Domestic Pets

Injury Guide

EAR JURIES

EAR FLAP

These injuries are frequent in dogs and cats which are allowed to roam freely

CAUSES

BITES: These generally occur during dog fights.They are quite common in tomcats especially during the mating season

CUTS: From thorny bushes, barbed wire or broken glass

GUNSHOTS WOUNDS: Occasionally these will happen to dogs during hunting

ASSESSMENT

DEPTH OF WOUND: The damage may be superficial,affecting only the outer and inner skin over the ear cartilage, or it may be deep, in the form of lacerations extending through the whole flap

EXTENT: The degree of injury will vary from case to case,but can involve wounds from a mere scratch to complete severance of part of the flap.Such wounds are not dangerous,but often involve extensive bleeding from broken vessels along the edge of the ear. Since they tend to heal up leaving an ugly scar, it is best to have them attended to.You should therefore take the animal to a vet as soon as possible

TREATMENT

STOP BLEEDING: Stop any bleeding by pressing the edges of the wound between thumb and index finger, to close the cut vessels

After a few minutes let go to check whether the blood flow has stopped.If not, continue to press and if you have an ice pack handy,cool the part.Bear in mind that bleeding will usually stop,even if it is initially heavy

CLEANSING: Clean the wound with gauze,gently removing any coagulated blood from around its edges together with fragments of hair and other contaminating materials

If you can,clip the hair surrounding the wound and then disinfect it with a pad soaked in antiseptic solution (non-alcoholic to avoid the stinging upsetting the animal)

Hydrogen Peroxide

Povidone Iodine - or water- based iodine

Merthiolate - mercurial (Merthiolate) solutions are suitable

or Salt water solution can also be used

PLASTER: Sudden jerks or shaking of the head can reopen the wound with renewed bleeding, so the edge of the flap of the ear should have a plaster on it

Put a small pad of gauze over the wound

Apply a wide strip of adhesive plaster to the outside of the flap running from the base of the ear to the tip and protruding over the edge by 1-2cm

Put another strip of a similar size on the inside and overlap it with the first strip.They must adhere to the ear and to each other

HAEMATOMA - BLOOD BLISTER IN EAR FLAP

Blood blisters form as the result of damage to a blood vessel running between the skin and cartiliage of the ear. They are more frequent in dogs than cats and especially in those with erect ears e.g German Shepherds

CAUSES

BITES: Common result of fights,particularly in tomcats during the mating season

SEVERE SHAKING OF THE HEAD: Blood blisters can be caused by the banging of the ear flap on nearby objects

You should bear in mind that shaking is often attributable to inflammation of the ear canal - often caused by parasites - or the presence of a foreign body

ASSESSMENT

SIGNS: A blood blister appears as a plump swelling - soft to the touch,within the wall of the flap and usually towards the tip

SWELLING: Often the swelling is not noticed until it is large and the animal is distressed by it, holding the ear low and sometimes shaking it

The blood flow does not stop quickly and so the swelling tends to grow.Moreover the is blood reabsorbed only very gradually.The condition dissappears very slowly and often leaves the ear distorted - cauliflower ear

To prevent this, prompt intervention by the vet is essential

Moveover, you should check for other wounds and foreign bodies inside the ear

TREATMENT

REDUCE BLOOD FLOW: Reduce the flow of blood,immediatley apply a source of cold to the ear for at least 10-15 minutes

APPLY PRESSURES: At the same time press the flap between thumb and index finger below the blood blister to reduce the flow

BANDAGING: If prompt veterinary help is not at hand,immobilize the ear by bandaging - to avoid further damage through shaking

The simplest method of immobilizing the ear flap is to put adhesive plaster on the two flaps after folding the affected ear on top of the healthy one.The plaster must not touch the blister - but pass below it

Alternatively, immobilize the affected ear - only by putting plaster on its front and back edges,using two strips of adhesive plaster. One of them should be wound round the neck until it overlaps the piece that is already sticking to the ear

Failing plasters of the proper size - bend the ear over the head and fix it in place with gauze bandages or long strips of cloth,winding them round both the neck and the flap.Make sure they are not too tight and will not interfere with breathing

FOREIGN BODIES IN THE EAR

These often occur in dogs,especially those with pendulous ear flaps - e.g. Cocker Spaniels,but rareley in cats

CAUSES

GRASS AWNS / FRAGMENTS: Grass awns / long tailed grass seeds are dangerous because their thin tails and tiny hooks can adhere very easily to the coat. Because of their barb-like shape,they can only move forward and are consequently hard to shake off once they are lodged .They may go deep into the ear canal and even injure the ear drum

BITS OF WOOD & OTHER MATERIALS: These are more easily dislodged by shaking the ears and are therefore less dangerous

ASSESSMENT

SIGNS: If the animal is suddenly restless and shakes its head or holds it on one side and frequently scratches its ear, a foreign body could be lodged in the ear canal, particularly if this occurs during or walk a walk in tall dry grass

EXAMINATION OF THE EAR: Check the ear flap,both inside and out to exclude the possibility that it may be affected by wounds,blood blisters,ticks and other problems

INTERNAL EXAMINATION: Then carefully examine the vertical part of the ear canal visible externally,perhaps with the help of a torch.If the foreign body lies furher down,seeing and reaching it may be difficult and a vet must be consulted promptly

TREATMENT

EXTRACTION: If an awn or other foreign body is found in the outer part of the ear canal,you may be able to extract it with blunt tweezers

Due to the discomfort - the animal will inevitably move its head around.In order to remove the foreign body effectively,you will have to restrain it appropriately

EAR MANGE (MITES) - Infections

Location: Since as many as 50% of all kittens and cats may have ear mites, the ears are of prime concern in maintaining a cat's health.The inside of a healthy ear is pale pink and shiny

Description: Accumulations of dry,dark brown, gritty material deep in the ear canal are usaully a sign of mites,pale parasites about the size of the tip of a pin

Symptoms: By Crawling about and sucking serum from the lining of the ear canal,mites cause the cat to shake its head and sometimes paw and scratch at its ears so violently that the skin is lacerated and bloody

Identifying: A magnifying glass or microscope is usually need for positive demonstaration of the presence of mites

Results: Neglected mite infestation can lead to secondary infection, possible perforation of the eardrum,middle-ear infection and even fatal meningitis.If one cat in a group is infected, other cats, and also dogs are almost certainly infected as well

Treatment: If your vet diagnosis Ear Mites,the ears will be given a thorough professional cleaning and follow-up treatment can be carried out by the owner

A few drops of any bland oil (paraffin,cooking) massaged into the ear twice a week for several weeks will suffocate and kill the mites.When the oil has softened and loosened the masses of brown debris,they may be removed by gentle probing with cotton buds

Preparations containing parasiticides are rarely necessary and may be irritating

Flea powder dusted lightly over the cat's body after cleaning destroys any mites that have been scattered from the ears into the fur

Ear cleaning stimulates a natural scratch reflex by the hind legs.If your cat is difficult to handle, wrap it tightly in a very large bath towel with only the head exposed.Have a helper grasp it firmly or immobilize it on your own lap between your knees.Taping the forefeet together, and the hind feet together with adhesive is still another restraining method

Ear Mites invariably parasitize both ears.If a cat has trouble of any sort in one ear only, there could be infection or a growth deep in the ear canal that requires prompt veterinary attention.A few cats suffer intermittently from an itchy bacterial infection characterized by brown discharge similar to that caused by mites, but it requires different treatment

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