What is wrong with my Pup? - Page 1

I posted a message last week about my 5 month old pup having a large hematoma on the right side of her neck, between her shoulder and the back of her ear, thought to be caused by her hitting the bird feeder pole at a full run. Well, the lump just kept getting bigger. It was so big that it was pulling the skin from her back down, and that in turn was making her one ear go down. I took her to the vet again and he suggested that they drain it, put a drain in and go from there. He did the surgery on Friday and she did well. It was messy but draining blood and fluid. She went back to the vet on Tuesday and had the drain removed. He told us it was very important to massage the lump (what was left of it) twice a day and squeeze it and clean it, keeping the holes open for drainage. No problems there although it is hard to squeeze and get fluid out. Well, yesterday, I noticed a new hematoma forming right behind her head, above where the other one was. Now this is getting bigger and I called the vet. I will take her tomorrow if it gets worse, and have an appointment on Monday. What in the world is going on with her? She is happy, great appetite and active. I hate to put her through another surgery, not to mention another $200 vet bill. Her both ears are standing for now, so should I let this go? Has anyone ever heard of this? Does she have a weird disorder? Thanks

No weird disorder.  She's had some type of trauma that caused this.  Perhaps the vet should have left the drain in longer?  Is she on an antibiotic?  It may take another try?  Keep up the diligence in making sure it resolves...she's gonna be fine with your's and your vet's good care.

A lot of ear hematomas are initiated by an ear infection. When the dogs ear starts to hurt or itch, they scratch at the ear aggressively or shake their heads so hard that it causes the hematoma.  The ear then has to be lanced, drained, any infection cleaned out, and stitched with the ability to drain. The dog should then be put on an antibiotic and depending on the severity a pain killer or steroid like prednisone. While the ear is still opened, take a gauze or soft paper towel and place it in the inside of the ear, lay the ear over it, and then massage down on the backside of the ear working any fluid out of the ear onto the towel. This helps keep the ear drained for infection control. Check with your vet and see if you can get an ear med called Otomax. Put a little in the ear and massage it into the base. It does a great job.

Nate Harves
www.sportwaffenk9.com

Had a friend who had a working line male pup that got these on the back and neck. Never did know for sure what caused them but kept them drained. At about age 2 they went away and never came back... Wish I could tell more but never did really know the cause....good luck...

Thanks for encouragement, Sue-Ann. She is on an antibiotic. I am guessing the second one hematoma that is now behind her head is related to the first one. I am also thinking maybe the drain was not in long enough, too. I sure hope it resolves itself soon.

Suggest to the vet that he/she check for large blood vessels in the area that have an injury and continually are leaking. It could be related to the ears, but the trauma you suggest might have been very significant. With the right treatment, she should improve.

Good luck.

#1 Is this only just under the skin or is it deeper in muscle tissue?  

#2 Does the skin look bruised (discolored) like a blood blister?  

#3 Did any thing come out of the first one that was fiberous (pastey) ?    Most important.

#4 What is the size of this new lump, diameter and hieght.

It does seem strange that it would re-occur in a new location. 

if it were my dog, i'd get it checked for hemophelia as well.

pjp

Two Moons,

In answer to your questions,

1. It is only under the skin

2. The skin is not bruised

3. They could not aspirate it with a needle, it was too thick. After the drain was in, it was light blood and fluid.

4. The size is about the diamater of a baseball and about 1-2 inches in height, located right above the old one.

Thanks.

I've been hesitant to ask this - are  you sure this puppy has not been roughly shaken by the back of her neck or experienced another type of trauma to that area? Is she with you 24/7 or do others have access to her? Not implying dog abuse here, just wondering if something is happening you are not aware of? Agree with Ziegenfarm. If you can't account for trauma then I'd be thinking a bleeding disorder - VWB maybe? Or as Hodie has suggested, a leaking blood vessel from the blow to the bird feeder pole.