Conservative Approach for Hematoma? - Page 1

Thursday night we noticed one of our female gsds was shaking her head and scratching at her ears (she has had ear infections in the past).  We examined her ears and found a small hematoma on her left ear (about the size of a dime).  Took her to the vet Friday (our vet was on vacation so had to see someone who was filling in for her).  She (vet) said our dog has an ear infection.  Also recommended a conservative approach to the hematoma.  Prescribed a steroid and did not recommend any surgical procedures, but said to keep an eye on it and bring her back in 10 days or sooner if it grows larger.  In all my years of owning dogs, this is the first time one of them has had a hematoma.  The vet said that surgery did not always work and scarring from the surgery could disfigure the ear.  I also know that letting a hematoma heal on its own can disfigure the ear.  

Any thoughts or experience from anyone on the conservative approach for a hematoma?

Given the size of the hematoma is so small, I think a conservative approach is appropriate. If it gets larger, then you will need to have it surgically corrected. If it stays the size it is now it will eventually resolve on its own with little or no scarring; surgery would probably cause a bigger scar.  Ear hematomas are PIA's  for both the dog and the owner.

It should be drained the second you find it. All it takes is a syringe and a couple of minutes, just poke it and suck it out. The longer it is left like that, the longer it has to deform and scar. I'm not a fan of surgery as it seems to cause more problems than it fixes. Vets don't seem to get it that you can't leave hematomas on upright ears, because most of them that they see are on drop earred dogs where it doesn't matter.

I would also be proactive about the ear infections. If your dog is prone to them, you need to watch for them and treat immediately. Better still is to find the cause of the infections and deal with that. Many dogs have food and or environmental allergies and that is the cause of the infections. Not a lot you can do about the environmental causes, but you can do a lot about the food allergies.

Thank you for the replies.  The vet we saw told us she owns gsds so she is well aware of how a hematoma can affect upright ears.  The hematoma is still the same size and has not grown larger.  We know she has some environmental allergies, so she has ear infections periodically.  The last infection she had was over a year ago.   We clean her ears at least once a week with Witch Hazel and that usually keeps her ears in check, but we have had so much rain this summer and the moist, humid weather makes her allergies worse.  She had just begun shaking her head the day we noticed the hematoma and her ear infection is pretty mild.  The vet only prescribed drops for her ears, no oral antibiotic or antifungal medication.

I had a dog with allergies which caused regular ear infections and regular hematomas, so I know what it's like. I did drain them the second I found them no matter how large as even the small ones can damage the ear. His ears stayed upright and perfect until the day he died.

It sounds like you know what the cause is and are trying to keep ahead of it.

I'm with your vet on only drops for the infection. I don't see any need for oral meds or antifungals.

I actually put Prep H on one that was not big but not small and it worked. I don't know how as I did not drain it but it did work.

Preparation H...interesting.  Maybe I should try that.  The hematoma is still the same in size and her ear looks normal.  

Just wanted to give an update in case anyone encounters this in the future.   The hematoma is almost completely gone with no damage to the ear.   Did not need to have any surgical procedures.  The steroid (and I did apply preparation H twice a day) worked.  Her ear looks completely normal. 

I was about to ask "What is Preparation H" but looked it up Hemarrhoid Cream

I would try anything rather than surgery so I will remember that one , thanks.