Ear hematoma

[Molls]

TW : ear cropping and posting
My first time posting here. My second doberman with cropping. We've been posting since summer. He's just over 5 months old. We last posted on Oct2. Posts came off 4 days later. We noticed a small hematoma at the tip of his ear. The last week, we've been massaging and monitoring. Friday night we noticed the hematoma had hardened and looked like edges were forming around a scab. My plan was to call the vet first thing tomorrow. It still is. Has anyone had experience with the hematoma falling off? We are going to look for a new way to post so he won't shake as much. Does anyone have experience with this contraption? Sharing a picture of my boys ear as well.

 

[Two Dobes]

The photo is hard to figure out....it almost looks like the tip of his ear is missing? Can you get a better side shot of his ear?
Just my opinion; but that plastic contraption does not look like a good option - the base sits on their head, and will only cause more problems...hair rubbing off etc.
There are great posting videos on here - many of us just use the foam backer rod method.

 

[Molls]

The photo is hard to figure out....it almost looks like the tip of his ear is missing? Can you get a better side shot of his ear?
Just my opinion; but that plastic contraption does not look like a good option - the base sits on their head, and will only cause more problems...hair rubbing off etc.
There are great posting videos on here - many of us just use the foam backer rod method.

 

[Molls]

That's exactly what it is. When we post, we put the bridge farther away from his head. The farther we put it (closer to the tips of his ears) the more he scratches and pulls. Which, in our experience with Misha, causes more scabbing on some of the ear. Forcing us to go longer between posting to allow them to heal. Current method is backer rods and tape. Adding popsicle sticks in to every other posting. We added the sticks to provide more support. But they cause his ears more irritation around the edges, so we don't do it each time.

 

[JanS]

Welcome from Minnesota!
Oof the tip of that ear is missing so I'm sure it is bothering him. Have you been loosely taping and has the tape ever gotten wet? Wet tape will shrink and cut off circulation and so will taping too tight.

The kind of tape you use also makes a big difference and J&J Zona's tape is a popular choice as well as Kendall porous tape. It's also important to get the posts as deep in the ear as you possibly can or it will bother them. I would dump the popsicle sticks and the bridge at this point and if you need to strengthen the post up, just wrap another layer of duct tape around the backer rod.
This is how I did it. Doberman ear posting - improved method

 

[Molls]

Welcome from Minnesota!
Oof the tip of that ear is missing so I'm sure it is bothering him. Have you been loosely taping and has the tape ever gotten wet? Wet tape will shrink and cut off circulation and so will taping too tight.

The kind of tape you use also makes a big difference and J&J Zona's tape is a popular choice as well as Kendall porous tape. It's also important to get the posts as deep in the ear as you possibly can or it will bother them. I would dump the popsicle sticks and the bridge at this point and if you need to strengthen the post up, just wrap another layer of duct tape around the backer rod.
This is how I did it. Doberman ear posting - improved method

We are using medical sports tape. But I do wonder if it's them being too tight. I had my first doberman almost 15yrs ago. I scowered and read idk how many threads about posting for 9 months before we brought him home. He doesn't seem like this bothers him one bit and our posting sessions go very well. He sleeps through most of it. Trimming the end of the backer rod helped a ton keeping it in further. I will be foregoing the sticks for sure. I'll check that tape out as well. Thank you.

 

[JanS]

We are using medical sports tape.

That's pretty much the same as what I mentioned above, except it needs to be 1" so you aren't covering too much of the ear. I also realized earlier this year that one of our stores carries 1" hockey tape that looks nearly the same as what I use.
I also wouldn't cover that spot on the tip of his ear until it heals or you could get an infection.
And, it's good you're seeing the vet but don't let him give you posting advice since most are terrible with it.

 

[Molls]

Thank you!