A hematoma is a collection of blood within an organ or tissue . In dogs, the most common type is otohematoma, which affects the pinna, that is, the ear . It occurs when a blood vessel in the ear breaks and bleeds in the space between the cartilage of the pinna and the skin. Its appearance is that of a large blister, which can reach a considerable size.
Usually these hematomas are associated with trauma caused by scratching or violent shaking of the head . In some cases, they are due to a foreign body lodged in the ear canal, including a tick . Other times, although it is a foreign body that causes the bruise, the dog manages to evict it, so we will not find it.
The dogs most at risk of developing an otohematoma are those with long, droopy ears . Dogs with bleeding disorders or bleeding are also prone to bruising, even without trauma.
Table of Contents
- How is an otohematoma in a dog treated?
- Drainage of canine otohematoma
- Negative pressure drainage for canine otohematoma
- Surgical correction of canine otohematoma
- Surgical treatment of a small otohematoma
- Treatment developed at the Semmelweis University in Budapest
- Is holistic medicine effective in treating canine otohematoma?
- Should I administer steroids to my dog if he has a bruise?
- Is it true that leeches can be used to treat otohematomas in dogs?
- Conclusions
How is an otohematoma in a dog treated?
In the event that your dog has an otohematoma, it is important to start the treatment as soon as possible , so that it does not cause problems. In some cases, the bruise is slowly reabsorbed without the need for treatment , but there is a risk that the associated inflammation can cause damage to the tissues of the ear, deforming the ear.
In addition, atrial bruises can be very painful , so it is advisable to go to the vet quickly and treat them properly.
Next, we will analyze the different techniques used in the treatment of canine otohematomas.
Drainage of canine otohematoma
Drainage can temporarily correct the problem, but in most cases, the bruise recurs in a few days , so you will have to repeat the treatment until it disappears.
The longer you leave your dog’s otohematoma untreated, the more likely there is to be permanent damage, including disfigurement of the ear.
By allowing the bruise to re-absorb naturally , what happens is that as it heals , the blood disappears and the tissue heals , causing thickening and wrinkles that deform the ear, causing the appearance known as ” ear of cauliflower . ”
This is because the hematoma separates the skin from the cartilage of the ear and if these layers do not join well later, the ear wrinkles and deforms .
It appears to be effective to gently massage the dog’s ear to maintain drainage. If we don’t, its effectiveness may decrease and the bruise may reappear.
The purpose of using a drain or cannula is to keep the fluid moving out of the bruise so that it shrinks in size, but a downside is that this method doesn’t do much to compress the skin and cartilage together . Therefore, drainage may be sufficient if it is a small bruise or if for some reason your dog cannot have surgery. However, in the case of a large bruise or one that begins to clot or harden, you may need to resort to surgery.
Regardless, this is a decision that your vet must make and will surely require a few visits to repeat the drain.
Negative pressure drainage for canine otohematoma
A new surgical approach, developed by Rachel Seibert and Karen M. Tobias at the University of Tennessee, is based on the use of an active drain creating a negative pressure that constantly aspirates the liquid .
To do this, they insert a needle into the hematoma in order to empty it, and then a sterile tube is created that creates a vacuum to draw blood easily, using a catheter. It is a less invasive technique than surgery , which does not require general anesthesia and seems to have a success rate similar to surgery, but without its risks .
The ear hardly deforms with this technique and in most cases, the problem is solved within 7-10 days .
The difficulty lies in bandaging the dog correctly so that it does not remove the bandage or cause problems and make sure to replace the tube at regular intervals , since when it is filled to a certain level, the suction is affected.
Surgical correction of canine otohematoma
In the case of otohematoma, surgery is usually the most effective treatment for your dog . In this case, the skin and cartilage rejoin quite well. The biggest problem is that anesthesia is required and postoperative recovery is more bothersome for the dog.
The surgical technique varies according to each case, but it always involves making a surgical incision in the skin that covers the bruise to drain the blood and eliminate the clots. The incision is recommended when the hematoma becomes chronic or is large, since it allows the most complete evacuation of blood and decreases the recurrence rate.
The remaining dead space is then removed by means of a suture that will promote healing , reattaching the cartilage to the skin and helping to prevent the formation of new bruises. In some cases, a surgical drain is placed to facilitate the removal of blood . Many points are used so that there are no large areas where blood can collect again .
Some vets sew buttons on either side of the ear to exert more pressure and prevent this accumulation of blood . Therefore, if you see a dog with buttons on its ear, do not think that it is animal abuse. Most likely, you have had an otohematoma. These buttons are later removed when the skin and cartilage come together.
