Recent Pet Posts

You need to listen to a vet and do real medicine if your golden has SAS and PS. That is incredibly serious and life-ending. Talk to your cardiologist. They will give you both heart medication and supplement advice.

I agree above that Petroleum Jelly is dangerous, so I'm glad you pointed out you use Un-petroleum jelly instead. Coconut oil helped me greatly.

Ledum 1 mil= Three times a day; you will see remarkable effects regarding Lyme disease. It completely cured my cat and a friend's golden retriever. It's also safe for humans. -Riker

How do I know how much of these herbs to give? My daughter 4 month old golden retriever was diagnosed with Grade 5 heart murmur --- he saw a cardiologist today with results: pulmonic stenosis and subaortic stenosis! I really want to try the herbal routee - can you give me some direction?

There is such a person as an animal chiropractor. Her name is Debbie O'Reilly D.C./Vibrant Energy Healing Center. She adjusts humans, horses, dogs and other animals. I have gone to her in the past for my sweet Pom, Teddy. Hope this helps

Any coconut oil that has "Refined" on the label won't taste like coconut. I get it at Whole Foods. Or you can buy MCT oil, which is the same thing, but no flavor (medium chain tryglycerides). I put some in a little brown glass dropper bottle so I can sneak a few drops into some Fancy Feast.

This is a Pet question. My husband passed away after a week in hospital. Now I've noticed that our cat has lost her voice. Do you think she cried while home alone and then when I went back to work, traveled for the funeral, etc and has laryngytis? She opens her mouth and no sound comes out. I don't want to wait if it's a serious issue, but don't want to go to the vet if it's just hoarse and will come back.

MY dog is sneezing a lot lately and seems to have a plugged up nose.

Agree completely with last person. One of my male cats died a few weeks ago from a bad urinary blockage. Acute went to critical in one weekend, of course when regular Vet offices are closed and special pet emergency clinics charge a fortune which is disgraceful. Heck, they don't even return phone messages or emails. These animals are not like cars not starting -- flesh & blood the doctors take an oath to care treat. I only once had to try the AVC remedy and it worked on two cats. That was years ago. Now I have a male not peeing and a female barely peeing. They're not pooping much cause they're eating little. I tried three days of ACV & antibiotics. No results. I'm going to try something different again with ACV. It is so stressful for caretakers. I've shared my home with cats for 50 years. Only one death from kidney trouble. Cat was 23 yrs old! Nowadays cats keep getting sick with urinary and GI problems. It's gotta be the food.

Many years ago our mid sized terrier mutt (approx. 30 lbs) had terrible gas. I put food grade diatomateous earth in his food (can't remember how much but got the info on a diatomateous web site) It worked almost immediately and I didn't need to continue it for long. It is totally safe to ingest but look up the amounts on sites for the benefits of diatomateous earth for pets. It also has many benefits for humans.

When my dog got nervous during a thunderstorm, sometimes I simply took her outside the house and just sat next to her on the front porch. Hard to believe but being outside the house during the storm would clear up most of her nervous behaviors. She was a yellow lab.

My husband shared this solution with his coworker, who tried it too with his black lab and it greatly helped his dog too.

Canine Aural Hematoma Repair – Pinna Surgery versus Pinna Splint

Persuasive Essay

An aural hematoma is a blood and fluid pool formed in an animal's ear flap, or pinna, after a blunt force injury causing arterial breaks forcing tissues to expand and fill. Aural hematomas represent a condition that in not mortal, but can be a contributing factor in contraction of the pinna and subsequent future ailments for animal. Traditional treatments include expensive and painful surgeries, and weeks/months of recovery. Moreover, there is often permanent damage to the ear and a good percentage of reoccurrence of future hematomas. Surgical aural hematoma treatments for removal of blood clots range from lancing, to skin section removal, to biopsy tool removal of skin allowing for holes to provide ability to draw semi-coagulated fluids out of hematoma region. All surgical remedies impart local wounds to aural canal side of pinna, and must be further addressed during post-surgical recovery. These blood pool surgical removals of fluids, along with non-surgical hypodermic needle aspiration, are intended to allow apposition of skin and cartilage tissues. Only the hypodermic needle aspiration does not impart wounding to the pinna, with aftercare required. (1)

