End Of Ear Split

[Mason_Gibbs]

I have noticed for the last few days that my dogs ear seems to be split. The day before yesterday there was a scab there, yesterday the scab was gone and it just looked like pink skin and today its been bleeding again. What causes this and what should I do about it?? I thought head shaking was a cause but he has not been shaking his head that I have seen.

[Crisovar]

Fly bite? Cat scratch?

Pop some Troy fly repellent cream or some vaseline and citronella on it if it could be fly bites.

[Mason_Gibbs]

Fly bite? Cat scratch?

Pop some Troy fly repellent cream or some vaseline and citronella on it if it could be fly bites.

I use fly repellent daily and he is mostly inside.

[Erny]

I have trouble with that. My boy only needs to flap his head a few times and have his ear hit his collar, and a wound appears. If I'm not careful with it, he'll continue to flap his head and the wound becomes larger. He's done it again more recently and I've worked out a way of taping it so that the air still gets to the wound but the wound is at least partly protected against flapping and hopefully this time it won't take as long to heal as it did the last time. I use Elastoplast Fabric Dressing Strip (6.3cm wide) and cut to size. The dressing strip is the part that 'covers' the wound and the sticky stuff holds to either side. I have been quite surprised how much it will hold and how long it will last there. I'm also quite surprised at the fact that he isn't fussing with it being there. I think he's felt the comfort the protection of the bandage afforded him, as his ear became quite sore. I was concerned at the beginning as the ear was swollen and hot. Initially I applied Betadene a couple of times per day with a small syringe (minus the needle, of course) and allowed this to flush over the wound (warning : hold a towel underneath to catch excess Betadene). The wound is now drying, closing up and looking a bit better and I have cut down the application of Betadine to once every couple of days (unless he's gotten it dirty, in which case I very carefully and gently bath it with some mild salt water, dab dry and re-apply Batadine).

I've included some photos here - don't know if they will help as the positioning of your dog's wound may well be different than my boy's, but it might give you an idea. Please note the dark stuff you see on the bandage is Betadene. I change the bandage every two to three days, or sooner if he's gotten it mucky.

I've included a picture of the outside of his ear flap - you can see the edges of the bandage which I cut to size and shape (carefully ) .

ETA: I used to try ointments such as Paw Paw; Aloe Vera, but found that they 'gummed' the wound up, made it mucky and the wound didn't dry out and scab over as it should have. I prefer something that is likely to dry it out and permit the air to it and in our case am finding that to be a better solution. But more protection would be required if your dog's wound is being plagued by flies.

Edited November 7, 2010 by Erny

[Mason_Gibbs]

I have trouble with that. My boy only needs to flap his head a few times and have his ear hit his collar, and a wound appears. If I'm not careful with it, he'll continue to flap his head and the wound becomes larger. He's done it again more recently and I've worked out a way of taping it so that the air still gets to the wound but the wound is at least partly protected against flapping and hopefully this time it won't take as long to heal as it did the last time. I use Elastoplast Fabric Dressing Strip (6.3cm wide) and cut to size. The dressing strip is the part that 'covers' the wound and the sticky stuff holds to either side. I have been quite surprised how much it will hold and how long it will last there. I'm also quite surprised at the fact that he isn't fussing with it being there. I think he's felt the comfort the protection of the bandage afforded him, as his ear became quite sore. I was concerned at the beginning as the ear was swollen and hot. Initially I applied Betadene a couple of times per day with a small syringe (minus the needle, of course) and allowed this to flush over the wound (warning : hold a towel underneath to catch excess Betadene). The wound is now drying, closing up and looking a bit better and I have cut down the application of Betadine to once every couple of days (unless he's gotten it dirty, in which case I very carefully and gently bath it with some mild salt water, dab dry and re-apply Batadine).

I've included some photos here - don't know if they will help as the positioning of your dog's wound may well be different than my boy's, but it might give you an idea. Please note the dark stuff you see on the bandage is Betadene. I change the bandage every two to three days, or sooner if he's gotten it mucky.

I've included a picture of the outside of his ear flap - you can see the edges of the bandage which I cut to size and shape (carefully ) .

ETA: I used to try ointments such as Paw Paw; Aloe Vera, but found that they 'gummed' the wound up, made it mucky and the wound didn't dry out and scab over as it should have. I prefer something that is likely to dry it out and permit the air to it and in our case am finding that to be a better solution. But more protection would be required if your dog's wound is being plagued by flies.

Thanks Erny, thats exactly what his looks like, will give the plaster a go.. I was wondering if a trip to the vet was needed or not but I may give his a go first.

[Erny]

Thanks Erny, thats exactly what his looks like, will give the plaster a go.. I was wondering if a trip to the vet was needed or not but I may give his a go first.

I was very very watchful for signs of infection as, especially in the early days, his ear flap around the wound area was hot and was quite sore. Watch those flies too - I find there is an awful lot of them around where I am at the moment.

ETA: Oh, and I used some Baby Oil (being careful to keep it out of the wound) and worked it into the sticky part of the bandage - this helps to remove it without causing pain to your dog.

Edited November 7, 2010 by Erny

[woodbyne]

Hi

My dalmatian has had that before i have found the best thing to treat it is vaseline caked on really thinck reason for that is that it seems to come when her skin dries out. I also spray repelex on the ear/s to prevent flies. It takes a coouple of weeks to heal. I have never had an infection so no need for me to use betadine. I also take their collars off as the head shaking then makes the ear flaps hit on the collar. You might want to make sure that there isn't a reason the dogs shaking its head ear mites etc can make them shake their heads and then cause the ear to split.

[Mason_Gibbs]

Hi

My dalmatian has had that before i have found the best thing to treat it is vaseline caked on really thinck reason for that is that it seems to come when her skin dries out. I also spray repelex on the ear/s to prevent flies. It takes a coouple of weeks to heal. I have never had an infection so no need for me to use betadine. I also take their collars off as the head shaking then makes the ear flaps hit on the collar. You might want to make sure that there isn't a reason the dogs shaking its head ear mites etc can make them shake their heads and then cause the ear to split.

No ear mites etc, he sees a dermatologist often and the vet checked yesterday. His ear flap is not split there was actually a wound on the ear, woke up this morning and it is bleeding everywhere and there is a another wound on the ear so we are going back to the vet to get it checked.