Hematoma in the ears

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I'm wondering if anyone has experience with an aural hematoma (blood pooling in the ear flap). They say it's caused by excessive shaking of the head, usually because of an infection. My friend's doodle, Hank, got shaved down almost right to the skin by the groomer at pet smart yesterday afternoon. He was with me this week-end I can attest that the shaving job was over the top and unnecessary. He was matted but not so bad to warrant such a brutal shaving... anyway, I digress... I guess he hated his new look and couldn't get used to the way his ears felts and so he shook so much he got a hematoma. My friend is in the waiting room right now at the emergency clinic because he won't stop shaking his head.

I saw a video online about how vets used to treat with surgery but the recovery is brutal so now they try not to do that. My friend on the other hand read that surgery is necessary. I'm sure the clinic will insist on the most expensive option but I've encouraged her to press them for non-surgical options as well.

If anyone has experience or advice on this condition please chime in. I searched the website and didn't find much so I figure it'll be good to get the information about this condition on here...

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

thanks Andrea. I think he'll be ok if she can get him to stop shaking his big doodley head. lol. and yea, I agree. We were just lamenting on "so much for saving money on grooming by going to Pet smart". I have no doubt she'll walk outta that clinic $500 poorer now. :(

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The Petsmart groomers in my area are often more expensive than the private shops.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

not here. Much cheaper.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm not familiar with aural hematomas, but I would bet a good sum of money that the poor dog was shaking his head so much because the groomer (and I use the term loosely) also injured his ear canal or got water in there during the bath or the ear cleaning. It happened to one of my poodles once with a new groomer (the ear injury, not a hematoma). Poor dog.

I'll look for some info.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

http://www.2ndchance.info/hematoma.htm

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

http://www.webvet.com/main/2008/06/03/ear-hematoma

This one is very helpful.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

thanks Karen!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

So she saw the vet and he says it's an allergic reaction to something and is giving him a shot of benedryl....

There is no blood pooled but the ear is red and swollen and it has cuts in it from the groomer's crappy job. Apparantly this is the second dog today.. so sad!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I guess she over reacted on the hematoma front but seriously doubt it's an allergic reaction.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Not an allergic reaction, bank on that.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Truly. IF they just used something to which the dog is allergic on both ears you would expect both ears to be red and swollen. I hope the dog feels better.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

That sounds reasonable to me. I just don't get how vets become vets without having even a basic understanding of how allergies work. It scares me to think what else they have no clue about.