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Treatment

Treatment will depend on how many ulcers your dog has on its ears and how large the ulcers are. If there is only one small ulcer, it may be removed by cryosurgery, a freezing technique. If the ulcer is larger, or if there are several ulcers, it/they will be treated with surgery. During surgery, most or all of the upright or floppy part (pinna) of your dog's ear will be removed. In some cases, the ear canal may also need to be removed. Most dog's recover well from this surgery, even if the ear canal needs to be removed.

If surgery is not a practical option, chemotherapy may be used to kill the cancerous cells. However, chemotherapy is not usually as effective as surgery. In some cases, your veterinarian may recommend a veterinary cancer specialist so that you can determine if there are other viable treatment options.

Living and Management

Once your dog has recovered from surgery, it should be able to lead a normal life. Your dog's appearance may be different, but it will adjust easily to its changed body. You will need to monitor your dog closely to make sure it does not develop new sores on its face or head. Try to limit the amount of time your dog spends out in the sun. If you must let your dog out during the daytime, you will need to apply sunscreen to areas of the body that have a thin hair coat and limit the time spent in the sun. If your dog tends to spend a lot of time near a glass door or window, you might place a shade or reflector over the glass to block ultraviolet (UV) rays from reaching your cat. As with any cancer, it is recommended that you take your dog for regular progress check with your veterinarian.

Prevention

Limit the amount of time your dog spends in the sun, especially if it is white dog, or if it has a lighter hair coat. When your dog does go out in the sun, apply sunscreen to its ears and nose.