Insect bite ?

Hi everyone, after reading the forums for over a year, finally decided to join up !!

had my last staffy rocky for 14 years, and when he went, got talked into going to the local council kennels by the family to "cheer me up "

ended up with a brindle male staff approx 18 months to 2 years old, not sure of exact age as he was picked up as a stray. However, a great dog with fab temperament, who we've had for 5 years now !!!

Louie, as we named him, always had the "baldy ears" in the summer, and despite creams etc, would get this every year.
this years been a lot better, but after coming home from his walk yesterday, I noticed like a white/yellow spot inside his ear. I put tea tree ointment on it, as he's forever sticking his head in bushes. I got in from work tonight, and his ear is swollen up dramatically, like a tea bag !! I'm guessing this is full of fluid or pus,possibly an insect bite. has anyone any ideas/lotions/potions that could help sort this out, before the vets wipe me out ? thanks all

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Hi & welcome, glad you decided to join us!

If it's swollen that much, I'd go to the vet. In the meantime you could hold a hot damp cloth against the ear, as close to where the original spot is as you can, and see if that'll encourage any pus to come out. Make the cloth quite warm - the warmer the better - as long as it doesn't burn, of course!

Hi and welcome to the forum from Rocky and me.

If as much as the infected material is out try to keep the area dry, a little sucocreme would help.

If it stills looks infected then he may need medical advice from the vet.

Sounds like his got a cauliflower ear, which is a build up of fluid normally blood within the cartilage layers of the ear.
The ear will be pain full, and he may try rubbing it along the ground in an effort to try and relieve it. The fuild may disperse its self, but its not advisable too wait and see if this happens. Its best to seek vet treatment which will involve them draining the fluid out, but be warned the ear flap will never look the same afterwards.

A cauliflower ear is normally caused by violent head shaking or consent ear scratching which in your case your boy may or done due to this spot appearing.

Hi and welcome from us and Suki. I would advise a trip to the vet to be on the safe side.

Hi and welcome from me, Maska & Loki

http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/tea-tree-oil/
Sorry, don't want to scare you, but we used tea tree oil (reading about all the healing properties etc) on our dogs, until one had a severe reaction to it.

I would rather suggest a trip to the vet.

thanks for the help everyone. creams and warm towel have not changed anything,the spot looks larger, so its a trip to the vets at 6pm weds !!!! dreading what this may cost !! but needs doing now, as I'm going on hols in 2 weeks time !!
I'll give an update on what the diagnosis is, after the vets had a look !! scorpio9

Keep us posted and I hope you get an answer Xx

update on Louie & his "insect bite" it is, as perfectly described by Denise above, a cauliflower ear !! thanks !!

so he's in for the op tomorrow, to drain the blood, and also getting his ears cleaned out as well.

he's always had dry ears since I got him from the rescue, and I have had them syringed before to clear the wax.

cost to me for this experience is £187.00 !! there goes my holiday spends !!!

but just glad this happened now, and not while I'm away, as I doubt my son would know what to have done for the best, so I'd better prepare for my sulky dog giving me the guilty eyes when he comes back from the vet tomorrow !!

Aw, poor little guy! Hope the operation goes well tomorrow, and you'll have to give him extra cuddles when he comes home!

good luck to Louie for tomorrow,and yes you better get ready for a sulky dog when he gets home!

well, just been to collect Louie from the vet, one shaved ear with stitches in !! also 2 syringed ears to clear them out. he will also be wearing the "lampshade accessory " for the next 2 weeks !!!

talking of things being cleared out, this morning I was told the cost of the operation was £145. ok, I thought, not too bad.....I was told he will "probably" need eye & ear drops...ok again I thought, probably another £30 tops...

total bill was £242.50 !!!! ear/eye drops, plus antibiotic tabs, plus "oral" drops !! when I quizzed how 4 little medicines are almost £100, I'm told "thats what they cost "

highly doubtful, as the ear drops, I've had these before, vets charged me £25.97 for surolan, sure it only cost me £9.00 last time.
but thats always been my experience with vets I'm afraid, even with my last staffy, they've got us all over a barrell, and boy do they take advantage !!!
still Louie seems ok at present, bit sulky and whingy, but he'll be ok, our dogs are made of strong stuff !!!!!

Vets bills can be rather high, even just paying the excess, Moo has never needed anything above £70 a little like dentists!

Pleased its all done now and I hope Louie recovers well Xx

Hope he is feeling better very soon.

Not saying I told you so or anything like that but do you not have insurance? Maybe worth checking your home insurance to see if pets are covered on that. I have heard this to happen before.

glad the op went well,get well soon Louie x