Home Forums Puppies Tips of ears pink/purple/irritated

Tips of ears pink/purple/irritated

Published on: October 27, 2023 • By: misscallisto22 · In Forum: Puppies
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misscallisto22
Participant
October 27, 2023 at 09:33pm
*NON EMERENGCY* Hi, my dog was outside and ran past some fountain grass and then started shaking his head - not sure if it's related. I have 5 dogs who are always playing. Both ears seem oddly pink/purple at the tips. One has a scratch on it, doesn't seem too bad. He wasn't bleeding at all. The ears look clean don't see anything down in there but I rinsed/washed both ears off. Thoughts? VideoCapture_20231027-130722VideoCapture_20231027-13065620231027_130602
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Liz Buchanan BVSc MRCVS
Keymaster
October 28, 2023 at 02:07pm
Hello - One cause of red ear tips is pinnal vasculitis, whereby the blood-vessels in the ear flap (which are amongst the extremities of the body in dogs) become inflamed and often itchy, due to systemic changes within the body such as allergy, drug reactions or autoimmune disease.  Another possibility may be bleeding / bruising due to blood that is failing to clot, although this doesn't look typical.  Other more common causes of red ears include trauma, often self-trauma, secondary to mites and so on; foreign bodies lower down the canals.  Ears flaps are cartilage covered in skin, so skin disease often appears first on the ears, allergy especially.  Are there any other signs?  Particularly if signs are progressing (changing / increasing) or the patient is uncomfortable, then damage may be prevented while waiting for an appointment, so although you don't perveive this to be an emergency, it could be worthwhile seeking triage from your emergency vet.
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misscallisto22
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October 28, 2023 at 04:08pm
Thank you.  Will get him an appt. Also here's 2 pics in natural light. Also he's 1yr old. inbound8676705375384433770inbound9076260077193192267  
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misscallisto22
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October 28, 2023 at 04:14pm
I forgot to write, I've seen him eat fig leaves off the stupid fig tree in my backyard. Those could be irritating him?  
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Liz Buchanan BVSc MRCVS
Keymaster
October 28, 2023 at 11:17pm
I think that you should get this case triaged over the phone by your vet.   Fig leaves anecdotally can have some mild toxic effects and your vet may be able to check this for you via veterinary poisons; however, the ears should be triaged separately.
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