How to Care for a Dog's Torn Ear - Making a Bandage with a First Aid Kit

Dogs can damage their ear flaps, which are called pinnas, in all sorts of ways, from pushing their way through thorn bushes, to getting into fights. A dog's ear is full of blood vessels, so it's normal for the pinna to bleed a lot whenever the ear is torn, which makes it all the more important to be able to respond quickly to your pet's needs.[1] If your dog has a torn ear, you will have to apply a head bandage in order to control the bleeding before you bring your dog to the vet. You can make a head bandage with items you have lying around the house or by using a first-aid kit.

1. Clean and disinfect the wound. This may be difficult, especially if the ear is still bleeding. You may have to have someone restrain your dog, as cleaning the injury may cause her more pain.[2]
Use warm, clean tap water to rinse the wound. You can also make a gentle saline solution by diluting one teaspoon of salt into two cups of clean, warm water.[3]
If your dog will let you, you may want to very gently massage the skin around the wound either while you rinse the ear or just before rinsing. This will remove any debris that may be stuck in or near the wound, ensuring that the tear does not heal over any foreign debris.[4]
Do NOT use any kind of household soap, shampoo, or human first aid washes like rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. Using any of these could severely irritate the open wound, and your dog may react violently.[5]

2. Apply gauze. Hold clean gauze over the wound for several minutes, until the bleeding slows down. Apply mild to moderate pressure using your hands over the gauze to help slow the flow of blood to the wound.[6]

3. Bandage the wound. Once the bleeding has slowed to a manageable level, apply a new, clean piece of gauze to the wound. If you have adhesive bandage pads, layer them over the wound, leaving 1/3 of the previous bandage exposed with each successive layering.[7]
- Be sure to cover some of the ear's fur in the bandaging at the perimeter of each bandaged layer, to help keep the bandage in place and prevent your dog from shaking the bandaging off on your way to the vet.[8]
- Check the tightness of each successive layer of bandaging. Be sure that you can fit two fingers snugly under the bandage at any given time.[9]
- Use a small quantity of adhesive tape around the edges of the bandage to be sure that the wrap will not come off.[10]

4. Secure the bandage. You can do this by wrapping long strips of gauze or medical tape around the head and over the ears. Just be sure not to cover the eyes or restrict breathing.[11]
- Gently fold the bandaged ear over the top of your dog's head.[12]
- Wrap any excess bandaging around the head, with one strip going across the front of the head and the other around the back, wrapping around the opposite (healthy) ear. Use adhesive medical tape if you do not have excess bandaging.[13]
- Use a marker to gently mark over the bandaging/tape, indicating to your veterinarian where the ear canal begins.[14]

5. Get your dog to the vet. This should be done as soon as possible. It's recommended that you take your dog to the vet within 24 hours, but it's best if you can get her to the vet on the same day the injury has occurred.[15]