Cat Ear Flap Swollen Like a Balloon: Aural Hematoma and Treatment
๐จ Check first
Never stick a needle into a swollen ear flap or squeeze it hard at home, thinking "it's a blister" or "it's full of pus." It can become infected with bacteria and fester, and may even bleed heavily.
๐ The answer in 3 seconds
- When a cat's ear flap (pinna) suddenly becomes thick, squishy, and puffed up like a balloon or a dumpling, it is called an aural hematoma.
- The main cause is itchy ears from an outer ear infection, ear mites, or allergies: the force of scratching the ear hard with a hind paw or shaking the head breaks blood vessels inside the ear cartilage, causing internal bleeding, and blood clots or fluid collect.
- It rarely heals on its own, and if left alone, within a few weeks the cartilage deforms and the ear stiffens in a crumpled, folded shape (cauliflower ear), so go to a veterinary clinic early to have the blood drained and the underlying ear problem treated.
๐ Flowchart
- Step 1When you notice the ear flap is puffed up, put on an Elizabethan collar you have at home right away so your cat cannot scratch the ear with a hind paw and spread the internal bleeding.
- Step 2The ear feels hot and hurts when touched, so do not touch or squeeze it. Take smartphone photos of the swelling and of any dirt inside the ear.
- Step 3See a veterinary clinic within a few days to have the blood inside the hematoma drained and get an injection to reduce inflammation (such as interferon or steroids) or surgery, along with treatment of the underlying cause (outer ear infection or ear mites) at the same time.
โญ Step-by-step fix
Step 1 ยท What you can do at home right now
When you notice the ear flap is puffed up, put on an Elizabethan collar you have at home right away so your cat cannot scratch the ear with a hind paw and spread the internal bleeding.
Step 2
The ear feels hot and hurts when touched, so do not touch or squeeze it. Take smartphone photos of the swelling and of any dirt inside the ear.
Step 3
See a veterinary clinic within a few days to have the blood inside the hematoma drained and get an injection to reduce inflammation (such as interferon or steroids) or surgery, along with treatment of the underlying cause (outer ear infection or ear mites) at the same time.
โ Never do this
- Leaving it for weeks, thinking it will be absorbed and go down by itself (the ear cartilage can warp and shrink into a shape that is hard to restore, narrowing the ear canal and making the outer ear infection even worse).
- Pressing a hard ice pack firmly against the swollen part to cool it.
๐ Make notes for the vet
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