Remember my dog’s aural hematoma? The latest one (though many months back)? Left ear? The one that I refused to have him under the knife due to suspected heart condition?
After 8 looong months, the hematoma has subside. Proven fact that dog’s aural hematoma can heal on its own but for my dog case it isn’t 100% healed yet. Coz if he flaps a little more than usual, a small amount of liquid will be noticeable.
So did I do anything to help his hematoma?
Sometimes I will massage the swelling area. Just some light massage for say 10 seconds. Although I do not know whether it helps but I did see some changes the very next day. There are days when the hematoma subside a little but grown to become larger after that. Ouchy ouch. Takes a lot of patient. 8 months!!!
Also my dog had the Elizabeth collar on when no one is around and at night. This was to prevent him from scratching and flapping his ears.
If you’re a long time follower of my blog you would know that 2 years ago my dog had surgery on his right ear for hematoma. It was a scary experience.
Anyway let’s compare both his right and left ear as of today’s condition…
Right ear (hematoma surgery, 2008).
Left ear (hematoma non-surgery, 2010)
Due to the self healed ordeal, it has left some scarring (some tissues has grown making the ear thicker) at his ear.
.jpg "Chester Right Ear (surgeries)")
Today’s condition: right ear (hematoma surgery)
Oh yeah even after surgery, scarring will occur.
.jpg "Chester Left Ear (non-surgery)")
Today’s condition: left ear (hematoma non-surgery)
Let’s have a look at the thickness of his left ear…
.jpg "Chester Left Ear (hematoma area)")
Thickness of left ear (hematoma area)
compared to…
.jpg "Chester Left Ear (non hematoma area)")
Thickness of left ear (non-hematoma area)
Big different ya?
I told him not to move while I photographed his ears. He gave me this smile after everything is done.
So what now? My dog is not wearing the lamp shade anymore. But if I observe any kind of problem, I’ll put the lamp shade on him instantly for say few days.
Advice for dog’s owner: if you ever find a hematoma, please please please bring your dog to the vet. Do not make the ‘let it heal on its own’ decision yourself. This is a special case.
5 Comments
Knock on wood, my dogs don’t have that. But ear infections they are good at. Chester’s a good boy….kwai kwai not moving and let you take pictures! π
It must be such a relief for you. Not easy having to care for a sick pet.
Dawn, I also must knock on wood. Don’t want it to happen again. Compared to labs, goldens are more prone to it. My dog is aging beautifully hahaha less nottie now. π
Adino, oh yeah not easy. Chester is part of the family. Everyone sayang him. Haha
Thanks for posting this. My golden retriever hazel, a 3 year old female, had the ah on her right ear and $800 dollars later she was repaired. But I was warned it would be likely to happen with the other ear and it has. The problem is that I’m on limited income due to disability. And I can not afford surgery a second time. This dog is the reason I pulled through after doctors told me they wished they could have done more for me, so contrary to what it might seem, I’ve been seriously considering surrendering her to the sofa where she could be treated. I want to do what’s best for her. Shut if its possible that she might heal on her own then I wouldn’t have to give her up. How likely is it that this self heals?
Hi hazelDad, just to let you know even though my dog’s ear has healed on its own it has however left a thicker unpleasant looking ear. For his case, the hematoma area was say 1/3 of its ear area. For serious case, hematoma can affect the whole ear area. Then it would be a big problem.
If the hematoma area is small and you think you can prevent your dog from scratching her ear further… maybe you try to let it self-heal. Take note it will take months to heal and the ear will not go back to its original shape. Surgery is a better choice.
Btw do check for any ear infection coz that’s probably the main reason why they keep scratching their ears.