Aural Hematoma - Dogs
Discussion
Given Pistonheads is the most reliable source of all information on the internet, I figured I'd ask here!
My boy (rescue Staffie, age unknown, approx 11) has developed a Hematoma in his ear. He's constantly shaking his whole body, but I think this came from him banging his head on my desk when we were playing.
We went to see the vets and they drained his ear (he had to be sedated to drain it!) and we were advised it would likely refill and it would need surgery. He went on a course of steroids at this point.
It did refill over the following week, so we went to see a different vet (at the same practice) who was able to drain his ear without sedation but advised he will need the surgery and urged us to get it booked in the week at ~£375. We didn't want him to continue on steroids because the side effects were awful.
We're now unsure what to do - the hematoma has filled back up and is pretty much rock solid at this point, but he's a very anxious/reactive dog at the best of times so putting him through the surgery and having to wait alone in the surgery all day will be awful for him, but also, he requires a week of 24/7 supervision after which we won't be able to do due to both of us starting new jobs recently. He's also not going to stop shaking (he has various skin conditions) so the likelihood is he will manage to get to the wound and undo all of their work / cause further problems.
It doesn't appear to be giving him any pain as he's quite compliant with me touching it / massaging it.
Mixed feedback on the internet, a lot suggesting it will eventually go away, but some saying it will 100% need the surgery.
Any of you PHers have any experience you can share?
My boy (rescue Staffie, age unknown, approx 11) has developed a Hematoma in his ear. He's constantly shaking his whole body, but I think this came from him banging his head on my desk when we were playing.
We went to see the vets and they drained his ear (he had to be sedated to drain it!) and we were advised it would likely refill and it would need surgery. He went on a course of steroids at this point.
It did refill over the following week, so we went to see a different vet (at the same practice) who was able to drain his ear without sedation but advised he will need the surgery and urged us to get it booked in the week at ~£375. We didn't want him to continue on steroids because the side effects were awful.
We're now unsure what to do - the hematoma has filled back up and is pretty much rock solid at this point, but he's a very anxious/reactive dog at the best of times so putting him through the surgery and having to wait alone in the surgery all day will be awful for him, but also, he requires a week of 24/7 supervision after which we won't be able to do due to both of us starting new jobs recently. He's also not going to stop shaking (he has various skin conditions) so the likelihood is he will manage to get to the wound and undo all of their work / cause further problems.
It doesn't appear to be giving him any pain as he's quite compliant with me touching it / massaging it.
Mixed feedback on the internet, a lot suggesting it will eventually go away, but some saying it will 100% need the surgery.
Any of you PHers have any experience you can share?
I guarantee you've done much more research on this than I have! But if you don't have it operated on, isn't he still going to need close supervision for the next week?
I'm not one to rush animals (or kids or myself) to vets (doctors) if I think it'll heal itself... But I think I'd say get him fixed and take a week to look after him. Obviously that may be easier said than done for you.
Please take this as just my opinion, and worth just as much as the price you paid for it!
I'm not one to rush animals (or kids or myself) to vets (doctors) if I think it'll heal itself... But I think I'd say get him fixed and take a week to look after him. Obviously that may be easier said than done for you.
Please take this as just my opinion, and worth just as much as the price you paid for it!
My own old pitbull has had ears drained before, recovery time was minimal. Another old pit bull Diva that we rehomed was operated on to drain her ear too, she was fine afterwards too.
I'd have thought a day booked off to care for her after the op was more than enough, a week seems insane to me. Bear in mind I'm not a vet though, and I've not looked at your dog.
If you're worried I'd suggest a paid consultation with a totally independent vet rather than one in the same surgery who might not want to disagree etc.
I'd have thought a day booked off to care for her after the op was more than enough, a week seems insane to me. Bear in mind I'm not a vet though, and I've not looked at your dog.
If you're worried I'd suggest a paid consultation with a totally independent vet rather than one in the same surgery who might not want to disagree etc.
Well, my view is that surgery despite being a bit of a nuisance, it is better than the other options. You could leave it, it is not "painful" but definitely uncomfortable. Imagine your ear if it looked like one from Jason Leonard or Brian Moore on anabolic steroids! Once you have had an aural haematoma, it is more likely to come back in the future. If you decide to do nothing and await nature's answer, you may have big issues with closing of the auditory canal allowing infection.
If it was me, I would pick the quickest resolution ie surgery. Draining the haematoma doesn't often work but worth a go, steroids if injected into the haematoma may help but I wouldn't give steroids parenterally.
I would hope that a modern vet surgery would minimise the stress felt by anybody's pet when away from family and going through weird stuff. We had a dog in today that howled after surgery, despite many nurse cuddles and medications to settle, but we usually get surprisingly chilled patients. We take as much care as possible to help our patients have a good "trip".