The final step is to bandage the dog’s ear against the head, to minimize further damage and promote healing. Your vet may recommend using an Elizabethan collar to prevent the dog from scratching.
It is also important to treat the cause of the bruise , especially if it is an infection, an allergy or a foreign body.
The drain tubes are removed after 3 to 14 days. In some cases, there may be one or more drainage holes that need to be allowed to heal.
If the ear is fully healed, the stitches are removed approximately two weeks after they are placed , although in severe cases they may be left for longer.
If there are secretions , the vet will recommend a mild cleansing soap and relevant medications.
Surgical treatment of a small otohematoma
If the bruise that your dog has on the ear does not have a large clot, there is another surgical technique, developed by Dr. Tina Wolfe, from the Veterinary Center of Poland, consisting of making small staggered holes along the bruise on the internal surface of the flap of the ear .
For this, a skin biopsy punch is used , of which they are used to extract small circles of tissue to send to the laboratory for analysis. Once the bruise is drained, a single stitch is made through each of the small holes , joining the cartilage with the skin.
This technique is useful for newly formed bruises , which are smoother and more fluid in nature and drain easily through these incisions, allowing continuous drainage of the bruise.
It is a method with a high success rate and a good aesthetic result . It does not need bandages, although an Elizabethan collar or some means of protection is recommended to prevent the dog from scratching or shaking its ear.
Like other surgical techniques, they allow a better union of the cartilage with the skin , reducing the space for new hematomas to form.
Treatment developed at the Semmelweis University in Budapest
Another surgical technique for the treatment of atrial hematomas was developed by doctors András Gyorffry and Attila Szijártó, from the Semmelweis University in Budapest (Hungary). In this case, the hematoma is opened with an incision in the inner flap of the pinna, which runs perpendicular to the tip of the ear . The absorbable sutures are placed inside the ear tissue, joining cartilage and subcutaneous tissue without penetrating the skin . After all the sutures are done, the two edges of the incision are not joined , but a millimeter or two of separation is left, so that the fluid continues to drain from the inside out, until the ear heals.
In more than 90% of cases, the otohematomas healed without leaving any deformities in the ear, and none of them required additional surgery or recurrence .
The only cases of deformed ear were due to bacterial infection in one case and misalignment of the stitches in the other, which caused it to wrinkle.
Therefore, it is a method with few postoperative complications and high cure rates .
Is holistic medicine effective in treating canine otohematoma?
As we said, homeopathic treatments can help remove bruises when they are small , but if the blood clots and the bruise hardens, or if it is too large, you will need to resort to drainage and surgical treatment.
Should I administer steroids to my dog if he has a bruise?
Some experts believe the bruising could be due to an allergic reaction and they prescribe steroids to reduce inflammation. But studies on the effectiveness of steroids in treating otohematoma are inconclusive .
Other vets use cold lasers to reduce the bruise and destroy inflammatory cells.
Is it true that leeches can be used to treat otohematomas in dogs?
These bloodsuckers are true suction machines and have been used for centuries to drain blood and decrease pain. And they continue to be used in some cases, for example, in the treatment of otohematomas in dogs.
Leeches have three sets of jaws with about 100 teeth each and when biting, they release a natural anesthetic , in addition to a vasodilator that promotes blood flow during feeding and another anticoagulant compound . Although there is a risk of allergic reaction or infection, it is rare.
Leech therapy is called hirudotherapy and does not require anesthesia, since, as we have noted, this annelid injects an anesthetizing chemical.
For otohematomas treated in this way, they may take a month to fully heal , but the pinna usually appears normal at the end . Two to three leeches are normally used in canine otohematomas, and two treatments are sometimes required to drain the blood well. Once leeches are removed, the wound can continue to bleed for up to 10 hours , providing highly beneficial active drainage.
Conclusions
- Otohematomas are accumulations of blood that occur in the dog’s pinna.
- Canine otohematomas are usually produced when the dog scratches or shakes its head violently.
- It is important to find the cause of the otohematoma, which can be an infection or caused by the presence of a foreign body.
- Although any dog can suffer them, it occurs more frequently in those with hanging ears, as well as those with clotting problems.
- There are various methods of treating canine otohematomas.
- Homeopathic treatments can work in case of small bruises.
- If the hematoma is large or persists, it is better to resort to drainage or any of the existing surgical procedures.
- Sometimes vets sew buttons to the dog’s ear to press and prevent a new bruise from forming.
- Leeches can also be used to drain blood from canine otohematomas.
- It is important that you go to the vet to apply the most appropriate treatment to your dog’s otohematoma.
- After draining, you may need to follow some guidelines to continue draining the bruise at home.
- It may be advisable to use an Elizabethan collar to prevent the dog from scratching.