A novel method in the treatment of aural hematoma may address some of the concerns with current surgical procedures. The purpose of this article is to inform the veterinary industry (veterinarians, technicians, and medical device suppliers) a new tool to perform corrective aural hematoma repair. Preliminary research on a novel cross-sectional study on the impact of the pinna splinting device AuralsplintTM was conducted between June 2012 and June 2017 (unpublished results). Of the 190 participants who used the Auralsplint device, there were 49 responses to the surveys (25%). The study was conducted by the creator of the device who has no academic training, but a researcher was consulted of interpretation of the results. The participants were instructed to report on the visible ear conditions before, during and after treatment. A gradient of results ranged from: Complete healing with no visible damage, lesser healing with slight visible damage, visible healing with no hematoma present, to no visible healing hematoma present. A control group of participants outside of the criteria were involved to present the need for treatment early in affliction and a comparison of results. Criteria requirements were hematoma present less than 7 days from onset without any aspiration, or hypodermic needle aspiration alone within first 7 days and subsequent hypodermic aspirations on a four day schedule thereafter. Participants willfully requested acceptance into study after they searched online for an alternative to options available. Results suggest that the Auralsplint device promotes healing for the modality with a promising future as a viable alternative to surgeries for the aural hematoma affliction. Given the potential for biases of the author, results should be interpreted with caution. Potential implications of the AuralsplintTM, with no disregard or disrespect intended to existing veterinary surgeries and procedures, the author attempts to provide surgery-free alternatives to the treatment of aural hematoma through a novel therapeutic device. In no way is the Auralsplint recommended to take the place of a professional veterinarian. Instead, canine owner with their animals depending are encouraged to talk with their veterinarians about multiple options to assist in making decisions about best practices. (2,3)

In any treatment modality we must look to the healing properties of the animal and how these properties are used. The understanding: The broken blood vessels causing expansion of the tissues in the pinna are subsequent to a blunt force injury causing the broken blood vessels. Any underlying conditions which may lead to irritation and discomfort causing shaking of the head or scratching of the ear most likely (but not always) have caused the aural hematoma, and are treatable outside of any reparative treatment for the aural hematoma tissue damages. Without any treatment to repair the torn tissues of an aural hematoma, the bulbous fluid filled into the hematoma will resolve and diminish over time. Serum fluids likely will be rapidly reabsorbed, whereas hemoglobin fluids will clot. Either way, the animal's own regenerative abilities are observed as in progress. Given this generalization and the fact the aural hematoma has not ruptured due to over expansion, at some point the animal's own abilities have sealed the broken vessels. Leaving us to examine the clot formation in the aural hematoma, rapid coagulation occurs upon ceasing of new fluids entering into the hematoma region. Granulation begins occurring in 3-6 days. This granulation process must be the precursor to the adhesion of tissues to the clot, respective both the outer skin and the inner cartilage. The interior of the clot at this point is not understood as to its purpose other than subsequent to volume of fluid generation during open vessels filling at time of active hematoma. Speculation of the migration from interior of clot to exterior of clot for granulation and other regenerative elements exists as reduction occurs, and spent red blood cells are removed and reabsorbed. It is this author's belief the reduction of the bulbous clot by reabsorbing, along with granulation occurring at all points exterior of clot, is the greatest contributing factor to contraction of the pinna, as the bulb is reduced from the furthest point from center towards the center, thus the attached tissues are drawn toward center. By establishing the animal is using the blood pool to provide healing and regenerative elements, we must attribute the blood pool, or clot, is essential in providing the tissue elements for permanent reattachment of the skin to cartilage. Even after healing of an untreated aural hematoma, the skin and cartilage are opposed, due to the reduction of the clot leaving the space between the tissues reduced from that of full bulbous clot. The contraction due to reduction has been addressed. However, at some point a blood clot is needed between the skin and cartilage to provide the elements for granulation to occur, and thus adhesion of said skin and cartilage tissues against clot, and subsequently skin to cartilage once absorbable spent red blood cells are removed. By this premise, the amount of contraction is proportionate relative to the thickness diameter of the pooled blood clot, therefore the thinner the clot, the less the contraction. By this same premise, the greater amount of surface area adhesion, the greater the attraction. Complete granulation of all area within the hematoma region would need to be considered the most effective for adhesion of tissues. Any allowance for deviation and sporadic development of granulation would contingently provide less adhesion and potential for less permanent reattachment. The amount of blood clot needed to perform sufficient granulation is left for further studies. But, without a blood clot directly opposed to both sides the skin and cartilage predicts less abilities to heal with same efficiency as areas with adequate blood clot. Therefore, a sporadic area of blood clotting, determined by thickness and location, is less supportive to animal's own ability to regenerate than that of a blood clot continuous in size and complete in total area of damaged pinna. The aspiration of the fluid pool is set to reduce the size of the hematoma bulb, allow for apposition of skin and cartilage tissues, thus reducing the amount of contraction during healing. Aspiration can be performed in different methods. If the fluids are still fluid, then a hypodermic needle aspiration is sufficient to remove nearly all the fluids present. If the length of time from onset is greater than 6-7 days, and coagulation in the pool has started, the removal by surgical means is required to allow apposition of the skin and cartilage tissues. (1,4,5,6,11)

