Hematoma in a dog after being bitten by another dog

A hematoma in dogs is essentially the same bruise, only more convex (“oma” is a tumor from Latin, and “gemma” is blood, that is, literally a blood tumor or a tumor made of blood). It occurs as a result of mechanical impact (impact, bruise, even a fracture can provoke). The blood vessels burst, and blood flows into the muscle tissue. Hence the hematoma in the dog.

As a rule, a hematoma is accompanied by severe pain and significant discomfort for the animal. But, despite the fact that minor bruises pass without any consequences, if a suspicious formation is detected, it is better to consult a veterinarian about this. This will protect the dog from hematoma suppuration and prevent serious complications.

Causes of hematomas in dogs

What can result in a hematoma in a dog?

What are the causes of hematomas in dogs? It is clear that the most popular reason is a blow or bruise. In this case, the animal has a subcutaneous or intermuscular infection. But if the blow was very strong, then there may be other types of bruises.
When a bone breaks, nearby vessels rupture. The blood from them flows into the surrounding tissues or cavities until it clots. Here is the hematoma.
Animal bites.
Low elasticity of blood vessels, very fragile. In this case, even the slightest blow leads to the formation of a bruise on the dog. And if blood clotting is also impaired, then the likelihood is that you will quite often find bruises on your pet.

In general, anything that leads to rupture of blood vessels can cause a hematoma.

First aid and treatment of injuries in a veterinary clinic

In the previous sections, we focused on the symptoms of injuries in dogs and the first aid that the owner of the animal can provide. But the main recommendation remains the same - if the severity of the injury causes at least minimal concern for the health or life of the animal, the dog should be taken to a veterinary clinic as quickly as possible.

Our Aquarius clinic provides first aid and performs all treatment procedures for injuries in dogs. The main arguments in favor of contacting us:

Prompt telephone consultations – both before the start of treatment and during rehabilitation.
Highly qualified doctors and extensive experience in professional veterinary care for injuries of varying complexity in dogs of small and large breeds.
Modern equipment, including diagnostic equipment and fully equipped operating rooms for surgical interventions.
Comprehensive postoperative care in a hospital, ensuring rapid recovery from injuries.

Even the most attentive owner will not be able to 100% protect his dog from injury. But we can recognize the damage in time, provide first aid and deliver the pet to the veterinarian as quickly as possible for quick and effective treatment!

Source of the article: https://vodoleyvet.ru/articles/travmyi-u-sobak-priznaki.-simptomyi,-lechenie,-vosstanovlenie.html

Symptoms of hematoma in a dog

The clinical signs of a hematoma in a dog are not as obvious as, say, a fracture, poisoning, or an infectious disease. Therefore, sometimes owners do not immediately notice that their pet needs help. But there are still symptoms. And here they are:

Swelling at the site of hematoma formation. This is due to the fact that the blood occupies all the “free space”, then coagulates, its liquid part is “absorbed” by the cells. It’s much worse when pus appears in the cavity. In addition, a capsule consisting of connective tissue may form around the clotted blood. The swelling appears directly at the site of injury (impact, fracture, etc.), quickly increases in size, and the boundaries of this “tumor” are clear.
The general body temperature does not change (until pathogenic microflora begins to multiply in the hematoma), but the local one (swelling in place) increases noticeably.
Sometimes nearby lymph nodes increase in size - also a clear symptom of a hematoma in a dog.

Causes of hematomas

Vascular rupture is always a consequence of mechanical stress. The owner may not notice small bruises or swelling if they are on the body; firstly, the injury is hidden by the fur, and secondly, the dog independently treats (licks and warms) the bruised area.

Hematoma of the auricle is most often a consequence of paw blows and scratching, otitis media, and trauma. In older dogs and pets with vitamin deficiency or lack of microelements, swelling can form as a result of normal shaking of the head. The thin skin covering the auricle is not able to contain the internal pressure during bleeding and the hematoma quickly increases in size. The danger lies in the close proximity of a possible infection to the brain.

Ear hematoma in a dog may be accompanied by unpredictable consequences, spreading pain behind the teeth, eyes, increased body temperature, inflammation of the lymph nodes. Considering that the auricle is divided into 3 sections, 1 of which cannot be viewed visually, the disease is not immediately detected. If the hematoma affects the outer part of the ear, the swelling is visible visually and the dog is diagnosed with lymphatic extrovase. When a dog’s ear hematoma begins to harden, this is a sure signal that it is time to fight the disease surgically; the exudate will no longer resolve on its own. The veterinarian opens the skin and places a drain under it, through which the remaining blood and lymph come out.

The head and withers are inaccessible places for licking and the dog, worried about discomfort, scratches the injured areas of the skin. Hematomas on the head are most often the consequences of a fight or blows. Skin diseases that cause itching primarily spread to the ears, trying to relieve the discomfort, the dog scratches its head and injures itself. Swellings or encapsulated cysts in the withers are the consequences of vaccinations or drug injections.

