scabby ear won't heal

Tuff Love · #1 14th May 2012, 02:46 PM

For a few weeks now the tip of Thora's one ear has been scabby. Now, to my embarrassment, it may be taking longer to heal because I'm a picker and at first I caught myself scratching at it when laying with her on the couch. (I know I know... stupid). I swear I wasn't aware I was doing it lol. Anyways, I don't know how she managed to cut it in the first place since it's on the edge of the ear. I think perhaps it happened while roughhousing with her one doggy friend, but it just refuses to heal! Is there something I can put on it? I've been cleaning it here and there when she lets me (which isn't often). Once in a while she breaks part of the scab off.. it doesn't bleed much though. I just spent about $400 on her with the opthelmologist.. so I'd love to avoid a vet trip if possible.

Sansal · #2 14th May 2012, 03:40 PM

Sky had this happen a while ago. It took FOREVER to heal (at least a couple of months) But since it wasn't bleeding or anything I just let it be and eventually it healed. I know that other BW members have had major trouble with blood splashing all over the place (whenever the dog shakes the head and the scab breaks off) and I think some people were successful with somehow taping the ear - I'm sure someone else will chime in

I don't think the vet would be able to do much for it.

Sablegirl · #3 14th May 2012, 10:38 PM

I would just clean it good and put neosporin on it until it heals.

kcttiger · #4 14th May 2012, 10:50 PM

Harley would get those on his ears after riding in the back of the pickup. He loved the wind in his face but i think it was too much wind for the floppy ears.

As for treatment, we would put bacitracin or neosporin type antibiotic ointment on it as often as we remembered, 4x's/day as a goal. Even though some days only got once......until it was healed.

If it doesn't look BETTER in a few days, or is really swollen, then take him to the vet, otherwise, not sure they would recommend anything different.

Hope it gets better soon.

ZekeZira · #5 15th May 2012, 06:22 AM

Zeke had one of those, too. I took him to the vet, even, about it because I was worried it was something sinister. Nope. It seems like the vet called it something but I can't remember because it was about two years ago but it was pretty much a scab. His was perfectly round and right near the tip of his big ol' floppy ear. Took ages for it to go away - I'm a "picker" too, always feeling it and rubbing it when he sat with me, it even came off in my hand one time and then promptly grew back because it wasn't healed. Worrisome dogs!

Tuff Love · #6 15th May 2012, 07:11 AM

Thanks guys... so I guess this is fairly common seeing as some of you have dealt with the same issue. I thought maybe something was wrong because it's been there for literally a month with no real improvement. I guess I'll just keep cleaning it and try some bacitracin. She likes to shake her head violently with some of her toys, so I think that irritates it too since they flap against her head pretty hard when she does it.... she's a goof

Roge · #7 15th May 2012, 04:38 PM

It must,nt bother her too much if she is flapping those ears about. Im sure she will heal up soon.

Tessa · #8 15th May 2012, 04:47 PM

Our last scabby ear on Tucker just healed after 3 months. It happens every winter and leaves blood spatter in the house. We go through countless band aids in the winter. Be patient, it will heal. We've been to the vet for it... Not much they can do. We've tried ointments and bandaging his ears back, but nothing works well since he is a violent head shaker.

Try to let it dry out as much as possible. Once the scab has formed, I'd skip the neosporin and let it stay solid. We've tried using neosporin, but it seems to make the scab softer and more prone to breaking (thus, more splatter).

Good luck!!

Tuff Love · #9 17th May 2012, 07:05 AM

GAH! This morning it looks like someone took a bite out of her ear- she managed to rip nearly the entire scab off! What on earth am I going to do with her? No wonder it won't heal. I don't even know how she managed to do that. *sigh*

Side note- She had an Opthelmologist re-check on the eye yesterday and the cyst has completely gone. There's some scar tissue there on the cornea yet but it should heal up fine says the OP

Roge · #10 17th May 2012, 09:02 AM

Great news on the eye, There was a thread started a few months back with someone that had the same problem with an ear and there were a few good tips on it, It might be worth a look see.
If only we could wrap them up in cotton wool all would be well with the world.

Tuff Love · #11 17th May 2012, 11:35 AM

hmmm I'll have to look for that post. surprised that i missed it since i lurk in this forum all the time to see how all the patients are doing.

rayandsarah · #12 20th May 2012, 03:37 PM

It seems that all the boxers that come into the shelter I work at have this problem. Our Vet usually vet wraps them. Which is basically and ace bandage that wraps their ear to their head. She does it for about a week and then takes it off just to get the healing process going.