Accepted Answer

Thanks for the prompt reply. What you are describing is called an auricular hematoma. This is a fairly common condition secondary to chronic ear problems in dogs. It is not an emergency condition but is a condition that will require treatment from your veterinarian. It is quite alright to wait until your veterinarian opens tomorrow with regular business hours.
What happens with these guys is they bust blood vessels inside the ear flap when they either shake or scratch at their ears. When these blood vessels break, the ear flap fills up with blood.
The treatment varies from benign neglect (doing nothing at all) all the way to having a surgical procedure performed to drain the area. The treatment decision will be based upon the severity of the swelling.
Your veterinarian will also most likely perscribe antibiotics (both topically and orally) to aid in treating this condition.
So for today, I would recommend cold packs on the ear for a few minutes several times a day ... this will decrease the swelling, pain, and inflammation. And then head on over to your regular veterinarian tomorrow. I hope things work out well for you guys!!

Expert:	LouA
Pos. Feedback:	100.0 %
Accepts:	233
Answered:	11/30/2008

Dog Veterinarian

20+ yrs experience in vet medicine, special interest in Sighthounds, successful Agility competitor