Swollen Dog Ear Symptoms

A swollen dog ear is usually the result of an ear hematoma, a condition caused by burst blood vessels in the cartilage of the ear. This condition can be very painful if left untreated. Fortunately, the physical signs of ear swelling in dogs are obvious. Medication and fluid draining are the most common ways to alleviate this condition. Surgery is sometimes required for severe cases.

  1. Soft and Hard Swelling

    • Ear swelling is most easily recognized by swelling in the ear. It is important to note that the manner of the swelling changes as the condition progresses. In the beginning, the swelling will cause the ear to look puffy and feel soft. This is the result of excess blood inside the ear. As the blood vessels rupture in the ear, the blood has no where to flow and will remain stagnant in the ear. Over time, the blood will begin to coagulate. This hardened blood will make the ear feel stiff and lumpy while still having the appearance of being swollen.

    Appearance of Blood Blisters

    • The rupture of the blood vessels will force blood to the surface of the skin. The result is the appearance of blood blisters. As the name suggests, blood blisters look like the common blisters in terms of shape and size. The only difference is that a blood blister is filled with blood. The number of blood blisters and the size of the blisters will depend on the severity of the ruptures.

    Physical Responses to Ear Swelling

    • Ear swelling is quite uncomfortable and your dog will surely react to the pain associated with the condition. There are three common physical responses to ear swelling: scratching, shaking and head tilting. Scratching, the most dangerous physical response, can actual make the condition worst if your dog is able to open up the blisters on the ear. This can cause an infection and other additional medical conditions. Look for blood blisters and swelling if your dog is scratching obsessively. The other two physical responses to ear swelling are head shaking and head tilting. Ear swelling can cause the feeling of something inside the ear or on the ear. The natural response of your dog is to try and remove any foreign objects from the ear through shaking and tilting. Unfortunately for the dog, there is nothing shaking and tilting can solve if the problem is ear swelling. Only a trip to the veterinarian can alleviate the symptoms.