Aural Hematoma... A Blood Filled Pocket

A  hematoma is any abnormal blood filled space.  An Aural Hematoma is a collection of blood under the skin of the ear flap of a dog or cat.  (The ear flap itself is called the Pinna.)  Ear hematoma occurs much more commonly in dogs than in cats; a hematoma generally is the result of trauma to the pinna from an injury or from the dog or cat scratching at the ear.  The itchy ear can result from ear mites, allergies, infections or foreign matter in the ear canal.  Frequent scratching at the ear, or even vigorous shaking of the head, can result in a rupture of small blood vessels beneath the skin of the pinna.  Since there is little strength or depth to the tissues of the pinna, clotting may be delayed... especially if the dog or cat continues to upset the clotting by additional self trauma.