Ear hematoma is more common in dogs, cats, pigs and other animals. After the hematoma forms, the ear will thicken and cause pain when squeezed. After treatment of this disease, the ears may undergo some deformation, but the impact is not significant.

So what is an ear hematoma, let’s explain it

Auricular hematoma refers to the swelling that forms on the auricle after blood accumulates in the ear cartilage plate. It can occur in both dogs and cats. It is characterized by a fluctuating fluid-filled swelling on the concave surface of the auricle. In different cases, the swelling ranges from large to small. Some are only as big as a peanut, but some can spread to The entire ear makes the affected ear look very plump, and the originally erect ear will droop due to excessive fluid accumulation.

So when you find that your cat’s ears suddenly swell and feel like there is fluid inside, you can basically be sure that your cat has an ear hematoma. Suffering from ear hematoma is very painful for cats. Because it is very painful, many cats’ appetite is seriously affected and their tempers become irritable. If the hematoma is not treated in time, it will be easy for the cat to scratch it. Causes infection that deforms the ear.

What are the factors that cause ear hematoma

1. Infection. After the ear is infected with ear mites, the cat will feel itchy in the ear, so the cat will scratch the ear frequently, causing blood vessels to rupture and form an ear hematoma;

　2. Otitis externa. When a cat suffers from otitis externa, it will feel pain or itching, and the cat will often shake its head or scratch, causing hematoma;

3. The cat’s auricle is injured due to fighting or some trauma, causing the blood vessels in the auricle to rupture and eventually forming an ear hematoma;

4. Ear or head tumors;

5. Certain diseases cause the cat’s capillary fragility to increase. When the cat scratches its ears, it can easily cause capillary bleeding, thus forming an ear hematoma;

6. If the owner rubs the cat’s ears regularly, it may cause ear hematoma over time. In short, any cause that can cause the blood vessels in the cat's auricle to rupture may cause ear hematoma, such as frequent scratching or shaking of the head.

What are the symptoms of ear hematoma

When you find that your cat’s ears are swollen, there is a fluctuating sensation when touched, and it feels like there is a bag of water inside. The temperature of the swollen part is higher than that of the healthy ear, and the boundary with the surrounding tissue is basically clear. It is certain that your cat has an ear hematoma.

But many times when the owner discovers it, it is quite swollen, especially for some long-haired cats. Therefore, in daily life, we must pay close attention to the changes in the cat’s behavioral habits. When we find that the cat often scratches its ears or shakes its head, we should pay special attention. It is best to be able to do this from beginning to end every day.By touching all over the body, you can find out early whether there are any abnormal lumps on the cat's ears or body surface, so that early detection and early treatment can be achieved. ​​​​​​

Treatment of cat ear hematoma

Although ear hematoma is far from fatal, the disease has a great impact on the quality of life of cats. Sometimes cats will suffer from loss of appetite and lethargy due to pain, so if a cat develops ear hematoma, it must be treated as soon as possible.

The treatment of ear hematoma can be conservative treatment or surgical treatment. The method to be used mainly depends on the size and duration of the hematoma. If the hematoma is small (such as the size of a peanut) ), the formation time is long and there is no sign of continued growth. Generally, conservative treatment can be used; surgical treatment is generally used in cases where conservative treatment is ineffective, or when the hematoma is large or even the entire auricle has been affected. cases in time.

Conservative treatment methods mainly include using a needle to aspirate the fluid in the hematoma or making a small incision in the hematoma to drain the fluid in the hematoma, then bandaging the affected ear under pressure, and taking some medications to control inflammation and exudation. This achieves the purpose of treatment, but clinically, cases treated with this method are more likely to relapse and the treatment cycle is relatively long. The main method of surgical treatment is to incise the hematoma area through surgery, clean and stop the bleeding thoroughly, and then suture it. Facts have proved that surgery can quickly relieve the hematoma and shorten the treatment time. (Additional note: Auricular hematoma surgery uses vascular suturing, that is, several large blood vessels are sewn together. The suture surface is very loose, and the ears will be stapled together like the soles of shoes. After the operation, ear deformities are often caused. )

Special reminder is that when treating ear hematoma, the cause of the hematoma must be found and treated. Otherwise, no matter which treatment method is used, it is impossible to achieve good therapeutic effects. For example, if the hematoma is caused by the cat's frequent scratching caused by ear infection due to ear mites, then we must also treat the ear mites together when treating the hematoma, otherwise the treatment effect will be seriously affected.