06/07/2026
A 3 months old puppy was presented with unilateral AURAL HEMATOMA. The slides shows the correction and outcome of the puppy operated under pediatric anaesthesia.
( An aural hematoma is a localized collection of blood—essentially a large, fluid-filled blister—that forms within the ear flap (the pinna) of an animal.
How It Happens
The pinna consists of a thin layer of cartilage sandwiched between skin, with blood vessels running through it. If those blood vessels rupture, blood escapes and pools between the cartilage and the skin, causing the ear flap to swell up like a small pillow.
Primary Causes in Puppies
While aural hematomas are more common in adult dogs with floppy ears, they can definitely happen in a 3-month-old puppy. The root cause is almost always self-inflicted trauma brought on by intense scratching or violent head shaking.
The underlying triggers that make a puppy scratch or shake their head that hard include:
Ear Infections (Otitis Externa): This is the most frequent culprit. Bacteria or yeast overgrowth inside the ear canal causes severe itching and pain, prompting the puppy to shake its head vigorously
Ear Mites (Otodectes cynotis): Highly contagious and incredibly common in young puppies. These tiny parasites live inside the ear canal, causing intense, frantic scratching.
Foreign Bodies: A piece of grass, a seed, or dirt stuck inside the ear canal will cause sudden, violent head shaking as the puppy tries to dislodge it.
Playtime or Physical Injury: Rough play with littermates, a minor bite wound to the ear, or hitting the ear against a hard surface can directly rupture the delicate blood vessels in the pinna.
Allergies: Though less common in very young puppies compared to environmental or food allergies in older dogs, early allergic reactions can cause skin inflammation and itching around the ears. )