It is time to look at the surgical treatments themselves and how the decision to use surgery for canine aural hematoma repair compares against the other options the clinic can offer. The clinic has to assume a patient visiting a clinic knows he or she is being offered an assortment of options, and costs to treat their animal's condition. With the cost of surgery the pinnacle of pricing, the patient must assume this choice is the greatest care. Reality shows this is the greatest abilities of the veterinary surgeon to use his or her training in an operating room environment. To assume this is the best care for the aural hematoma affliction is based on perspective. With blood pool now removed, apposition by surgical method is achieved by carefully suturing the skin to cartilage by means of choice by surgeon. Critical to success is the ability of the surgeon to oppose the tissues in such a fashion to allow granulation to occur in the areas between sutures. The small segmented sporadic blood pools subsequently clot and healing begins to occur. The amount of granulation at suture penetration locations cannot be consistent with the areas between sutures due to nature of modality. As the author has already established, the more consistent the blood clot, the better the production of granulation and adhesion after healing. To summarize, the surgical aspiration has imparted wounds to the skin of the pinna and now in need of post-operative care, the sutures are providing sporadic ability to adhere, and any clot formation is now non-consistent. (2,9,10,11)

Stated here in this interpretation, surgery shows increased chance for infection with regard for surgical procedures imparting wounds to pinna, as well as sporadic development of the essential blood clot. Suture placement is critical to keep from cessation of fluids to any point interrupted. Included in surgical modalities is the continued allowance for any blood and fluids re-entering the hematoma region to flow freely out of the region through wounds or drains specifically placed for this reason. Previously established in this interpretation is the need for the blood clot to form to produce the granulation and regenerative elements required in permanently healing the aural hematoma, complete with blood vessel sealing of breaks and adhesion of skin to cartilage. It appears less than necessary to allow the essential regenerative elements to escape the area in need of said elements. It is understood the continued flow of fluids into a surgically repaired hematoma region may introduce recurrence of expansion, and therefore contribute to alteration of the surgeon's treatment modality. Finally, pinna surgery post-operative care is substantial and must be included in the considerations for its use and results. (5,6,8)

The alternative modality presented is Pinna Splinting. Splinting of the auricle is a therapeutic treatment modality process allowing the animal's own abilities to re-grow the tissues in an environment suitable for the least amount of contraction after healing. By all indications in this interpretation, a consistent thickness blood clot throughout the entirety of the hematoma region provides the greatest chance of non-sporadic granulation and adhesion of tissues. The uniformity of the thickness of the blood clot, or more accurately presented thinner blood clot, provides lesser ability for contraction during recovery. Pinna splinting treatment occurs without wounding imparted to animal, therefore the post-operative care is lessened and the chance of infection therefore lessened. Also, for those patients unable to afford surgery or are unable due to health or general anesthesia complications, pinna splinting allows the animal owner the option for corrective clinical treatment, and for the clinic the additional income. (4,9,11)

