Bleeding in a dog's ears can be a sign of minor irritation or an indicator of injury, illness, or infection. Here, our Orange Park vets discuss the causes of ear bleeding in dogs, other symptoms that may accompany this, how to treat bleeding in a dog's ear, and when to see a vet.
My Dog's Ear is Bleeding
Have you noticed blood coming out of your dog's ear? If so, you're likely worried, and perhaps alarmed, regardless of the amount of blood. Since even a minor injury can cause significant bleeding, it's important to know how to stop a dog's ear from bleeding, what to do next with this potential veterinary emergency, and how a veterinary dermatologist can provide the ear care your dog will need to recover.
Incidental triggers like a fight with another dog, an accident at the groomer's, nicking their ear on a branch while running through the bushes, or a more serious health issue, such as infection or disease, may cause one or both of your dog's ears to bleed. The blood may also appear due to internal bleeding or injury, which can result from puffy tissues containing pockets of fluid.
Potential Reasons Your Dog's Ear May Be Bleeding
When your dog's body is hot, blood gets pumped to their ears, which are filled with tiny blood vessels. While this makes for a surface area large enough to cool down the body, one small cut can result in a significant amount of bleeding. Reasons for ear bleeding in dogs can vary, from blood blisters (aural hematomas) to trauma, to systemic issues or diseases like cancer. We'll explore a few of these reasons below.
Types & Causes of Ear Bleeding in Dogs
Types of bleeding in dog's ears are related to their underlying causes. Bleeding can be caused by:
Aural Hematoma - Also referred to as blood blisters, aural hematomas develop between the skin and the cartilage of the ear flap. They often cause a dog to scratch, tilt, and shake their head. You may also notice swelling. If the hematoma bursts, it may bleed profusely.
Cancer or Other Lesions – Not all growths or tumors are malignant. However, polyps, growths, carcinomas and tumors sometimes grow in the ear canal, or on the ears themselves.
Crusty, oozing, or dark gunk may start to build up in and around the ears. If any of these areas are damaged, they may bleed. If this is true for your dog, book an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Ear Infection – Many things can cause the inner ear or outer ear to become infected, from yeast infections to allergic reactions or an accumulation of bacteria.
Parasites – Though highly contagious ear mites are a common parasitic infection, many potential irritants such as ticks, fleas, and flies can also trigger these conditions. Your dog's ears may become inflamed due to parasitic otitis (an infection that causes inflammation of the outer ear canal, middle ear or internal ear).
Trauma – Bleeding in the ears may be self-inflicted due to excessive head shaking or scratching, caused by an external source.
Systematic complications can also cause traumatic ear bleeding within the layers of the floppy part of the ear and lead to a hematoma. Infection of the inner ear may develop and cause perforation of the eardrum and bleeding from the ear.
Symptoms of Bleeding in a Dog's Ear
While there are numerous potential reasons for ear bleeding in dogs, symptoms that may appear in your pooch include:
- Excessive scratching or head shaking
- Swelling in the floppy part of the ear
- Difficulty hearing you
- Blood in the ear canal or its outer rim
- Tenderness or pain when the ear is touched
- Aversion to being pet
- Paying constant attention to one or both ears
- Odors emanating from the ear canal
- Yellow-brown colored ear wax, or black or brown-colored discharge
- Balance issues appearing as nausea or circling one area
- Refusal or reluctance to open mouth
- Swollen ear canal
How to Stop a Dog's Ear from Bleeding
If the blood is originating from the inside of the ear canal, see your veterinarian right away. Since anything from an infection to a ruptured eardrum or cancer can cause bleeding from the inner ear, there is not much you can do at home to solve the underlying cause.
A veterinarian will need to examine and diagnose your dog, and your four-legged friend may need a prescription treatment. That said, if your dog's ear tip is bleeding, you may follow these steps:
1. Stay calm, and take your dog to a calm environment.
2. Gather a first aid kit. You'll need:
- A bandage
- Flour, cornstarch, or styptic powder (do not use baking powder, baking soda, or any other product, as these can cause infections)
- Antiseptic ointment
- Absorbent pads, such as gauze, clean towels, paper towels, or cotton balls
3. Apply the styptic powder or cornstarch to the wound to help with clotting. Press the absorbent material against both sides of the ear and apply pressure until the bleeding stops. This should take about five minutes. If the bleeding does not stop after 10 minutes, see a veterinarian.
