Ear Hematoma in Cats

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  • Ear hematoma at a glance

    • About: An ear hematoma is a localised pocket of blood due to a ruptured blood vessel in the ear flap.
    • Causes: The most common cause is trauma from scratching due to ear mites. Other causes include head shaking
      or a blow to the ear.
    • Symptoms: Painful swelling of the ear, which will feel warm.
    • Treatment: Needle aspiration to drain the blood, or surgery to remove the blood and staple the affected area.

    What is an ear hematoma?

    Also known as an aural hematoma, an ear hematoma is a collection of blood that has formed due to the rupture of a blood vessel within the pinna (ear flap).

    The pinna is composed of three layers:

    • Cartilage plate: The innermost layer of the pinna which provides the shape and rigidity.
    • Perichondrium: A layer of connective tissue that provides the blood supply to the cartilage.
    • Skin: The outer layer of the pinna. On the outermost layer is the skin which is covered with short hairs on the outside.

    When a blood vessel ruptures, the blood becomes trapped between the perichondrium and the underlying cartilage.

    Causes

    Trauma to the skin, leads to the rupture of blood vessels from scratching, blunt force or head shaking. The skin and fur on the ears are extremely thin, making the underlying blood vessels more vulnerable to damage than on other areas of the body protected by a thicker layer of fur and skin. Once a blood vessel breaks blood leaks into the surrounding tissue.

    The most common cause of scratching is an ear mite infection. Other causes of ear hematoma may include:

    • Otitis externa (infection of the ear canal)
    • Ticks
    • Fleas
    • Cat fights
    • Foreign objects such as grass awn
    • Allergies
    • Trauma, such as a knock to the ear
    • Head shaking

    Ear hematomas are extremely painful and require prompt veterinary attention.

    Symptoms

    The most obvious symptom of an ear hematoma is swelling of the ear. This may be partial, or the entire ear may become swollen and filled with blood. The ear will feel soft, warm and fluid-filled.

    Diagnosis

    In most cases, an ear hematoma can be diagnosed on appearance. However, as tumours and abscesses can also have similar symptoms to ear hematomas, your veterinarian may need to differentiate between these conditions.

    Fine needle aspirate: This test involves drawing out some of the fluid from the ear and analysing it under a microscope. If it contains blood, this will confirm an ear hematoma.

    Cytology: This test will help the veterinarian determine if there is an underlying cause, such as an ear infection or parasites. A sample of exudate from the ears will be examined under a microscope to look for mites or bacteria.

    Treatment

    Ear hematoma repair on a cat

    • Punch biopsy technique: The simplest method is to use a skin biopsy punch to remove the fluid from the pinna and then flush with saline to clear any blood clots. Cortisone may then be injected into the pinna. This method is best for small hematomas only and isn’t always effective; it is very common for the hematoma to return within a day or so.
    • Surgical technique (incision and drainage): Larger hematomas require surgical treatment. Typically this involves making either a straight or an S-shaped incision and draining the fluid and blood clots from the pinna. The incision will either be left partially open to allow for drainage of any fluids that may continue to leak or he may place a drain in the ear. He may either place multiple sutures in the ear or bandage the ear to prevent further damage, allow the underlying tissues to re-adhere and avoid the hematoma recurring. Your cat will be given pain relief for the first 24-48 hours after surgery. An Elizabethan collar may be necessary to prevent your cat from scratching the area. The sutures and bandages will need to be removed 2-3 weeks after surgery.

    Finding and treating the underlying cause of the itching/scratching that leads to the hematoma will also be necessary. This may include eliminating parasites, treating infections with daily ear cleaning as well as antibiotics and finding/eliminating allergies.

    Frequently asked questions

    Can I treat an ear hematoma at home or just wait for the hematoma to be reabsorbed?

    Calico cat with cauliflower ear
    Image Helen Haden, Flickr

    The image above is of a rescue cat who has had an ear hematoma at some point in her past. Note the flattened and distorted appearance to her ear, this is known as a cauliflower ear.

    Can I treat an ear hematoma at home?

    Ear hematomas are extremely painful, do not attempt to rupture one at home. Surgery must be performed under sedation, in a sterile environment to reduce the chance of introducing bacteria to the site. Trying to handle a cat who is already in pain is going to be stressful to the cat, and there is a high probability you will be injured in the process. The skin acts as a protective barrier between the outside world and the inner body, any time you lance or pierce the skin, you introduce bacteria, which can lead to an infection or abscess.

    How long does it take an ear hematoma to heal?

    It generally takes one to two weeks for an ear hematoma to heal after surgery. Keep the cat confined indoors during the recovery period to prevent accidental damage to the ear.

    Can an ear hematoma burst?

    In most cases no, the blood will eventually be reabsorbed.

    Waiting for the body to reabsorb the blood can take weeks, and as ear hematomas are so painful, it prolongs the suffering of your cat. Also, as the perichondrium has separated from the underlying cartilage, it is no longer receiving a blood supply, which can cause it to die. When this occurs, fibrous tissue develops over the tissue causing cauliflower ear, which is a permanent disfigurement of the ear. This highlights the importance of veterinary attention if your cat develops an ear hematoma.

    Author

    • Julia Wilson, 'Cat World' Founder

      Julia Wilson is the founder of Cat-World, and has researched and written over 1,000 articles about cats. She is a cat expert with over 20 years of experience writing about a wide range of cat topics, with a special interest in cat health, welfare and preventative care. Julia lives in Sydney with her family, four cats and two dogs. Full author bio