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How to help my dog's painful swollen ear and stop flapping before vet?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Female | unspayed | 7 years and 4 months old | 32 lbs

Hi as prescribed please suggest me if i am draining out the fluid collected by a needle it pains a lot for my baby right is there any medication for relieving the pain after draining out the blood will stop flowing right and what bandage i need to wrap around her earfor not flapping them. Please let me know regarding this procedure until i find a vet till next week.

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Megan, DVM, CVA

Veterinarian

Published on August 8th, 2017

This looks like an aural hematoma which is where blood from a capillary bursts and fills up the est between the two layers are cartilage. You can purchase a "no flap ear wrap" online to help with the flapping of the ears. Most commonly this problem needs a procedure done by a vet to allow the blood to drain while the two layers of cartilage re-adhere to one another. Also there is likely an ear infection that caused the shaking of the head to begin with that will likely need to be treated. If the blood is not drained the ear flap will eventually scar down and become a "cauliflower" ear which won't cause too many problems except that it isn't very cosmetic and sometimes they can be more prone to skin infections in the crevices of the cauliflower ear so this isn't recommended. I hope this helps.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Stephanie Echols, DVM
Veterinarian
I'm sorry Ceaser isn't feeling well. I wouldn't recommend draining the blood because it is just going to fill back up. You can try a warm compress on the ear flap for 10-15 minutes 3-4 times a day. Bandaging the ear to the head is an option but it is extremely hard to place and keep the ear from falling out. She really needs oral medication from a vet. They also need to look for an underlying ear infection. Discourage Caeser from shaking her head. Good luck and kisses to Ceaser!
0Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM
Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident
Published on August 8th, 2019
Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! There is not much you can do in the meantime at home other than preventing as much as possible that he continues to shake his head or scratch his ears. While you are not going to be able to prevent the head shaking (which is really what causes the ear hematoma), you can try to prevent the scratching (to prevent further damage) by using an e-collar. If possible, I would recommend that you have him evaluated sooner as this is quite uncomfortable and painful. This is usually treated with a minor surgery. Best of luck!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Why is my dog's ear swollen, bleeding, painful, and has discharge?

Unfortunately it sounds like your dog Kate shook her head so much that she burst a blood vessel in her ear pinna. This is called an aural (ear) hematoma. The only way to fix this is to go to your vet and get her on ear medication (to treat for an underlying ear infection, which is usually the cause), pet friendly pain meds, and treatment for the swelling. This can't be treated at home I'm afraid and there are no safe over the counter pain meds for pets. So I would advise getting Kate seen by a vet right away for treatment. Poor girl. Once she sees the vet they should be able to take care of this, because this is quite common in pets. I would ask your vet if steroids can be tried versus surgery on the ear, because I personally have had good luck with my patients when I treat this with medication. I wish your fur baby well in her recovery. Here is more information about this disorder to help you understand what is happening and how this is typically treated. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=566

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog's ear flap is swollen and feels fluid-filled. Vet needed?

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. This is not an emergency, I would suggest scheduling an appointment with your veterinarian to have this looked at. This will need to be drained and treated to prevent it from refilling. The technique I use is draining the ear and injecting a steroid medication into the ear flap where the swelling is. Sometimes this takes two or three times to resolve the problem. This is what we call an aural hematoma. And happens when the ear flap is hit against something hard and the blood vessels on the inside of the ear flap burst and leak blood into the ear flap filling it like a balloon. If draining the ear flap and using the steroid injection for treatment does not work after 3 times then I typically resort to a more surgical approach by placing a drain into the earflap itself. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please feel free to contact me with any other additional questions you may have. I am also available for consultation if needed.

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My dog's ear is swollen with a large lump. Is it a hematoma? What now?

This is actually filled with blood. This is a hematoma between the skin layers in the ear flap. They develop when dogs scratch or shake their heads excessively, usually from an ear infection or some type of allergy. Generally this requires a veterinary exam and surgical drainage. They will also check Dozer's ears to see if they are infected or try to find the cause of the hematoma. He will need to wear a cone probably until the ear heals. Without treatment the ear swelling will go down but it may take a month or more and the ear will scar up and become deformed. This can be uncomfortable and there is a risk of infection so I recommend veterinary treatment soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Dozer.

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My dog has a swollen ear. Are there alternatives to cutting it?

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What to do if my dog's ear is thick and he's shaking his head?

I'm so sorry to hear about Voldemort. Although I can't be sure, one thing that may be going on is called an oral hematoma. It occurs when a blood vessel in the ear flap breaks and the ear fills with blood. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=566 He is likely shaking his head and tilting his head because his right ear is much heavier than normal. Unfortuantely, there isn't anything for you to do at home tonight. The hemotoma is likely more annoying than anything (especially for a young dog). The only suggestion you might try at home would be to place a light bandage (like a large headband) just to keep the ear from flapping around. Make sure it isn't too tight. That might make him for comfortable until tomorrow. Please let me know if that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

Dog's ear is swollen and puffed after shaking. Is a vet visit urgent?

This looks like an aural hematoma, a condition where the space between the skin and the ear cartilage fills with blood. It most commonly occurs secondary to an ear infection. While a veterinarian needs to be involved to treat the hematoma and the underlying cause, it is not necessarily an emergency and I think it would be okay for the dog to wait a couple days if necessary as long as he isn't too uncomfortable. If your neighbor is out of town for more than a couple days you should take the dog to a vet.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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