Swelling on the paw, especially in the area of the joints, indicates a sprained or torn ligament, dislocation or more serious injury to the limb. If the ligaments, muscles and tendons are intact, conservative treatment is prescribed, which differs little from therapy for hematomas. As additional measures, the dog receives a drug that accelerates the regeneration of connective tissues.

A hematoma after surgery indicates one or more complications:

After the operation, the bleeding did not stop completely.

The intervention was carried out in a non-sterile environment, which contributed to the wound becoming infected.

The dog has scratched, licked or otherwise damaged the stitches. Often found after spaying females, the wound is on the side and the dog has to bend over to lick it.

The use of modern methods of veterinary surgery reduces the risk of complications to a minimum, but does not completely eliminate them. A slight swelling at the incision site is a natural phenomenon, but if the suture begins to bleed, it is necessary to identify the cause, protect the wound and show the animal to a veterinarian. If there is severe bleeding, the wound is cauterized again and the stitches are replaced.

Important! Wearing a blanket or collar after surgery significantly reduces the risk of complications due to damage to the sutures.

And the most unpleasant thing is hematomas that put pressure on the spinal cord or brain. In both cases, the condition is considered acute, all organs and tissues of the body suffer from lack of nutrition. Be attentive to swelling on the back, in the area of the vertebrae; an ordinary bruise or abrasion should not harden or increase in size. Hematomas in the neck, riddled with blood arteries, are also dangerous, with possible consequences ranging from headaches to paralysis and death.

Important! If you have the slightest suspicion of injury to the spine or neck, contact your veterinarian immediately.

source

Treatment of a dog with a hematoma

How to treat a hematoma in a dog? Usually no treatment is required in this case. You yourself saw how the bruise changes color and gradually disappears. And all because the liquid fraction of the blood is absorbed first, and then the red blood cells disintegrate (that’s why the spot “blooms”). And if there are no complications (suppuration, for example, or a hematoma forms in the brain, in an internal organ), then the “tumor from the blood” resolves on its own and without consequences. But sometimes the help of a veterinarian is simply necessary.

In one case, the doctor sucks blood from the hematoma if its pressure disrupts the functioning of the organ, interferes with normal blood flow, and causes pain to the animal. In another case, surgery is performed to remove the blood clot. Antibiotics must be administered, preferably a novocaine solution, to reduce pain.

As a first aid, apply something cold as soon as possible. This will cause the vessels to sharply narrow, resulting in significantly less blood flowing under the skin or into the intermuscular space. This means that the hematoma will be very small. Unfortunately, if the injury is internal (organs, brain, for example), then applying cold will not help. This requires mandatory surgery!

If you notice a hematoma in your dog after some time, then try applying heat (this will speed up the resorption process). That is, if the dog has just hit itself, then cold is needed so that the blood vessels narrow and the blood does not “spill out”, and if a hematoma has already formed, then use heat compresses (paraffin therapy is good). Remember your childhood when you drew an iodine grid. No matter how funny it may sound, it can also be done for dogs (in those areas where there is little fur, you won’t be drawing on top of the “fur coat”).

An ear hematoma in a dog primarily requires the application of a tight bandage. A few days after the first aid, the doctor removes the formed blood clot. Further therapy consists of taking certain antibiotics.

The most common causes of injury in dogs

Domestic dogs are distinguished by their activity. Most of the injuries they receive are not serious and pass completely without a trace. The owner of the animal may not even notice that his pet is injured.

But in case of serious damage, the symptoms are quite pronounced and require outside intervention from a veterinarian.

The following factors can cause damage to a dog’s body:

Road traffic accidents involving an animal. Car collisions are a common cause of injury to dogs in urban environments. A car injury rarely goes away without leaving a trace. As a rule, this is complex damage. Even with timely assistance, it often ends in the death of the pet.
Brawls with relatives. Fights between dogs are not uncommon. Fights can also occur between dogs and cats or birds. As a result of such collisions, eye injuries in dogs are more often diagnosed. Depending on the aggressiveness of the dog and other active participants in the fight, injuries are observed in the muscle area, accompanied by serious bleeding.

It is important to note that large dog breeds are more likely to suffer limb injuries. This is due to the increased load on their joints and large body weight.

Having carelessly stumbled on the stairs while descending, the dog receives a severe sprain or dislocation. That is why veterinary experts strongly recommend carefully monitoring your pet’s weight by regularly providing physical activity. It is necessary to introduce into the diet drugs that have a strengthening effect on joints and ligaments.

Medium-sized dog breeds are more likely to be injured during fights or as a result of car accidents. But representatives of small and decorative breeds are injured as a result of falls from a height - an unsuccessful jump from the sofa or the owner’s hands. Such seemingly insignificant damage can cause dislocations, fractures or concussions.