4. Apply antiseptic ointment around the cut, but not on it, to avoid inadvertently triggering bleeding to begin again.
A bleeding ear qualifies as a veterinary emergency if:
- Your dog was in a fight with another dog
- The wound is deep
- The bleeding spontaneously starts again
How to Bandage a Dog Ear Tip
To bandage an ear tip:
- After folding the ear over the top of the head, apply clean gauze to the wound.
- After grabbing a gauze roll bandage, roll the bandage down from the top of the head, under the chin, and back to the top of the head.
- Check that the bandage is firm but not too tight. You should be able to fit three fingers between the bandage and the chin area.
- Roll the bandage in front of the healthy ear, then behind it with each layer so that the good ear acts as an anchor to keep it in place.
- Each time you bring the bandage over the head, move it so that it crosses slightly back to the back of the previous layer, then to the front. Soon, you'll have a small criss-cross pattern protecting the injured ear.
- Using a marker, indicate where the ear is beneath the bandage.
- You can use the last length to tie the bandage together if you don't have a clip to tie the bandage.
You may need to try different types of first-aid bandages, sweatbands, bandannas or light scarves to find a fabric your dog will tolerate having on the ear, as most dogs hate having anything around their heads and will try to paw the bandage off.
Diagnosis of Bleeding Ears in Dogs
After your dog's bloody ear has been bandaged, we recommend calling your veterinarian right away. Be prepared to provide a complete history of the situation. At your appointment, you'll likely be asked about the signs, severity, and duration of the bleeding, in addition to your dog's dietary regimen and any recent changes in diets. Your veterinarian may also ask about how often your dog's ears are trimmed and cleaned, your pet's environment, exercise habits and more.
Once the veterinarian has performed a physical examination, he or she may order a CBC (complete blood count) to determine whether there may be an infection or parasite problem. Urine, fecal and other tissue samples may be collected and analyzed in our in-house lab.
How to Treat Bleeding Dog Ears
When your veterinarian has gathered the findings of the physical exam, clinical testing, the history of the incident and any of your dog's relevant medical history, he or she will create a treatment plan to address the cause of the problem with your dog's ears. Treatment plan options may include:
- Antibiotic or topical medications for any infections (to be administered at home)
- Steroid medications to help reduce inflammation and encourage healing
- If a hematoma has caused the bleeding, various methods of surgical drainage and repair may be prescribed to stop the bleeding and promote healing
- If foreign bodies, a buildup of ear wax or parasites are found during an examination, your vet will remove them, then clean and flush the ear canal. Sedation or anesthesia may be required
- Pain medication (if applicable) to help your pet feel more comfortable
Recovery of Bleeding Ears in Dogs
Provided you can detect bleeding in your dog's ear and get them to the veterinarian promptly so they can be diagnosed and treated, the prognosis for most causes of bleeding ears in dogs is good. Recovery time will depend on the cause of the bleeding and the treatment your dog receives.
If the underlying cause turns out to be an injury, disease, or allergy, ongoing treatment may be needed to address the condition. It's also important to understand that ear infections or bleeding in dogs, similar to humans, can be damaging if frequent or chronic. In these cases, your veterinarian will likely recommend lifestyle or environmental changes to reduce the risk of repeat bleeding episodes and to protect your dog's hearing and overall health.
When is it an Emergency?
While all instances of ear bleeding in dogs should be seen by a vet, certain situations may require emergency veterinary care such as:
- Bleeding that does not stop after 10 minutes
- Other signs that your dog may need emergency care include the symptoms of infection or other ongoing or worsening symptoms
Ear Care for Dogs in Orange Park
Some cases that involve ear bleeding in dogs are complex or especially challenging to address, and may require a referral to our veterinary dermatologist at Animal Friends Dermatology. Our veterinary dermatologist is experienced in conducting preliminary exams and diagnosing various ear conditions and disorders in pets. We leverage advanced diagnostics to identify the underlying cause of the inflammation and plan treatments for a variety of ear conditions in dogs.
An accurate diagnosis gives your dog's dermatologist the opportunity to determine whether the condition can be cured, or whether ongoing treatment will be necessary over the course of your pup's lifetime.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.