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It Looked Like a Bloody Ear—Until We Cleaned the Wound

A blood-soaked ear may hide more extensive tissue damage beneath the fur.

This dog was brought to AVCI with bleeding and matted hair around the ear flap. At presentation, the full extent of the wound could not be clearly assessed because the affected area was covered by blood, discharge, and damaged tissue.

After careful clipping, cleaning, and wound examination, the patient was diagnosed with auricular myiasis. Myiasis occurs when fly larvae infest an open or contaminated wound and feed on damaged tissue, inflammatory fluid, and surrounding organic material.

The infestation may progress rapidly, particularly when a wound is:

• Moist, bleeding, or infected
• Concealed beneath thick or matted fur
• Difficult for the pet owner to inspect
• Exposed to flies for an extended period
• Associated with dead or poorly perfused tissue

In this case, multiple larvae were removed, and the ear flap was found to have severe tissue destruction. The damaged portion was no longer suitable for preservation, so surgical debridement and partial removal of the affected pinna were performed.

Treatment focused on:

• Complete removal of visible larvae
• Thorough cleansing and decontamination of the wound
• Excision of necrotic and severely damaged tissue
• Reconstruction and closure of viable ear tissue
• Pain management and infection control
• Prevention of licking, scratching, and further wound contamination

The patient recovered under postoperative monitoring with an Elizabethan collar to protect the surgical site. Continued wound checks were necessary to evaluate healing and ensure that no remaining larvae or devitalized tissue were present.

Myiasis is not simply a surface problem. Larvae may extend deeper into a wound than initially visible, and delayed treatment can result in progressive tissue loss, infection, severe pain, and systemic illness.

Any wound with persistent bleeding, foul odor, discharge, swelling, movement within the tissue, or rapidly worsening appearance should be examined promptly. Early cleaning and veterinary treatment can help limit tissue damage and improve the chance of preserving the affected area.

Case handled by Dr. Rinna Marie T. Arreglo.