Why is my dog's ear bleeding? Is it possible it's from the brain?

This presentation could be due to an ear infections. Three sections of the ear can be infected, the external portion (otitis externa), the middle portion (otitis media) and the inner portion (otitis interna). Otitis externa is the most common ear infection in dogs. In this case it seems an external ear infection but an otoscopic examination will determine the exactly the extension of it. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed.

The most common reason that we see black crusting like that is when there is a small wound or mass that is bleeding a little and the blood is black when it dries. If it is a mass and was very small before and larger now, then it may need to be surgically removed. Since it has been there for a while, it would not be considered an emergency and the emergency clinic would likely recommend you have your regular vet evaluate it. However, if it is actively bleeding and you can't get it to stop, then it is certainly worth a trip to the emergency clinic. So, unless it is actively bleeding or bothering Zoey, I would contact your vet next week to have them examine it and decide on a treatment plan. We see a number of benign masses in young dogs and some require surgery to remove while some will resolve on their own. Here is a link with more information on one of the benign masses that we can see in young dogs. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1676 Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry to hear that Willow has a cut on her ear. It is possible that she caused it herself by scratching, but if you did not observe it happening, she could have traumatized it on something else, or been wounded by another animal. Based on your description of the wound, I recommend bringing her to your local veterinarian to have her evaluated. At the very least, the wound likely needs to be cleaned and flushed with a sterile solution to prevent infection. Depending on how deep or infected the wound is, it may require more extensive management such as surgical closure of the wound, or bandages. Willow likely also needs an Elizabethan (cone) collar to prevent her from further traumatizing the wound. Unfortunately, dogs like to scratch at their ears and can make it very hard for wounds to heal. If the wound is superficial and Willow is otherwise healthy, you may be able to apply compression to the wound to get it to stop bleeding, and monitor it closely at home for signs of infection (redness, swelling, yellow-green discharge, foul odor). If you see any of these signs, Willow should definitely be evaluated by a veterinarian. Just a reminder, NEVER give dogs any pain medications that are intended for humans, as they can be lethally toxic to dogs. I hope this is helpful!

That is not normal but it could happen as ear canal skin is probably inflamed and more sensitive (so it can bleed more easily). I would recommend to monitor it and if bleeding every time you apply the drops, to have it checked by your local vet to make sure there is nothing more serious (like a small tumor or polyp for example) inside the canal. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

As you have already said, the blood you are seeing on Khloe's ear could be due to multiple reasons. We could be dealing with self inflicted bleeding due to chronic itching. If this was the case, there is most like an infectious or allergic process taking place that is causing this type of behavior. If you don't go to the vet, you will not be able to verify the presence of absence of an infection under a microscope. There are however several over the counter ear washes and flushes that can be used with antimicrobial / antifungal properties. However, be aware that the use of these products before the ear is inspected for a punctured ear drum can have significant consequences. Should you decide to use them, I would recommend at least a week of use. There should be directions on the bottle. If the bleeding was caused by trauma from a dog bite, systemic antibiotics should likely be administered to prevent and/or treat any infection. I would fashion Khloe with an e-collar to prevent any further damage to the ear that she might inflict out of discomfort. You can obtain one of these at a pet store, veterinarian, or even create a home made one (look for a video on Youtube). I hope you can help Khloe feel better soon!

It sounds like Fen could have an ear infection. Ear infections in dogs can be caused by ear mites, yeast, or bacteria. You will need to make her an appointment with a vet. The vet can diagnose what is causing the scratching, what kind of ear infection if she has one, and can prescribe treatment for it. I hope this helps!

It's probably best to leave it alone for now. Ears tend to bleed a lot when they get cut, but it eventually stops and they don't bleed enough to be dangerous - unless he happens to have a clotting disorder. The more you wipe at the ear or agitate it, the more it will bleed. Also, hydrogen peroxide and other strong antiseptics can cause more damage than good, so it's best not to apply this to the wound. You can try cleaning the wound in 12 hours or so after the bleeding has stopped and he hopefully calms down. The first thing you should do is flush the wound using a syringe or other dispensing device with warm water for five minutes. This may not be easy, because dogs tend to hate water getting near their face. I recommend having someone help you with holding Cruise to make sure the wound gets flushed well. Infection is the biggest concern with these wounds; so after flushing, it's best to apply an antibacterial cream to the wound. In order to keep the wound clean, it's best to flush the wound 1-2 times a day and gently wipe away any big crusts - make sure not to scrub the wound, because this can make it worse. Apply the antibacterial cream after each flushing. If the ear starts to swell or have pus oozing from the wound, then I'd recommend he goes to the vet for treatment. Otherwise, the wound should heal fine over the next 2-3 weeks. I hope that helps and Cruise gets better soon.