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My dog's ear hematoma keeps refilling. Is yellowish fluid normal?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | American Staffordshire Terrier | Female | spayed | 8 years and 7 months old | 90 lbs

Hi, my dog (am pit bull terrier) had aural hematoma. Treated at home, it split open in a few different places and drained on its own (all blood) But after, for the last few days it keeps filling back up, but the fluid draining is like watery but slighty yellowish in color. I've researched and info says could take a couple weeks to drain/heal. Is this right..any helpful info for further treatment? Already on antibiotics for another issue (actually opened 2 days after being on antibiotics)

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Daniel Fonza, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on November 13th, 2017

Ear hematomas can take a while to heal and can fill up multiple times after the initial drainage. Many times for the recurrent hematomas, I will need to place a drain into the ear flap and Stitch it in place. This drain will remain there for several weeks before removing it. This allows the ear to actively drain during the healing process so that scar tissue can form to seal the hematoma site. The fluid that you are seeing, is likely fluid that the body is accumulating in the area of the hematoma in an attempt to fill in the Dead Space. As long as this fluid does not look thick yellow or smell it is likely not infectious and is more likely serous fluid. If this fluid continues and does not resolve after several weeks then I would have this rechecked by the veterinarian and consider having further treatment done to try and resolve this problem. If Mimi does not have an anti-inflammatory, I would certainly recommend giving her one to help reduce any inflammation associated with the ear hematoma. I hope this helps solve the problem. Please feel free to contact me with any other questions you may have

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on May 4th, 2017

    Oh no, poor Gage! He could have a hematoma which can be difficult to treat. I would not recommend you trying to treat this yourself, and instead having him seen by a vet for it. If you keep trying to open it and drain it yourself, you can introduce infection into the area. The vet can drain it sterilely and can give a steroid to try to keep it from filling back up. The cause of this potential hematoma should be diagnosed as well. Hematomas happen due to the trauma, and this is typically caused in the ear when a dog scratches his ear a lot or shakes his head. Those are signs of an ear infection, and I would have Gage's ear examined by a vet to see if he has an ear infection so it can be treated.

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