Pinna splinting is achieved by locating the pinna in a fixed position where, after aspiration by hypodermic needle, a rigid device is attached by medical dressings to the pinna, presenting a wall against the damaged tissues, preventing the uncontrolled expansion of fluids into the hematoma. Once the small area of hematoma refills into a thin layer and equalization of fluid pressures is achieved, rapid coagulation and granulation begins to occur, without interruption or sporadic locations, but instead throughout the entirety of the hematoma. As per the previous evidence established, the animal now can function as though the hematoma has been left untreated, and can begin to and fully regenerate the needed tissues to seal the broken blood vessels and form the permanent attachment tissues between skin and cartilage at all points directly adjacent to blood clot layer. Once absorption of the spent red blood cells in clot layer occurs, the distance between skin and cartilage tissues being of a small size, the reduction and contraction is limited, relative to thickness of clot layer. The treatment duration for splint device in place has been established as 14 days consecutive. (11)

It would be difficult to describe the need for a new modality in a clinical environment without addressing the costs associated. A Veterinary Clinic needs revenue to not only survive but to thrive. The licensed veterinarian needs to charge appropriately for his or her services to generate revenue to employ the manpower to sustain the business model. By this standard, the amount of revenue per treatment generated is based upon the need of the clinic's business model. The larger the revenue generation per treatment equals the better the outcome for the business. This support for the business model can be altered by the number of patients treated against the number of patients not treated (due to lack of financial means). To sum this relationship, the more patients treated for less revenue equals the lesser amount of patients treated with higher revenue. (2,3)

The author, Daniel Whitton, is President of Auralsplint Inc. PBC, an aural hematoma researcher, inventor, and advocate for better animal healthcare through improvements in current modalities. The AuralsplintTM treatment is proprietary through US Patent 7,153,313 awarded to Daniel Whitton 2006. Subsequent patent protection is at present in place for further intellectual property and proprietary rights. The Auralsplint, through voluntary Pre-Market Approval, has been concluded by the FDA “the animal medical class 1 device is safe as prescribed for use under supervision of licensed veterinarians”. Without establishing a concrete analysis by dissection of both modalities in post mortal studies, the author is left to make interpretations of scientific expectations. However, having a tool to bridge the gap in treatment modalities could and should be used to satisfy the needs of the clients. The AuralsplintTM introduces a non-invasive, cost-effective, pain-free clinical device providing an alternative solution to surgery. Although study results are preliminary and non-casual, there is support for future clinical trials with this device as part of a whole purposed industry treatment. (6,11)

Author: Daniel Whitton
Auralsplint Inc. PBC

Editor:
Krista Best, PhD
Professeure adjointe/ Assistant professor
Faculté de médecine / Faculty of Medicine
Université Laval

Sources Cited:

1. MacPhail C. Current Treatment Options for Auricular Hematomas. Vet Clin Small Anim. 2016; 46: 635–641

2. AVMA.org; 2018-econ-rpt3-veterinary-services.pdf

3. Hall J, Weir S and Ladlow J. Treatment of canine aural haematoma by UK veterinarians. Journal of Small Animal Practice. 2016; 57: 360–364.

4. Asinga T. Treating aural hematomas. Banfield. https://www.banfield.com/getmedia/98fe2955-5945-4d4f-8007-4e74fed9bb28/2_5-Treating-aural-hematomas. Accessed on February 20,2020.

5. Pavletic MM. Use of laterally placed vacuum drains for management of aural hematomas in five dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2014; 246:112–117.

6. Lanz OI, Wood BC. Surgery of the ear and pinna. Vet Clin Small Anim. 2004;34: 567–599

7. Hedlund C. Incisional Drainage of Aural Hematomas. Complications in Small Animal Surgery, First Edition. Edited by Dominique Griffon and Annick Hamaide. Published 2016 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

8. Aural Hematoma. American College of Veterinary Surgeons. https://www.acvs.org/small-animal/aural-hematoma

9. Hall J, Weir S and Ladlow J. Treatment of canine aural haematoma by UK veterinarians. Journal of Small Animal Practice. 2016; 57: 360–364.

