Hi everyone, Can anyone please tell me why my dogs ear keeps filling with a runny dark red fluid, it's a hematoma I think, it has been drained now three times. I think there is something called a button. but how that works I am not sure. thank you

Just draining doesn't normally work. In older times vets used to stitch a row of actual buttons (yes coat or shirt buttons!) onto the ear, these days what is done is leaving a drainage channel in the middle and lots and lots of tiny stitching around it, to prevent it from happening again.

A haematoma can be caused by the dog shaking the head too much so if there is an underlying recurring ear infection that is often the cause.

My collie had his ear drained 3 times
He is elderly and I was reluctant to put him through and op so the vet suggested steroids
She drained the ear and put him on a very low dose of steroids I think for about 14 days.  She did say it may not work but it did, he has a cauliflower ear but it has scarred and not refilled
Hth

No ear shaking, I have always used thorn it, thanks for advise

Thanks for this will ask him when I ring later.

She did say it may not work but it did, he has a cauliflower ear

It didn't work then . The main reason to drain and stitch is to prevent cauliflower ear from developing as that often happens if the ear is just left. With good stitching etc the ear will go back to normal -I have a Golden Retriever who had it done several years ago -can't remember exactly when but must be at least 8 or 9 years ago if not 10. (He is almost 12 now.) You can see the scarring from all the stitches and the drainage on the inside of his earflap but it has never filled up again.

Just to second your post pieandivory, one of my mum's dogs also had the same problem for a year tried everything, but the steroids worked within 7 days, unbelievable! (Wish that had been tried within the first 3 months) and the problem has never re-occured. So thumbs up for a try of the steroids here too.

My dog has had no further problems with his ear and avoided having an op at 11 years old, I'm happy with that

Well that is interesting, I will ask to try the steroids first