Management of Unilateral Auricular Haematoma in an 8-Month-Old New Zealand-White Rabbit Buck
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Abstract
Auricular haematoma, or aural haematoma or othematoma, is the accumulation of serosanguineous fluid (blood) between the ear cartilage and the skin of the pinnae, thereby presenting a fluctuating, fluid-filled swelling(s) on the concave surface of one or both pinnae. If left untreated, the haematoma may fibrose and scar, leading to deformation of the pinnae. An eight-month-old New Zealand-white rabbit buck weighing 2kg was presented to the University of Jos Veterinary Teaching Hospital (UJ-VTH), with the history of unilateral swelling of the right ear that developed two weeks after engaging in a fight with another male rabbit. On physical examination, a firm ovoid fluctuating subcutaneous mass on the concave surface of the rabbit’s right pinna was noticed. Upon aspiration, the swelling was engorged with blood, which caused the pinna weight was responsible for pulling the ear downward, and the head of the rabbit tilted to the affected side. It was diagnosed as an aural haematoma and was treated by surgical drainage of the haematoma under general anaesthesia. This report underscores the importance of surgical decision-making in the management of this condition in rabbits, because the draining of the swellings via incision alone without surgical intervention often results in recurrence. This report also advises against pairing adult rabbits of the same sex and age together to avoid fighting for territory, which may result in trauma of the pinnae, predisposing to auricular haematoma. A 4-month follow-up revealed total recovery and no recurrence.
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