I have a mystery condition that causes cat to violently scratch at his face constantly. He lives in a cone because once removed he scratches violently. He only scratches at two spots. has been treated for fleas/ticks/mites. Skin was UV light tested. X-rays done when a mass popped up behind his ear. Not ear mites. No infections. Eyes were tested. Awaiting biopsy of a mass (removed)behind his ear & lesion under his tongue. Constant head shaking in that Cone has caused an aural hematoma. Vet is mystified!

A few questions. Can I give my cat metacam and trazodone together ? They were prescribed separate times to treat his destructive scratching at his head and face. We’ve since removed a mass behind his ear and taken biopsy of 3 other lesions. One under his tongue. He has been treated for mites and fleas etc. X-rays and UV testing. He has lived in the cone of shame for about 5 months now. He scratches like mad within seconds of removing it. A bloody mess everytime it heals. It is very localized which makes it hard to be (food)allergies?
He just had surgery to fix the aural hematoma caused by his violent head shaking and cone scratching. (No ear mites either)

So he is in an extreme amount of discomfort. He was given a 2 week injection of antibiotic and sent home with metacam. However. The ear now seems very inflamed. It is stitched down to a piece of surgical ‘plastic’ to keep from refilling I think? He is trying to scratch at it so much. He had caused a severe infection in his back toe from scratching at that cone so intensely. It will need amputation.

It is like taking apart an engine. We are awaiting the biopsy results but until then his poor surgery site seems so uncomfortable.
I’m not sure if I should clean it? His head shaking still causes the ears to tap at the cone edges causing such tenderness the poor guy needs to be so sedated to get rest.
Any advice is great advice! Thanking you in advance.

Symptoms started after he started going outside for the first time, one small wound turned into his face being scratched off. so I got him his first set of shots and an antibiotic injection. Medications tried include: numerous antibiotic injections, metacam, trazodone/tramadol for sedating effects to stop scratching. Cyproheptedine. Advantix/flea tick and mite treatment. His X-rays revealed nothing other than an elongated heart. I had his brother who died suddenly at 15 weeks (heart attack?)

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*** update ~vet visit for biopsy results **^

Hello and Thanks so much for your advice! I saw my vet today for the results. Also because My cat has continued to shake his post surgery ear which split the tip open. Healing post-hematoma has been botched. So they will be removing the ear flap and cauterizing the edges.
As for the biopsies I’ll summarize point form the microscopic interpretations.

Skin: ulcerative dermatitis, pleocellular with eosinophils, low grade to moderate with granulation tissue proliferation with superficial bacteria.

Tongue : ulcerative glossitis, eosinophilic rich with collagenolysis.

Mass from behind bottom of ear: hyperplastic/reactive, draining lymph node.

So basically what he said was its food allergy or an external (who knows what) allergy.
However in the report it noted that these types of allergies usually respond to corticosteroids. He was given about 3 cortisone injections which did nothing.
So at this point we try the vet diet like you recommended.
He will be sent home with prednisone for the recovery of his ear once again.
So basically what we face is should we try the blood test 300$ to narrow allergens down?? Or do we try vet diet first. (I’ve gone into debt with these bills )
The most pressing issue is how to calm the scratching at his cone, head and ear shaking. It is constant. To the point where he doesn’t stop unless we snugly bandage his ear/head. And heavily medicated him. (Trazadone) The pressure helps.
I just want him to be able to get some rest. And not have us constantly bombarding him to clean his wounds. Wrap his head. Clean his cone. Ouff. My poor boy. He’s starting to get real annoyed with all of the fussing over him. However he is actually gaining weight!
I also asked about feline herpetic just in case and he said there are no upper respiratory signs present. And X-rays for the chest and head were all clear.
I pray we find something that works for the itch.

My cat had an aural hematoma 14 days ago. He went right to vet where it was lanced & given a shot of depo medrol & prednisolone 15mg to take 2x’s/day for 5 days then once/day for 5 days & once every other day for 7 days. No antibiotics we’re given. Throughout the past 13 days liquid drained from the Lance site. Watery but milky in color. Today it is a pillow ear again. I am frantic that my vet is gonna say the only other alternative is surgery. Is there another alternative​? Why wouldn’t I have also gotten antibiotic to give these past 14 days? Was just left w/a gaping hole, no drain.

