Aural Hematoma in Dogs

Aural Hematoma in Dogs

By: Dr. Nicholas Trout

Section: Veterinary Care In-depth

Veterinary care should include diagnostic tests and subsequent treatment recommendations.

Diagnosis In-depth

  • Your veterinarian will evaluate the ear closely and will palpate (feel) the swelling.

  • Your veterinarian will also examine the external ear canal. Visual inspection of the ear canal may be followed by otoscopic examination. Some dogs may tolerate this procedure quite well, but others may resist and squirm, necessitating sedation or even general anesthesia. For this reason, a detailed examination of the ear canal may be done at the time of surgical treatment of the hematoma.

    Visualization of the horizontal and vertical ear canal, together with the tympanic membrane or ear drum, is essential as part of the work-up for an underlying cause of the aural hematoma. Cultures may be obtained at this time to see what bacteria or fungi are growing in the ear and to what medications it is sensitive.
    Cotton-tipped swabs can obtain samples from the ear canal, be smeared onto a slide and evaluated under a microscope for parasites such as ear mites and yeast.

  • Skull radiographs, in cases where underlying external or middle ear disease is suspected, are also obtained under general anesthesia. Radiographs are only necessary if the canal is narrowed and occluded, preventing visual evaluation of the ear drum. When available, computed tomography (CT scan) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be more helpful than radiography to evaluate involvement of the middle ear.

    •  
    Printable Version
     
    Have a Pet Question?
    Review the Most Frequent Questions
    Answered by Dr. Jon and His Staff of Veterinarians
    Ask Dr. Jon
    Dr. Jon's Newsletter
    Yes! Send Me the Latest Health Information, Pet Tips, Pet Stories and more...
     
     

    Related Articles

    • 1 Ear Discharge in Dogs

      Some dogs tend to produce more wax than others, and keeping the ears clean helps prevent problems. For others, ear discharge is often a sign of trouble - most often the dreaded ear infection or ear mite. ...

      Read MoreRead More
    • 2 Chronic Ear Problems in Dogs

      Ear disease is one of the most frequent reasons owners seek veterinary help. There are many causes of ear problems, ranging from foreign objects, infections, trauma or even tumors.

      Read MoreRead More
    • 3 Ear Mites in Dogs

      Ear mites are the most common mite to infest dogs and they are very contagious, usually spreading to most dogs in the household. These mites are tiny crab-like parasites that live in the ear canals.

      Read MoreRead More
    • 4 Otitis Externa in Dogs

      Otitis externa, or external ear canal disease, is a common condition in dogs and is characterized by inflammation of the soft tissue components of the external ear canal and is particularly prevalent in...

      Read MoreRead More
    Related Articles
    • 1Ear Discharge in Dogs

      Some dogs tend to produce more wax than others, and keeping the ears clean helps prevent problems. For others, ear discharge is often a sign of trouble - most often the dreaded ear infection or ear mite. ...

      Read MoreRead More
    • 2Otitis Externa in Dogs

      Otitis externa, or external ear canal disease, is a common condition in dogs and is characterized by inflammation of the soft tissue components of the external ear canal and is particularly prevalent in...

      Read MoreRead More
    • 3Chronic Ear Problems in Dogs

      Ear disease is one of the most frequent reasons owners seek veterinary help. There are many causes of ear problems, ranging from foreign objects, infections, trauma or even tumors.

      Read MoreRead More
    • 4Ear Mites in Dogs

      Ear mites are the most common mite to infest dogs and they are very contagious, usually spreading to most dogs in the household. These mites are tiny crab-like parasites that live in the ear canals.

      Read MoreRead More
     

    Over 10,000 Veterinarian Approved Articles

    Dogs & Puppies
    Cats
    Related Articles
    • 1Ear Discharge in Dogs

      Some dogs tend to produce more wax than others, and keeping the ears clean helps prevent problems. For others, ear discharge is often a sign of trouble - most often the dreaded ear infection or ear mite. ...

      Read MoreRead More
    • 2Otitis Externa in Dogs

      Otitis externa, or external ear canal disease, is a common condition in dogs and is characterized by inflammation of the soft tissue components of the external ear canal and is particularly prevalent in...

      Read MoreRead More
    • 3Chronic Ear Problems in Dogs

      Ear disease is one of the most frequent reasons owners seek veterinary help. There are many causes of ear problems, ranging from foreign objects, infections, trauma or even tumors.

      Read MoreRead More
    • 4Ear Mites in Dogs

      Ear mites are the most common mite to infest dogs and they are very contagious, usually spreading to most dogs in the household. These mites are tiny crab-like parasites that live in the ear canals.

      Read MoreRead More


    Local Pet Information Guide
     Alabama
     Alaska
     Arizona
     Arkansas
     California
     Colorado
     Connecticut
     DC
     Delaware
     Florida
     Georgia
     Hawaii
     Idaho
     Illinois
     Indiana
     Iowa
     Kansas
     Kentucky
     Louisiana
     Maine
     Maryland
     Massachusetts
     Michigan
     Minnesota
     Mississippi
     Missouri
     Montana
     Nebraska
     Nevada
     New Hampshire
     New Jersey
     New Mexico
     New York
     North Carolina
     North Dakota
     Ohio
     Oklahoma
     Oregon
     Pennsylvania
     Rhode Island
     South Carolina
     South Dakota
     Tennessee
     Texas
     Utah
     Vermont
     Virginia
     Washington
     West Virginia
     Wisconsin
     Wyoming