Abstract
To evaluate the incidence and risk factors for aural haematoma in dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK. A cohort study design. Dogs diagnosed with aural haematoma during 2016 were identified from the VetCompass database. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression modelling were used for risk factor analysis. There were 2,249/905,554 dogs diagnosed with aural haematoma during 2016. The estimated one-year incidence risk for aural haematoma was 0.25% (95% confidence interval 0.24–0.26). After accounting for confounding factors, 14 breeds showed increased odds and 20 breeds showed reduced odds of aural haematoma compared with crossbred dogs. Breeds with the highest odds included Bull Terrier (OR 7.42, 95% confidence interval 4.39–12.54), Saint Bernard (OR 7.28, 95% confidence interval 3.58–14.81) and French Bulldog (OR 6.95, 95% confidence interval 5.55–8.70). Increasing age, increasing bodyweight and breeds with V-shaped drop and semi-erect ear carriage also showed increased odds of aural haematoma. Associations between ear carriage within breeds and the risk of aural haematoma suggest that trauma along the line of cartilage folding within V-shaped and semi-erect ears may trigger aural haematoma. New knowledge of key breed predispositions will contribute to improved breed health control strategies.
Highlights
To evaluate the incidence and risk factors for aural haematoma in dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK
There were 2,249 dogs confirmed with aural haematoma events first diagnosed in 2016 to give an incidence risk during 2016 of 0.25%
The breeds with the highest one-year incidence risk for aural haematoma were Bull Terrier (2.44%, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.37–3.99), Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier (1.50%, 0.65–2.94), English Bull Terrier (1.43%, 0.96–2.04), Golden Retriever (1.38%, 1.16–1.63), Saint Bernard (1.34%, 0.58–2.62) and Staffordshire Bull Terrier (0.91%, 0.83–0.99)
Summary
To evaluate the incidence and risk factors for aural haematoma in dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK. Associations between ear carriage within breeds and the risk of aural haematoma suggest that trauma along the line of cartilage folding within V-shaped and semi-erect ears may trigger aural haematoma. Aural haematoma can cause distress to the dog by pain from the swelling and inflammation of the pinna and by distress from the added weight of the affected e ar[6]. The pathogenesis of aural haematoma remains unclear, some studies have documented erosion and fracture of the auricular pinnal cartilage as possible causative factors in dogs with aural h aematoma[1,7,8,9]. Can lead to fibrosis, contraction and thickening of the pinna, potentially giving a deformed irregular appearance to the affected pinna (‘cauliflower ear’), especially when conservative management is a dopted[5,14]
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