I would go for surgery just because I have seen the ongoing problems of not doing anything, it's not without risk but it's my opinion it's the least evil option, and maybe just maybe your pal will not fret too much.
Not great help but hope it gives something.
If it was me, I would pick the quickest resolution ie surgery. Draining the haematoma doesn't often work but worth a go, steroids if injected into the haematoma may help but I wouldn't give steroids parenterally.
I would hope that a modern vet surgery would minimise the stress felt by anybody's pet when away from family and going through weird stuff. We had a dog in today that howled after surgery, despite many nurse cuddles and medications to settle, but we usually get surprisingly chilled patients. We take as much care as possible to help our patients have a good "trip".
I would go for surgery just because I have seen the ongoing problems of not doing anything, it's not without risk but it's my opinion it's the least evil option, and maybe just maybe your pal will not fret too much.
Not great help but hope it gives something.
Thevet said:
Well, my view is that surgery despite being a bit of a nuisance, it is better than the other options. You could leave it, it is not "painful" but definitely uncomfortable. Imagine your ear if it looked like one from Jason Leonard or Brian Moore on anabolic steroids! Once you have had an aural haematoma, it is more likely to come back in the future. If you decide to do nothing and await nature's answer, you may have big issues with closing of the auditory canal allowing infection.
If it was me, I would pick the quickest resolution ie surgery. Draining the haematoma doesn't often work but worth a go, steroids if injected into the haematoma may help but I wouldn't give steroids parenterally.
I would hope that a modern vet surgery would minimise the stress felt by anybody's pet when away from family and going through weird stuff. We had a dog in today that howled after surgery, despite many nurse cuddles and medications to settle, but we usually get surprisingly chilled patients. We take as much care as possible to help our patients have a good "trip".
I would go for surgery just because I have seen the ongoing problems of not doing anything, it's not without risk but it's my opinion it's the least evil option, and maybe just maybe your pal will not fret too much.
Not great help but hope it gives something.
What after care is required after the op, do you know? I'm awaiting a callback from my vet to go through what he will require. I'm wondering if having the procedure done on a Friday so we can watch him over the weekend would be enough time before he is safe to be left alone.If it was me, I would pick the quickest resolution ie surgery. Draining the haematoma doesn't often work but worth a go, steroids if injected into the haematoma may help but I wouldn't give steroids parenterally.
I would hope that a modern vet surgery would minimise the stress felt by anybody's pet when away from family and going through weird stuff. We had a dog in today that howled after surgery, despite many nurse cuddles and medications to settle, but we usually get surprisingly chilled patients. We take as much care as possible to help our patients have a good "trip".
I would go for surgery just because I have seen the ongoing problems of not doing anything, it's not without risk but it's my opinion it's the least evil option, and maybe just maybe your pal will not fret too much.
Not great help but hope it gives something.
Just terrible timing - another couple of weeks and I would be fine to work remotely for the week to look after him, it's just bad timing with both of us starting new jobs!
See the pic of our two GSDs in this thread:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
The older dog on the left managed to do this to both ears - she’s an “itchy dog” and scratched herself to destruction. Her ears used to be like the dog on the right! Ours were also drained and promptly refilled. Eventually they went hard, and the ear is crumpled. Doesn’t bother her in the slightest, and they’re aren’t sore - ears can be played with as per normal. They’ve been like that for about 7 years now, she’s 10.
Vets position was that nothing needed to be done, surgery would be for cosmetic purposes only.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
The older dog on the left managed to do this to both ears - she’s an “itchy dog” and scratched herself to destruction. Her ears used to be like the dog on the right! Ours were also drained and promptly refilled. Eventually they went hard, and the ear is crumpled. Doesn’t bother her in the slightest, and they’re aren’t sore - ears can be played with as per normal. They’ve been like that for about 7 years now, she’s 10.
Vets position was that nothing needed to be done, surgery would be for cosmetic purposes only.
Edited by rxe on Wednesday 29th January 23:14
Don't know where about you are, but as your other thread mentioned about being near London, maybe your anywhere near Cambridge?
If so 'Royston Veterinary Centre' is run by my partners uncle, who professional, medical judgement and knowledgeable of dogs I would trust beyond most.
Daniel
If so 'Royston Veterinary Centre' is run by my partners uncle, who professional, medical judgement and knowledgeable of dogs I would trust beyond most.
Daniel
We decided to leave it and see.
It remained solid and large for another week or so, and then seemingly overnight it reduced about 50%. It now seems to have stopped shrinking, it's not completely gone but it's pretty small and it's not bothering him. The skin has gone rough but he is happy and that's all that matters.
It remained solid and large for another week or so, and then seemingly overnight it reduced about 50%. It now seems to have stopped shrinking, it's not completely gone but it's pretty small and it's not bothering him. The skin has gone rough but he is happy and that's all that matters.
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