How to Care for a Dog's Torn Ear - Making an Improvised Head Bandage

1. Make a pressure bandage. Immediately after your dog injures her pinna (ear flap), it's important to put pressure on the wound for several minutes to stop the bleeding.[16] You can do this with your hands, or use an old sock or pantyhose legging to stop the bleeding.
- Cut a hole in the toe end of an old sock or stocking.[17]
- Pull the sock/stocking over your dog's head, with her face all the way through the sock's hole. Be sure that your dog can see, breathe, and smell, and that the sock doesn't start to cover her head until it's past the eyes.[18]
- Tuck clean gauze (if you have it) underneath the sock at the site of the ear wound, so that the sock holds the gauze in place and applies gentle pressure to the wound. If you don't have gauze or an absorbent bandage, use clean, dry paper towels or napkins.[19]
- Keep the wounded ear bandaged flat against the head. If your dog has long ears, such as those of Cocker Spaniels or Dachshunds, lift the bleeding flap up and place it on top of the dog’s head so that the fur side is resting against your dog’s skull. The inner ear should be exposed to the air.[20]
- Take your dog to the vet as soon as possible. Your dog should see a veterinarian within 24 hours of the injury, but it's even better if you can get her in on the same day she has been injured.[21]

2. Use a sanitary pad. You can use a clean sanitary pad to apply pressure and stop bleeding if you don't have any gauze.[22]
- Apply the absorbent side of the pad to the site of the wound.
- Use medical tape to hold it in place (normal adhesive tape will work in a pinch), or simply apply pressure with your hands for several minutes while you wait for the wound to stop bleeding.[23]
- Be sure that the wounded ear is bandaged flat against the head to prevent further injury. If your dog has long ears, you should lift the bleeding flap up and place it on top of the dog’s head so that the fur side is resting against your dog’s skull.[24]
- Take your dog to the vet within 24 hours of her injury.[25]

3. Use strips of cloth. If you don't have bandages or tape, you can use strips of clean cloth from an old towel, blanket, or t-shirt.
- Rip long strips from the cloth.
- Put clean towel, gauze, or sanitary pad against the wound.[26]
- Wrap the strips of cloth around the head and over the ears. Be sure that the eyes are not covered. Wrap strips of cloth around the head as necessary to put sufficient pressure against the towel or pad that is covering the wound.[27]
- A long and narrow piece of fabric is ideal because it will be easier to wrap this sort of fabric around your dog’s head several times and then tuck the ends in to secure them. Make sure that you can fit two fingers in between the dressing and your dog’s neck to make sure that he does not begin choking.[28]
- Make sure that the wounded ear is bandaged flat against the head. If your dog has long ears, be sure to lift the bleeding flap up and place it on top of the dog’s head so that the fur side is resting against your dog’s skull.[29]
- Take your dog in to the vet within 24 hours of the injury.[30]

4. Understand the goal of creating a head bandage. No matter how you create a makeshift bandage, the purpose of the head bandage is to hold the pinna pressed against your dog’s head so that the blood clot is not disturbed whenever your dog moves his head. This should not be treated as a substitute for veterinary care. If the tear is bad enough, your vet may need to suture the wound, and may recommend antibiotics. You should take your dog to the veterinarian as soon as possible, once the bleeding is at a manageable level.[31]