Our Dogs World 101

How Do I Manage an Ear Hematoma in Dogs Naturally?

You can use Otaxium drops to treat yeasty ears and ear infections in dogs. This blend contains 100% organic herbs, including vitamin E and white willow bark. It is a healthy and efficient combination. Although ear hematomas are a serious problem, the cause is often obvious and easy to treat.

Your dog’s ear is now swollen. It could be very small or large. No matter what size you see, it is most likely an ear hemorrhage. It’s alarming that it suddenly appears, and the name is a little scary. But there’s no reason to panic.

Let’s get started…

How Would You Describe Ear Hematomas in Dogs?

A hematoma of the ear (or aural) is the most common in dogs. These occur when the blood vessel bursts or bleeds between cartilage and the skin of the outer ears.

A hematoma refers to the accumulation of blood outside of a blood vessel. Sometimes, it’s called a blood blister.

Although they look similar to a blood blister, they are not as prominent as regular blood blisters. The ear flap will feel like water balloon or spongy due to the swelling. Although it might look like it is about to burst, hematomas are rarely fatal. They can be extremely painful, especially for dogs that are sensitive to touch.

Ear hematomas can be of different sizes and appearances. They can affect a small area of the ear, or the entire ear.

Which Dogs Are More Susceptible to Ear Hemorrhages?

If your dog has recurring ear issues, he is more likely to develop ear hematomas. They can cause your dog to scratch at his ears and shake his head.

Dogs with bleeding or clotting problems are more likely to have hematomas, even if they don’t seem to be traumatized.

What Causes Ear Hemorrhage in Dogs?

Excessive scratching and head shaking are the most common causes of ear hematomas. Your dog might be more susceptible to a hematoma when he is dealing with excessive scratching or head shaking.

External objects can cause irritation in the ear, which can lead to excessive head shaking or scratching. Bite wounds that don’t cause skin damage are another common cause of ear hemorrhages.

What to do about a Hematoma?

Three main situations can lead to a more severe ear hematoma:

  • The hematoma blocks the ear canal.
  • Natural healing may cause permanent disfiguration of the ear canal. This could increase the chance of developing ear infections.
  • The hematoma is so painful and large that it causes unreasonable discomfort.

These cases may limit your options, but the hematoma can still be treated.

What’s the Effect of Not Treating a Hematoma?

There is a chance that scar tissue could cause permanent disfiguration, which can lead to cauliflower ear. This is when the skin appears like a cauliflower floret.

Dog with a cone on its headYou can leave a hematoma alone and it will eventually absorb the blood. For smaller hematomas, this can take as little as 10 working days. Larger hematomas may take several weeks, or even months, to reabsorb.

The location of the hematoma will determine whether this disfiguration is dangerous.

How do You Treat Ear Hematomas at Home?

1 – Use a Wide Range of Natural Remedies.

Chinese herbal medicine and homeopathy are natural measures you can use for your dog. You can also use 250mg of Yunnan Baiyao powder for 20 lbs. or 1 capsule or tablet daily.

2 – Homeopathy

Homeopathic remedies for hematomas include Hamamelis (30C) and Arnica Montana (30C). These remedies are best for mild hematomas with minimal inflammation.

You may take one of these remedies at least twice per day for a week. Then, repeat the process for four to five days.

3 – AuralSplint

Without doubt the AuralSplint is the best Non-Surgical Low-Cost Corrective alternative on the market.

At just $40 it is the perfect option for the correction of aural hematoma’s in a dogs ear.

Visit Aural Splint to Find Out More.

What Causes Hemorrhages?

You must address the root cause of the hemorrhage, no matter what treatment you use. You run the risk of another hematoma developing.

Good news: Most ear hematomas can be treated with natural remedies.

Ear Infection

Ear infections in dogs are a leading reason for vet visits. Dogs suffering from ear infections will have hot, unpleasant ears and a waxy discharge. They might also appear crusty or scabby. Your dog might lose his balance and hearing in severe cases.

For ear infections, antibiotics, steroids, and topical treatment are often prescribed. These medications are temporary and can cause side effects. Green tea, calendula, and apple cider vinegar are all popular remedies.

Dark Discharge

You may also see tiny white spots that move if you have good eyesight. You can try to diagnose them yourself by using a cotton ball to remove any debris from the outer ear canal. To spot any whitish moving spots, place the cotton ball on a dark background.

Olive oil, garlic oil, and green tea are natural remedies for ear mites.

Ticks

Sometimes, dogs can pick up ticks. Ticks are larger than mites and easy to spot. They may not be easy to spot if they are deeper within your dog’s ears. If there is nothing visible on the outside canal, make sure you look as deep as possible into your dog’s ears.

Most people panic when they see a tick. But that isn’t the right thing to do. Though it’s important to take action quickly, it is not something you should rush. Any irritation caused by the tick should be removed quickly.

Ear Mites

Although Ear Mites come from the same family of ticks, they don’t bite. They feed on the wax in your dog’s ears.

Ear mites can be picked up from the outside, or from another animal such as a cat or dog. They may be an issue in your dog’s ears.

