A hematoma is a pocket of blood that forms within an organ or tissue. This is sometimes called a “blood blister”. While it can vary in size and location, in the case of aural (ear) hematomas, they appear between the skin and cartilage of your cat’s ear flap. Though these don’t occur frequently in cats, this makes it all the more important for pet parents to know how to identify signs and what to do if their cat develops an ear hematoma. 

What Causes Ear Hematomas In Cats?

Typically, the cause of ear hematoma is related to trauma or injury. The small blood vessels in a cat’s ear flap can become damaged. When this happens, the vessels break, resulting in internal leaks and likely a blood-filled pocket or swelling. This may lead to your kitty scratching its ears or shaking their head. Common causes of cat ear hematomas include:

• Skin allergies
• Ear infection 
• Ear mites
• Foreign object in ear canal 
• Bites or scratches (e.g. from sharp thorns or fights with other cats)
• Underlying health conditions

Symptoms Of Ear Hematoma In Cats 

If your cat has an ear hematoma, you may see a new bump, swelling on the ear or other common signs. If it’s grown large enough, the ear flap itself will be swollen and potentially cause it to droop under its weight. 

The swelling may feel squishy or tight to the touch, so be gentle — your cat will likely voice their discomfort if the spot is tender. Besides changes in the appearance of your cat’s ear, monitor their behavior. If their ear is tender, swelling or irritated, they may groom the spot more than usual or be hesitant to allow touch. 

What Happens if You Leave a Cat Ear Hematoma Untreated?

Left untreated, a feline ear hematoma may slowly be reabsorbed. However, the associated inflammation will have caused damage to the surrounding ear tissues, leading to a distorted, cauliflower-shaped ear. Because aural hematomas can be very painful, they should be treated for humane reasons. 

Diagnosis & Treatment Of Ear Hematomas In Cats

Your veterinarian will closely examine your feline friend’s ears for mites or infections. These are common causes of hematoma aside from injury to the area, especially if your pet is prone to infections. Depending on the case, your vet might use a needle to take a sample to confirm the nature of the condition.

Treatment

A simple surgical procedure is the most commonly recommended method to address the issue of ear hematomas. If the hematoma on your cat’s ear is small or your pet cannot be safely put under anesthesia, it may be possible for your vet to try to drain the site with a needle. While this is a suitable procedure for some hematomas, it isn’t ideal and the issue is likely to arise again. Aural hematoma surgery is a permanent solution for your pet’s problem, and having hematomas surgically removed can reduce scarring.

Your vet will also treat the underlying issue causing the hematoma (e.g. infection, allergy).

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Aural Hematoma Surgery For Cats

If your feline friend has been diagnosed with aural hematoma, your vet may recommend scheduling your cat in for surgery to remove it. 

This procedure consists of the veterinarian making a small surgical incision in the ear flap to drain the blood pocket. After, your vet will use tiny sutures to close the pocket and stop 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.

How Much Does a Cat Ear Hematoma Surgery Cost?

Costs may vary depending on a number of factors. When surgery is needed to treat an ear hematoma, anesthetic drugs are needed, as are multiple medical professionals. Your veterinarian may also request blood work to determine if your dog is healthy enough for surgery. 

Post-Surgery Recovery

Your cat could feel some amount of tenderness or discomfort for a few days following the procedure, but your vet is sure to provide medications to address pain and prevent infection and inflammation.

Your cat will need to wear an Elizabethan collar to stop them from scratching the surgical site and causing inflammation, bleeding, pulled stitches, or infection.

You will receive instructions and helpful advice from your vet on how to administer home care for your feline friend as they are recovering from surgery at home, as well as when to return for follow-up visits and to have the stitches removed.

Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet’s condition, please make an appointment with your vet.

— Update: 13-03-2023 — cohaitungchi.com found an additional article Ear Hematomas in Cats: Surgery & Cost from the website www.vmsg.com for the keyword aural hematoma cat treatment cost.

If you notice that your cat has developed an ear hematoma, you might be wondering how to help. Today, our Ventura vet team talks about the causes of aural hematomas in cats, symptoms, and treatment options.

A hematoma is a pocket of blood that develops within an organ or tissue, sometimes called 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. They don’t occur frequently in cats, but that makes it all the more important for pet parents to know what to look for and what to do if their cat develops an ear hematoma.

What Causes Ear Hematomas In Cats?

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 the ear canal
• Scratches or bites (e.g. sharp thorns, fights with other cats)
• Underlying health issues

Symptoms Of Ear Hematoma In Cats 

If your pet has an ear hematoma, the most common sign is likely to be a new bump or swelling on the ear. If it is large enough, the ear flap itself will be swollen and possibly cause it 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.

Read more  Ear Hematomas in Cats: Surgery & Cost

Diagnosis & Treatment Of Ear Hematomas In Cats

Your veterinarian will carefully examine your cat’s ears for mites or infections. Aside from the injury to the area, these are common causes of hematomas, especially if your pet is prone to infections. Depending on the circumstances, your veterinarian may take a sample with a needle to confirm the nature of the condition.