Depending on the type of injury and accompanying symptoms, injuries are divided into the following types:

bruises;
sprains of the ligamentous apparatus;
fractures and dislocations;
bleeding and bruises of internal organs;
concussions.

The most commonly diagnosed injury in dogs is bruises. Due to the fact that dogs have a high pain threshold, most bruises go unnoticed by the animal owner. But only if the bruise is simple, without severe swelling or crushing of tissue.

Factors that provoke the appearance of a bruise are blows with blunt objects. Characteristic signs of a contusion are bruises and hematomas with slight swelling. Other common injuries in dogs include:

Stretching. Unlike a bruise, a sprain is manifested by more severe symptoms. Pain occurs when jumping or during active movement. An uncomplicated sprain that goes away on its own.
A common type of injury in dogs is joint dislocation. The natural position of the articular cartilage surfaces is disrupted. A dislocation in a dog is characterized by swelling and inflammation at the site of the lesion. The animal experiences pain and is also limited in normal movement.
Fracture. A bone fracture is not accompanied by displacement of bone structures relative to the joint. When fractures occur, the integrity of bone structures is compromised. Fractures in dogs are diagnosed in the hind and fore limbs. In car accidents, the fractures are not single, but multiple.
Wounds. Wounds sustained by dogs can be bites, lacerations, cuts, punctures or gunshots. The wound is always accompanied by damage to the skin and bleeding. Depending on the extent of the damage, bleeding may or may not be severe.

Dogs receive biting wounds during fights with relatives or cats. Animals receive lacerated wounds during fights with cats and some dogs that have long claws. Lacerations are characterized by extensive damage and bleeding.

Animals receive cut wounds when they come into contact with sharp objects. As a rule, these are glass fragments that a pet steps on while walking. The vast majority of the affected areas are the pads on the pet's paws. The extent of the damage depends on the weight of the animal and the damaging factor.

Less common are stab and gunshot wounds. Puncture wounds have a small entry hole, but the depth of the injury can vary. Wounds resulting from a puncture with a sharp object are diagnosed in the body area, and internal organs can also be damaged.

Gunshot wounds are extremely dangerous. Animals receive them through human intervention. Gunshot wounds from bullets, pellets or pellets can cause serious complications. Especially bleeding, both external and internal.

Prevention of hematomas in dogs

No one is immune from receiving various types of injuries and the corresponding consequences. And on the one hand, it is inappropriate to talk about any preventive measures here. But a person who cares about his dog will not leave the future fate of the injured animal to chance, but will make an effort and provide timely assistance to the pet.

You can also recommend that the owner conduct periodic inspections for bruises. Since a hematoma of the auricle in a dog is the most common type of injury, you can start the examination with it. If the pet has been severely bruised and the veterinarian needs to suction the blood from the affected area, the owner will be left with additional care work. It is necessary to monitor the healing process of the problem area, possibly giving the dog medications prescribed by the doctor.

Take care of your pets, especially during walks, and the risk of hematoma will drop dramatically.

Still have questions? You can ask them to our site's in-house veterinarian in the comment box below, who will respond to them as soon as possible.

Symptoms

The occurrence of any damage affects the general well-being and behavior of the dog. Minor injuries do not lead to serious health complications. However, attention must be paid to even small hematomas and bruises: sometimes complications are likely to occur if they are not treated.

The most common symptom of a hematoma is the animal's limited movement. It may complain about a certain part of the body, preventing it from being touched or trying not to influence it itself. When a limb is damaged, a decrease in the dog’s activity in using it is especially noticeable.

Also possible manifestations of a hematoma include:

deformation of the damaged body part;
an increase in the temperature of the whole body (when an inflammatory process occurs in the tissues) or part of it (in the place where the bruise or injury occurred);
enlargement of the lymph nodes is likely when the infectious process begins to progress in the body.

Ear hematomas often occur in dogs. Even a small paw impact when scratching is enough to injure the thin skin of the auricle. The danger of such a hematoma can be considered a high probability of secondary infection due to suppuration. It is quite easy to notice a hematoma in such a localization.

Diagnostics

Identifying a hematoma in a timely manner means providing the necessary assistance to the dog and ensuring the speedy restoration of its health. First, an external examination of the pet is carried out. Possible places of damage and bruises are examined. Any changes in the skin, adjacent tissues, limbs, ears should attract attention during an external examination.

It is better to entrust the examination and diagnosis in case of suspected injury to a veterinarian. He will professionally examine the dog’s body and check in more detail every even small hematoma or bruise. The greatest attention is paid to the areas that the dog complains about and does not allow to be touched.

After detection of damage, the doctor may recommend shaving the hair on the part of the animal’s body where the hematoma was detected. This provides better access to the damage and is necessary during therapeutic procedures.