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My senior cat's ear hematoma won't heal. Can her ear be removed?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Female | spayed | 17 years and 4 months old | 7.68 lbs

Female tabby, 17 yrs old, hyperthyroidism being treated with topical meds. Aural hematoma on right ear, large, being treated with steroids and pain meds. Questions: the hematoma is a constant issue because she won't stop scratching the area, causing a cut, then head shaking because of pain. The head shaking also causes the cut to get bigger, to the point where scar tissue is being pushed out. Surgery is too expensive and doesn't guarantee a cure. BUT, can the ear be removed to solve the problem?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Lauren Jones VMD

Answered By Lauren Jones VMD

Veterinarian

Published on May 24th, 2017

I'm sorry to hear that Baby Kitty's ear has been such a problem for her! Surgery is generally the treatment of choice for aural hematomas, but these issues can also develop scar tissue over a period of at least 6-8 weeks. If Baby Kitty has an ongoing ear infection, this could also exacerbate any head shaking, preventing scar tissue from forming appropriately. No surgery ever offers a definitive guarantee, but it seems that surgically addressing the hematoma would be less invasive, less painful and likely less expensive than removing the entire pinna (ear flap). The only pinna amputations that I have seen have been due to cancerous masses on the ear because the surgery can be very painful and cause a significant amount of bleeding. Consider discussing this with your vet and have her ears checked to assure that an infection is not present and causing irritation. I'm glad to see that she has an e-collar on - keep it up! Avoid using the transdermal medication on her right ear for the time being and be sure to clean her left ear prior to each application. I hope that all goes well!
Vote Icon2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH

    Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner

    Published on January 21st, 2018

    Part of the reason that we put so many sutures in an ear after an ear hematoma is to create scar tissue to prevent the ear flap from filling with blood again. The sutures create scar tissue to attach the 2 sides of the ear flap together internally, so there is no longer a large space that can fill with blood. So, unless there are areas that are not scarred together on that ear after surgery, we would not expect a hematoma to be able to recur. That's the good news. The bad news is that the other ear won't have any scarring in it and has the potential to develop a hematoma. My best suggestion is to make sure that your veterinarian has examined Nemo's ears to make sure that you are using the right kind of ear drops, so the infection will resolve as quickly as possible.
    Good luck! I hope that was helpful and answered your question. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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    2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

New Pet
My old cat's ear hematoma keeps returning. No surgery options?
I'm so sorry that you're dealing with this with Milo. Aural hematomas can be a challenge to manage. I have frequently bandaged ears after draining to prevent them from refilling, but the only way to do this is to bandage the entire head. Some animals tolerate this and some do not. Another trick that I have tried over the years is a Chinese herbal combination to prevent bleeding called Yunnan Bai Yao. Your veterinarian may carry it. So, I would ask your veterinarian about draining the ear again, bandaging it to the head for compression, and maybe adding Yunnan Bai Yao. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
My cat has an ear hematoma. Should I treat it myself or go to the vet?
Poor Cinders! Ear hematomas will eventually resolve on their own without treatment, so watching and waiting is an option - the downside is that this can take quite a while in some cases, and the swelling may continue to be sore and uncomfortable for her in the meantime. It's also important to realize that in many cases, an ear hematoma is the result of an ear infection or other underlying problem which may need to be treated to allow the hematoma to heal. For this reason, it would be best to have her seen by a vet when you are able to. He/she can discuss pros and cons of surgery to drain the swelling vs. watchful waiting and help you decide what would be best.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
My cat's ear is folded after surgery. Will it stand up again?
I'm sorry Jonah is having this issue. Unfortunately, the ear flap (pinna) often loses it's normal shape after ear hematoma surgery which I am guessing you are referring to?? Sometimes it will flatten back out some once the sutures are removed. I strongly recommend you continue the laser therapy. I have seen wonders done with the laser in regards to healing these hematomas. There is no way for me to tell you whether or not the ear will regain it's shape. I wish I could tell you but only time will tell. I know it's disappointing but in reality, it is the nature of the disease. It is no one's fault and just the way his body responded. There are no guarantees when it comes to any medicine/surgery in animals or people. I hope this helps and the Jonah's ear goes back to normal. I will keep my fingers crossed.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
Does my dog's ear hematoma truly require surgery for treatment?
Surgery is the "gold standard" for addressing aural hematomas. Draining it with a needle and syringe may provide a quick fix, but more often than not the ear refills with blood. Allowing it to resolve without treatment may take weeks and could lead to a deformed ear flap. Surgery can be done to clean out the clotted blood and stop the bleeding. A specific suture pattern is used to keep the ear flap from refilling and in shape. The underlying cause, usually ear infection, should be addressed as well to prevent excessive head shaking.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
My dog has an ear hematoma. How long until it heals and looks normal?
I'm so sorry that Julia has this problem (and she is adorable BTW). Aural hematomas typically never resolve completely on their own. If left untreated (i.e. undrained) eventually the blood that's trapped between the skin and the cartilage of the ear will be reabsorbed, assuming the ear infection (which is causing the head shaking and thus the hematoma) is properly treated. However, typically this leaves a scarred ear, something called a cauliflower ear, and this can be avoided with proper treatment. First, make sure that the medication that has been prescribed is going to appropriately treat the ear infection. That means a vet needs to do a cytology (microscopic evaluation) of the debris inside the ear. Most ear infections are fungal in nature, and need antifungal treatments to completely resolve. Then talk to the vet about draining the blood inside the ear. This may resolve the problem completely, but be prepared that Julia may need surgery to reattach the cartilage to the skin and resolve the hematoma for good.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
What to do for an older dog's ear hematoma if surgery isn't an option?
These can be so frustrating for pet parents and veterinarians alike. Eventually it will resolve and scar down on its own leaving the ear looking more crumpled than the other one. The only problem with this is that sometimes this can take weeks and the ear is sometimes uncomfortable. If you monitor just make sure the ear is not bothering her and you can talk to your family vet about having some pain meds on hand to use as needed. Did your family vet try placing an indwelling drain that can be drained at home until it scars down? A veterinary dermatologist is likely to be able to provide the best technique for this as they deal with these a lot. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
My dog's ear hematoma cannula: 5 days or 2 weeks for removal?
There is no one specific way to treat aural hematomas. Every vet has their own preferred way! I remove them when the swelling has gone down and there is little to no fluid coming out. However, in some cases, fluid will continue to come out because the body is rejecting the cannula. I would talk to your vet about why they want to leave it in and discuss side effects and other treatment options to make the best decision for Dahlia.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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