14/10/2024
Cat ear Hematoma treated at Pet Vet Animal Care Hospital
our senior dr surgeon
H M Saqib Faheem
If your cat has an ear hematoma you might wonder how to help.
A hematoma is a pocket of blood that develops within an organ or tissue, sometimes referred to as a 'blood blister.' It can vary in size and location, but in the case of aural (ear) hematomas, they appear between the skin and cartilage of your cat's ear flap.
Usually, the cause of ear hematoma is trauma- or injury-related. When damage occurs to the small blood vessels located in the cat's ear flap, they break and leak internally, creating a blood-filled swelling or pocket. Some common causes of cat ear hematomas include:
Your kitty scratching their ears or shaking their heads due to:
Ear infection
Ear mites
Skin allergies
Foreign object in ear canal
Scratches or bites
Underlying health issues
Signs of ear hematomas in cats:
If your pet has an ear hematoma, the most common sign is likely to be a swelling on the ear. If it is large enough, the ear flap itself will be swollen and possibly cause the ear flap to droop under its weight.
The swelling may feel tight or squishy to the touch, but be gentle – your cat probably will voice their discomfort if the spot is tender! Besides changes in your cat's ear's appearance, keep an eye on their behavior. If their ear is irritated or tender, they may groom the spot more than usual or shy away from being touched.
The most commonly recommended method to address the issue of ear hematomas is surgery. Aural hematoma surgery is a permanent solution for your pet's problem, and having hematomas surgically removed can reduce scarring.
Aural hematoma surgery for cats:
The surgery entails the veterinarian making a small surgical incision in the ear flap to drain the blood pocket. Once cleared, your vet will use tiny sutures to close the pocket and prevent blood or infection from building up again. To further ensure the site doesn't accumulate blood, the vet or vet surgeon will bandage the ear.
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