10. Lahiani J, Niebauer GW. On the nature of canine aural haematoma and its treatment with continuous vacuum drainage. Journal of Small Animal Practice. 2020; 61(3):195-201.

11. AuralsplintTM – Descriptive Report, author: Daniel Whitton; Researchgate.com DOI:

10.13140/RG.2.2.13717.55520

I saw a post from 2010 on earth clinic about ginger capsules. Both dogs of mine get itchy at night. I gave them both a capsule each and they slept all night long. I love earth clinic!!!

The first time I gave my cat spirulina he gobbled it up and then sat there with his eyes bugged out looking around like he just took his first hit of acid and was seeing the world for the first time.

Dosing: 1/2 teaspoon of powder in a pile on the linoleum kitchen floor

Now I mix a dash in his wet food when he looks like he needs some excitement.

He also loves brewer's yeast and the diatomaceous earth (+ - 1/4 tsp/day) seems to be reducing the cyst in his ear. I'll get back to you about that if it goes away entirely.

My dog has a lump not sure lipoma or tumor. I am going to vet Thursday for a fine needle aspiration. I did the castor oil hot cotton ball treatment for one month 2-3x a day but nothing other than getting bigger.

My two GSD ( one American, the other a small Czech) suffer from yeast issues as soon as the warm weather starts.

As a last resort before capitulating to a vet visit, I thought I'd try Food grade Diatomaceous Earth - after all, I thought, it can't hurt. After one week of using the recommended dosages, both dogs are VASTLY improved!!!! Together with a topical homemade spray ( 1/2 c. organic ACV + 1/2 c. steeped and cooled strong green tea + 1 c. distilled water) neither dog is biting, scratching, using the bushes as giant scratching posts and sleeping HAPPILY without frequent awakenings to 'chew' that itch." I'm fairly positive it's the FOOD GRADE diatomaceous earth!

For de worming, the information suggests 30 days of use, so I'm not sure how long to continue but I will definitely continue for another week ( which will make it 2 weeks) and then review.

Hi Bee,

I started out giving Flower a 15 ppm solution which was manufactured and sold by a local health food store and when I ran out of that, I started giving her a 10 ppm solution called Silver Sol by NOW Foods. That is also what is in the spray bottle. Just as an update, last night I had to bandage the site as it was still bleeding quite a bit. Looking at it this morning, some more tissue has sloughed off and the flesh is a bright healthy pink and smooth and clean. She is pretty low key today, but has been sleeping comfortably. She did accept some bone broth when offered. I hope that is helpful.

Hi Flower's Mom,

What great news, yay! So happy for you. Can you please tell me what ppm of Colloidal Silver you were giving your dog? Also, was it homemade CS or store-bought? Thanks!

I must share my experience with using colloidal silver for curing cancer.

My 16 year old dog, Flower, developed a bump on the back of her leg right above her paw. I watched it closely and over the last month it started to change, partly because it started to irritate her and she had been licking it. First, the fur came off, revealing a pink lump. Then the lump started to change. It quickly grew to twice its size and turned different colors, black, yellow and purple, and was developing a few new small bumps at the base of the original one.

So for the last 2 weeks I have been treating her with a high dose of colloidal silver, both orally on an empty stomach 3 to 4 times a day and spraying the area with colloidal silver every chance I could get (she'd see me coming with the spray bottle and would run away). Orally I gave her a tablespoon each time. Of course, the lump grew even larger and uglier with this attack. It even grew tentacle-like things out of the top. It looked very scary.

Anyway, long story short, it finally started to shrink and turned more black on top with the base being bright red. Yesterday, it was pretty shrivelled up and was just dangling by a small piece still attached, and this morning it has fallen off! The skin underneath is bright red and bleeding, but I consider that a good sign as the blood with help filter any remaining toxins from the site.

I will continue giving her silver orally every day and spraying the area with silver until it has totally healed, and maybe for a month or so after that.

Bird Mites transfer to humans, cats, dogs, horses, rabbits, et al... You should use this on your cat and yourself. You also should send in a vetDNA test to see what kinds of mites you two have.