Anyone ever treat an ear hematoma?

[Southdown]

I've figured out that my ram has an ear hematoma and I've read the treatment is surgery. I would be fine with the incision and drainage, but I'm not sure how to suture to cartilage. I'm thinking I'm going to be stuck paying for a vet to come out.

 

[Sheepshape]

Could you post a picture?
If it is a haematoma,then you don't HAVE to open and drain (Incising can always serve as a portal of entry for infection). It will eventually absorb itself. If there is a cartilage haematoma it will take a heck of a while to absorb (I had this in my nose after a car accident), but cartilage is a very dodgy tissue to heal after cutting. I have several sheep who have pulled out ear tags and have 'slotted' ears,but stitching has only about a 50% chance of healing, so I have always left it alone.
In the case of there being an abscess,then incision and drainage is essential.

 

[Southdown]

I made a small puncture with a needle and aspirated blood. I then massaged the ear to empty it out and applied preparation H cream. It worked initially, but of course it has filled back in with blood again because it's not sutured. We're thinking about making a splint and taping it up. That probably won't work though. I just feel bad leaving it alone because he was sitting down with his head cocked sideways and rubbing the ear on the fence. So it must be bothering him. It also feels warms, but no pus.

 

[Southdown]

It's now much bigger than it was initially, prior to the drainage. The entire ear is drooped down. I'm at a loss of what to do here. I don't think this will absorb on its own.

 

[goatgurl]

I'm absolutely no help! had a hematoma on a dogs ear once but never a sheep. poor guy.

 

[Sheepshape]

Could you take a pic.?

 

[Southdown]

We drained it daily for a while, but it kept filling back in with blood (almost seems bigger each time, to be honest). We also did penicillin IM for four days because it smelled like infection. I think it did clear up the infection, but the ear is still so swollen with the blood that the ear canal is occluded. I don't believe I can leave it like that because no air can go into his ear canal. My vet wasn't much help, but I guess I'll be stuck calling him again.

 

[promiseacres]

with dogs at the vet clinic the dr would cut, drain then suture xray film on both sides to keep it from refilling, at least 10 daysof antibiotics.

 

[Southdown]

We made a homemade splint and taped it around to try to keep it from filling back in. It didn't totally work, but helped slightly. It doesn't help that he keeps ramming his head and ear on everything. I'm afraid to do surgery because he will keep rubbing it, but yet I can't leave the ear canal closed either.