Managing ear haematoma in dogs — painful swellings requiring prompt treatment and addressing the underlying cause.
Aural haematomas cause significant welfare impairment through pain, discomfort, and the distress of repeated ear shaking. The fluid-filled swelling of the ear flap is painful on palpation and may affect the dog's ability to hold the ear normally. The weight of the haematoma causes the ear to hang differently, creating discomfort and triggering further shaking that worsens the condition.
The underlying cause — almost always otitis externa — must be identified and treated concurrently with the haematoma. Failure to address the ear infection means continued shaking and scratching that causes new haematoma formation after drainage. The welfare cycle of ear infection, haematoma, drainage, recurrence represents sustained impairment that only breaks when the primary condition is controlled.
Treatment options include surgical incision and suturing (the classic approach, creating multiple mattress sutures to prevent dead space and encourage adhesion), cannula placement for repeated drainage, or steroid injection into smaller haematomas. Each approach has welfare trade-offs — surgery requires general anaesthesia but provides the most reliable resolution.