[Dailydrool] maybe hematoma

[saraberry at aol.com]

I would like to see a conversation re: treatment of ear hematomas.  

The problem with these appears to be two-fold.  The high incidence of reoccurance along with keeping the integrity of the smooth flat basset ear.

Luther had a large one after the Nationals field trial.  About 8 centimeters x 4 centimeters.  Our vet decided to put a drain in that drained both up and down and then tape the entire ear to a large egg shaped bandage so that it would help it to dry flat.  We kept a snood on his head which helped and cleaned the ear every day and he was actually able to compete in a field trial in Southern California, though didn't do well, we think because the ears couldn't dip into the scent and also because it was harder for him to hear his bracemate and possibly see with the snood.  

After about a three weeks, and yes, it took that long to heal properly, we took the ear off the bandage and removed the drain.  A week later, the hematoma was back.  Then the vet put in another drain lower than the previous drain just at the bottom and we also put him on antibiotics.  Three weeks later he is good.  At first the ear was very crinkly in appearance, but over time it is now draping back down with just a slight crimp.  Luther is older and a Dual Champion, so he is retired and we are not that concerned over the appearance, just that it doesn't bother him in the difference.

We learned a few things from this experience.  1. It can be a long time to heal these suckers and that is hard on the dog.  2. We had to clean the good ear as much because being in the snood they don't have the ability to access the open air which I guess helps to keep the ears clean and fresh, so also setting calmly on the sofa with the snood off was important.  3. You have to be careful with veterinary tape on the ear.  The ears are very sensitive and at one point with the final drain he started to get a redness that we had to then treat topically and then not bandage the ear, just keep it in the snood.

If anyone has had success with another treatment or process, please post.  I would like to know for the future so that I can share ideas with my vet on how best to handle these on a basset.

Thanks*

Sara
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.dailydrool.org/pipermail/dailydrool-dailydrool.org/attachments/20091224/efb3063c/attachment-0002.htm>