You’re giving your pet some well-deserved ear scratches when you notice something strange.
Your dog’s been shaking his head a lot lately. Your cat keeps pawing at her ear. And now… one of their ear flaps feels squishy and swollen — like a little squishy pillow.
Uh-oh. That’s not normal.
You might be dealing with two very common (and very connected) issues: ear infections and aural hematomas.
First: What’s Going On With That Itchy Ear?
Ear infections are one of the top reasons pet parents bring their dogs and cats to see us. They’re itchy, uncomfortable, and can be really persistent if left untreated.
Common signs of an ear infection:
- Head shaking or tilting
- Frequent scratching at the ears
- Redness, swelling, or visible gunk inside the ear
- A musty, foul odor
- Whimpering or pulling away when touched near the ears
- Decreased appetite
In cats, ear infections can be trickier to spot — they’re a little sneakier about showing discomfort. But the signs are similar.
Why Do Pets Get Ear Infections?
There are a few usual suspects:
- Allergies (yep, again, welcome to Texas — they’re often the root cause!)
- Moisture from swimming or bathing
- Yeast or bacterial overgrowth
- Ear mites (especially in cats)
- Breed anatomy — pets with floppy or hairy ears tend to trap more heat and moisture
- Other pets (both cats and dogs LOVE to clean their friends ears by grooming them)
Sometimes the infection is the whole problem. But sometimes it leads to… a hematoma.
What Is an Aural Hematoma?
Let’s translate:
- Aural = ear
- Hematoma = a pocket of blood
An aural hematoma happens when your pet shakes their head or scratches an ear so violently that it breaks tiny blood vessels inside the ear flap. The ear fills with blood and swells up like a little balloon. It’s squishy, puffy, and looks (and feels) weird.
It’s more common in dogs, especially floppy-eared breeds like Labs, Cocker Spaniels, or Basset Hounds, but it can happen in cats too — particularly if they’re dealing with ear mites or allergies.
“Will It Go Away On Its Own?”
We wish. Unfortunately, aural hematomas rarely go away without treatment. And if they do drain on their own, the ear often heals crinkled or deformed (that classic “cauliflower ear” look).
Worse, if the underlying cause — usually an ear infection or allergy — isn’t treated, the hematoma will come back… again and again.
How We Treat Ear Infections and Aural Hematomas
Here’s the plan when a pet walks in with a puffy ear:
1. Treat the infection
- We look inside the ear canal with a special scope called an otoscope, and will collect a sample to identify yeast, bacteria, other signs of infection or mites.
- Treatment usually involves prescription ear drops, medicated cleaners, and sometimes oral medications for pain or inflammation.
2. Drain the hematoma
Depending on the size and severity, we may:
- Use a needle to drain the blood (for smaller hematomas — though these can refill)
- Place a drain or perform surgery to allow healing from the inside out
- Apply bandaging or a pressure wrap to help the ear heal flat
And of course, we work on addressing why it happened in the first place — so your pet doesn’t go through it all over again. Our veterinarian will go over all options available to you and your pet.
Can I Prevent This From Happening Again?
Yes — sort of!
If your pet has allergies, ear infections may be part of a long-term management plan. We’ll work with you to reduce flare-ups through:
- Allergy treatments or diet changes
- Regular ear cleaning (we’ll show you how)
- Keeping ears dry after baths or swimming
- Routine checkups, especially if your pet has a history of ear issues
Bottom Line: Puffy Ears Aren’t Normal (But They Are Treatable)
If your pet is shaking their head, scratching like crazy, or has a swollen ear flap, don’t wait. The sooner we catch and treat an ear infection, the less chance it has to turn into something more painful — like a hematoma.
And honestly? Most pets feel so much better once we treat it. We’ve seen dogs go from restless and irritable to full-body tail wags and deep, restful sleeps in a day. And cats? Well, they stop plotting your doom and start purring again.
Noticed head shaking, funky ears, or a swollen ear flap?
Give us a call. We’re here to get those ears happy and healthy again — because your pet deserves to feel good from nose to tail (including those floppy or pointy ears).
🐶🐱👂❤️