Treatment

The most commonly recommended method for treating ear hematomas is a simple surgical procedure. If the hematoma on your cat’s ear is small or your pet cannot be safely sedated, your vet may be able to drain the site with a needle. While this procedure is appropriate for some hematomas, it is not ideal, and the problem is likely to reoccur. Aural hematoma surgery is a permanent solution to your pet’s problem, and surgical removal of hematomas can reduce scarring.

Your vet will also treat the underlying issue causing the hematoma (e.g. infection, allergy).

Aural Hematoma Surgery For Cats

This procedure consists of the veterinarian making a small surgical incision in the ear flap to drain the blood pocket. After, your vet will use tiny sutures to close the pocket and stop 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.

Contact your vet directly if you’re worried about the cost of aural hematoma surgery for cats. They can provide you with a more accurate estimate.

What happens if you leave a cat’s ear hematoma untreated?

If the hematoma is not treated, it will gradually dissolve, but the associated inflammation will have caused damage to the surrounding ear tissues, resulting in a distorted, cauliflower-shaped ear. Aural hematomas are extremely painful and should be treated for humane reasons.

A Cat’s Ear After Hematoma Surgery

Your cat could feel some amount of tenderness or discomfort for a few days following the procedure, but your vet is sure to provide medications to address pain and prevent infection and inflammation.

Your cat will need to wear an Elizabethan collar to stop them from scratching the surgical site and causing inflammation, bleeding, pulled stitches, or infection.

You will receive instructions and helpful advice from your vet on how to administer home care for your feline friend as they are recovering from surgery at home, as well as when to return for follow-up visits and to have the stitches removed.

Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet’s condition, please make an appointment with your vet.

Does your cat have a hematoma on their ear? Contact our Ventura team today to help your beloved pet feel better with our compassionate expert veterinary care.

— Update: 17-03-2023 — cohaitungchi.com found an additional article Hematoma of the Ear in Cats from the website vcahospitals.com for the keyword aural hematoma cat treatment cost.

What is an aural hematoma?

A hematoma is a localized mass of blood that is confined within an organ or tissue. An aural hematoma is a collection of blood, either fresh or clotted, within the pinna (ear flap). When a hematoma is present, the pinna will appear very thick and spongy. The swelling may involve the entire pinna or it may involve only one area of the ear.

What causes an aural hematoma?

The external ear has a layer of skin on both sides and a layer of cartilage sandwiched between the two skin layers. Blood vessels run just beneath the skin. When something irritates the ear canal, your cat will respond by scratching or shaking its head. Excessive or violent shaking causes one or more blood vessels to break, resulting in bleeding into the space between the ear cartilage and skin on the inner surface of the ear.

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Most cats that develop an aural hematoma have an infection, allergy, or other inflammatory ear condition that causes excessive scratching and head shaking. In some cases, there may be a piece of foreign material lodged in the ear canal, such as a tick or piece of grass. It is also possible that a foreign body initiated the shaking but was later dislodged. Cats with a bleeding or clotting disorder may also develop an aural hematoma, with or without a history of trauma.

What is the treatment for an aural hematoma?

Many aural hematomas are treated with surgery. The actual surgical technique varies with the individual circumstances and veterinarian’s preference but always involves these basic steps:

1. The blood is removed from the pinna. This is accomplished by making a small incision at each end of the hematoma. A drain tube may be passed through the hematoma and sutured to the ear to remove any more blood or serum that accumulates in the area. Alternatively, the skin over the hematoma may be incised and opened completely.

2. The space where the blood accumulated is eliminated. This is accomplished by placing a series of sutures (stitches) that are passed completely through the ear flap holding both layers of skin to the cartilage.

3. The pinna is stabilized to prevent further damage. It may be supported by a bandage or other material applied directly to the ear, or by bandaging the ear against the head. Shaking after the ear pinna has been sutured at this time may cause further damage to the ear.

If an underlying cause is found, such as an infection, allergy, or foreign body, it will be treated once the hematoma is corrected.

What follow-up treatment is needed?

Drainage tubes or bandages may be removed by your veterinarian after 3-14 days. There may be one or more drainage holes from the drain or incision, which will be left to heal by scar tissue. The sutures may be removed after two weeks if the ear is completely healed; in severe cases, some or all of the sutures may be left in place for up to two weeks longer.

If discharge from the surgery sites occurs before they close, it should be cleaned off with mild cleansing soap. If an infection was present, it will be necessary to recheck the ear canal to be sure the infection has resolved. Otherwise, another hematoma may occur.

What if an aural hematoma is left untreated?

If left untreated, the hematoma may slowly be reabsorbed, but the associated inflammation will cause damage to the surrounding ear tissues resulting in a distorted, cauliflower-shaped ear that could obstruct the ear canal. The longer the hematoma is left untreated the greater the likelihood of permanent damage and disfigurement. Aural hematomas are very painful and, for an affected cat’s welfare, should be treated promptly.

Can the swelling simply be drained?

Drainage may result in a temporary correction but, in the majority of cases, the hematoma will return within one to two days. Drainage may be used if the hematoma is very small, or if the patient cannot undergo surgery for some reason. If drainage is the chosen treatment, be prepared to return to your vet for a few visits, as repeated draining is often necessary. This treatment method may eventually eliminate the problem, although it will take longer to achieve the same result as surgery. Anti-inflammatory medication is usually prescribed in these cases.