix it, because then it prevents it from getting it back. It makes the whole ear scar tissue, and then the dog doesn't get them anymore.

[Faith]

how involved is the procedure, usually? i assume they get knocked out?

[dustynduke]

I had a male golden that had a hematoma on his ear years ago for which he did have surgery. He was put to sleep for the procedure. After the stitches were removed, within a week or so it was back. He had a second surgery. A week or two after that, it was back again. Third surgery. His vet couldn't believe it came back after the first time. Needless to say it's not impossible for it to return even after surgery. Best of luck to your furrybaby.

[fairlight]

Explain to me what this is faith. Is it a hard lump? mushy lump? Does it ooze?

[FairyDogMother]

Ouch! So painful! I hope the meds work on it. Surgery is never any fun. Give Faith a hug, poor baby. Ouch!

[shadowfacedanes]

Originally Posted by fairlight

Is it a hard lump? mushy lump? Does it ooze?

A hematoma forms basically a blood pocket in the ear. When the dog slaps the ear, blood vessels break and pool in the ear flap. To the touch, it's soft, but it's very painful to the dog. It doesn't ooze.

I've treated one successfully without surgery by using topical dexamethasone prescribed by my vet..but most times surgery is needed to correct it.

[Faith]

Originally Posted by fairlight

Explain to me what this is faith. Is it a hard lump? mushy lump? Does it ooze?

no, it's a soft squishy lump. it does not ooze - it's actually between the skin of their ear, not coming out of their ear.

the good news is - it is smaller today and doesn't seem to be bothering her as much.

we're starting to wonder if it was a bee sting.

[mara]

Mara and I hope that Faith is feeling better today!!!

[RoughCollies]

poor Faith. Hope she's doing better.