Conventional Cure for Ear Hematomas!

Most vets will recommend surgery for a dog with an ear hematoma. The vet will perform surgery to drain the hematoma, remove any clots, and make an incision within it. To reattach the cartilage and skin, he will suture the ear multiple times. This will prevent any disfiguration during healing.

The vet may place a drain before suturing to allow for any fluid buildup to be removed. This is an invasive procedure and your dog should be sedated.

Beagle having a check upYou may also consider the following options:

  • Vacutainer is a machine that creates vacuum: This vacuum removes blood and keeps the skin and cartilage together. However, you will need to replace the drain as it fills.
  • Placement of a teat cannula or similar drain: This will allow you to drain the hematoma until it heals properly. There is still the possibility of disfiguration.
  • Use a syringe to aspirate: Although this will usually remove the fluids temporarily, it is not recommended for long-term relief.

These alternatives are more invasive than surgery, and they don’t require anesthesia. There are other options, however, that might be more appealing.

Conclusion

You can use Topical Arnica and Hamamelis three times daily. Both products should be readily available in health shops. Stop treating the hematoma if it continues to grow and consult your veterinarian.

Did you find this article useful? Feel free to share your thoughts. We would be happy to hear from you!

Stay tuned for more posts on dog care and much more!

“May Your Home Be Filled With Love And Dog Hair”

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Mark

Founder of Our Dogs World 101

11 thoughts on “How Do I Manage an Ear Hematoma in Dogs Naturally?”

  1. Aural hematoma is something we see very often at the vet where I work. In fact, we just had one fixed surgically yesterday. The swelling started 12 days ago from a small area to a full-blown ear. The owner wanted conservative — FNA method — but the dog wouldn’t let us touch her ears at all. 

    We rarely let them resolved naturally unless the dog has an underlying condition that prevents us from anestheziing or the owner is budgeted. In cases like these, sometimes we use steroids in combination with Papain (papaya enzyme). It’s interesting you mentioned Yunnan Baiyao because we actually have that in the clinic which we use for some external wound cases. I didn’t know it could help with aural hematoma. We’ll have a chat with the vets tomorrow about this remedy. 

    Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
    • Hi Cathy,

      Thanks for your comments and the knowledge you share here.

      I was put onto Yunnan Baiyao by a vet who uses both western and Chinese methods to treat pets.

      While Saffron’s ear was by no means one of the worse cases I have seen it definitely helped to promote the blood circulation and reduced the pain and swelling.

      I would really love your vets feedback on this.

      Thanks again for taking the time to comment.

      Mark

      Reply
  2. Thanks for this helpful article about ear hematomas in dogs. We have a family member with a beloved basset hound that is prone to ear issues. Poor little fella is about all ears, so it’s got to be uncomfortable for him and we’re hoping to find better ways to manage his ear health. Thanks for shedding some light on what might be going on and giving us some options to consider.  

    Reply
  3. This was a great article on ear hematoma problems Mark. I’ve only had this problem once in my Border Collie years ago. I could see that it was very tender and swollen but I bathed it in some warm water and salt and kept a close eye on it and within a week it had naturally drained. I could tell that he was distressed and kept shaking his head and occasionally scratched it. Fortunately, he didn’t burst the hematoma and it healed without a trace.

    I think that I would try the Arnica if it happened in the dog I have now, it sounds gentle.

    Reply
    • Hi Lily,

      I am glad your Border Collie self healed as surgery for anything is best avoided if possible.

      The Arnica is definitely a great choice.

      Mark

      Reply
  4. Thanks for sharing about ear hematoma. I checked my puppies but it seems their ears are just fine. However, I’m a bit worried about the cause of the hematoma. Is there any way to prevent our little friends here from scratching their ears so much? I notice that my puppies like to scratch their ears a lot when playing outside the house. Thanks in advance

    Reply
  5. Hello Mark, great site except for the slim accounting regarding surgery. The extremely invasive surgical attempts to treat the ear are largely unsuccessful. It cannot be overstated, “Wounding the ear is not Healing the ear”. There is only one treatment available which is corrective, addressing the broken blood vessels causing the hematoma. All other attempts i.e. surgery, aspirations alone, drains, or CO2 lasers impart wounds allowing the blood to freely flow out of the ear, or simply allow the ear to refill. The Auralsplint addresses the two most basic needs for correction, applying pressure against the broken blood vessels and holding the ear tissues in close proximity for natural healing to take place. Auralsplint Inc. PBC and Auralsplint.org have studied the treatment for years with positive results and no recurrences. We would appreciate your inclusion in the treatment protocol and affiliate if possible. Much thanks.

    Reply
    • Hi Daniel,

      Thanks for bringing this to my attention and I will definitely include this in the treatment protocol with a link to https://auralsplint.org/

      I have had a good look at your website and this truly is an amazing treatment.

      You have an Affiliates section, however I could not find the application process?

      I look forward to hearing back from you, or alternatively you can email us at mark@ourdogsworld101.com

      Thanks

      Mark

      Reply
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