My 15 year old dog developed an ear hematoma several weeks ago. I did some research and was scared off from seeking vet help when multiple vets reported that treatment would include putting the animal under anesthesia. I tries keeping the ear upright with the use of a bandage around my dog’s head and that proved to be helpful when she would keep it on. Since research assured that the hematoma would naturally reabsorb I didn’t fight with the bandage but now the ear seems to have a solid mass in it rather than a fluid filled pocket. Is that cause for concern? What can I do to help my old girl. She does not seem to be in any pain, I can touch and squeeze the ear with no protest.

Recurrent Aural Hematoma. Recurrent after 3 surgical procedures. Now she has one again. Same ear, same problem.

My 11 year old staffy has a known problem of small ear canals. This is because she has had recurrent ear infections since I have had her from 2 years of age. Ear infections are a common problem for the staffy breed. She is always treated and has for the past year been on regular antibiotic ear wash daily and antibiotics and anti-inflammatory ear drops every second day to try to keep on top of it. She has regular vet checks for her ears. She is up to date on immunisations, flea treatments etc, she is on a grain free diet and is well looked after. For the past three years on at least an annual basis she gets a hematoma on her ears. We have had three surgeries on this to fix it and it’s cost us an absolute fortune. It’s around $3k each time. My issue is this. This will be the 4th she will need surgery to fix this problem. She is 11 years old. Will it fix itself naturally over time if I keep up the treatments I am already doing or am I going to have to spend another $3k on yet another surgery. I just don’t have the money at this time to keep doing this with her. I am and always have been a responsible pet owner. I do everything in my power to ensure my pets are cared for and well looked after. They are on top quality foods, they are regularly vet checked, they get everything they need but I just cannot afford to keep spending this money on surgeries which only has an 8 to 12 month benefit when I already pay out hundreds each month on her antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications. What is the answer here? Her ear canals will never open properly again at her age, ear infections are a part of life for us with her. Management is the best that can be done. Do I have to do yet another surgical procedure?

My 7 year old cat recently developed an aural hematoma. Hehad clean, healthy ears when the vet examined him and she put it down to rough housing with my other cat (his brother) the drained it and gave him steroid tablets and it seemed to be ok. It swelled a little bit but nothing too drastic. Today i woke up to him screaming in discomfort/pain so took him to the vets and they said to give him relief it was best to drain it again. Tonight it looks like its filling up again. Its not as big as it was this morning. Hes been given more steriod tablets too. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Im getting upset about it all and I am heavily pregnant which is probably not helping me. Id appreciate any info or advice 🙂 x

My dog recently had surgery for ear hematoma, but I’m not sure that his ear looks right.

Hi, I really need some unbiased advice please my dog had a hematoma in his ear about a year and a half ago it was a really really big one we first started on steroids and draining this never worked so we then paid the £420 to have the operation to take the glands away. He has ended up with a califlower ear but we weren’t bother as long as it work. His war swells up in the little pockets created by the stitches so he was prescribed steroids to take when it swelled up but because he suffers from allergies he’s constantly itching and chewing his feet and tail so the vet put him on steroids one every day to see if this worked, but it doesn’t and his ear is still swelling and is sore because when he knocks it or when the kids stroke him and touch it he cries. Some people have said to go back to vet and get stronger tablets but I feel like all this is cruel for my dog I don’t want him to be on tablets all of his life and feel dreadful off side effects but then at the same time I would be devastated if we had to put him down I honestly don’t know what to do for the best x

My 8 yr old lab had aural hematoma surgery (incision to drain fluid and requisite stitches) on Dec 1. It is now Jan 15th and while having gone through two courses of antibiotics over last month, the ear still will not heal and is impossible to keep clean.

I have been using a medical cleaning solution provided by vet 2X per day and also Mupirocin healing agent 2X day.

But still nothing. It is clearly still infected and wound is still wide open.

What can be done? Vet who did surgery is confounded by results and I’m concerned.

attached is photo from yesterday showing current state.

Th yellow build up is the seepage from the open wound. It is really hard to get out of the pinna and other parts of the ear as it is crusting.

Thanks!!!

The inflammation does not seem to be a new hematoma but it is nonetheless inflamed. I also can´t really tell if his ear is floppy due to the inflammation or due to a broken cartilage.

I took my dog to the vet on Saturday and he was diagnosed with hematoma .. his ear is swollen because we decided we would let it heal on its own. He’s been acting lazy lately and quiet so I assume that’s why. Today he started to limp and I have no idea why?.. he didn’t hurt himself. My dog is on merrick grain free dog food so it’s a farely good brand compared to beneful. He is over 14 years old and I started to see his ribs when he walks. I can see his bone structure a lot more now. We got him weighed he is 56lbs compared to 65lbs last winter..