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Overview:
An ear hematoma (also known as
aural hematoma) is a localised collection of clotted blood from
broken blood vessels on the ear flap (pinna). This hematoma
trapped between the skin and the cartilage of the ear.
What causes an ear
hematoma?
When the cat scratches or
shakes it's head it eventually causes a blood vessel to rupture,
resulting in a hematoma.
There are several causes of
ear hematoma including;
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Trauma
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Violent head shaking or
scratching of the ear. This could be caused by ear mites,
ticks, fleas, allergies, otitis externa (infection of the
external ear canal).
Ear hematomas are extremely
painful & require prompt veterinary attention.
What are the symptoms
of ear hematoma in cats?
Swelling of the ear. This may
be partial or the entire ear may become swollen & filled with
blood. The ear will feel soft, warm & fluid filled. Failure to
seek treatment could cause the swelling to lead to permanent
disfigurement (cauliflower ear).
How is it diagnosed?
Your veterinarian should be
able to diagnose an ear hematoma based on appearance, however as tumours
& abscess can also have similar symptoms to ear hematomas your
veterinarian may
need to differentiate between these conditions. He may perform a
fine needle aspirate, which involves drawing out some of the
fluid from the ear & analysing it under a microscope. If it
contains blood, this will confirm an ear hematoma.
He will also need to determine
what caused the hematoma, for example does the cat have an ear
infection, parasites etc?
How is it treated?
There are several methods for
dealing with ear hematomas in cats. These include;
-
The simplest method is to
use a needle to remove the fluid from the ear. Cortisone is
then injected into the ear. This method is best for small
hematomas only. This method isn't always effective & the
hematoma may recur.
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Larger hematomas require
surgical treatment. Typically this involves making an
incision & draining the fluid & blood clots from the ear.
The incision will either be left partially open to allow for
drainage of any fluids that may continue to leak or he may
place a drain in the ear. He may either place multiple
sutures in the ear & or bandage the ear to prevent further
damage & avoid the hematoma recurring.
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Finding & treating the
cause of the itching/scratching that lead to the hematoma.
Ie; eliminating parasites, treating infection etc.
Please note:
The medical
articles on this site have not been written by a
veterinarian & should not be considered a replacement for a
veterinarian visit. The articles are provided for
informative purposes only.
Always seek
immediate veterinary advice for any problems (health or
behavioral) in your pets.
While great
care has been made in the creation of these articles, we
cannot guarantee the accuracy or omissions on these pages.
If in any doubt whatsoever, seek professional medical
advice.
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