If you see a black spot on your dog’s ear that doesn’t go away, and you’re not able to remove it, please seek medical care. It may be nothing to worry about. But you definitely want to rule out any serious problems.
Please understand that I’m not an animal healthcare expert. So I can’t give you medical advice. All I can do is share my personal stories of how I take care of my own dog. Here’s what’s been happening.
Our 14-year-old dog is pretty healthy for his age. Except for a nasty black spot on his left ear. (Update: he’s now 16, and it might have been cancer. But we decided not to biopsy it and just try to keep him as healthy as possible. It does look like he has some sort of malignant growth on his eye. But at his age we are just trying to treat it naturally. So far so good. Because it doesn’t seem to be getting worse. However, this was a personal decision. We took into account a number of factors, including his age. I am not suggesting this approach for anyone else. Only that it’s what works for us.)
A few weeks ago, we brought him to the vet. Fortunately, we have access to a holistic veterinary practice. The vet thought he was doing relatively well. But the black spot is a problem.
She thought it could be cancer. But, being the ethical practitioner that she is, she advised us against doing a biopsy. That’s because it would involve anesthesia. Also, as she very rightly pointed out, what would we do with this information.
Black Spots On Dog’s Ear Flap
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She gave us some Chinese herbs. Our dog took these internally. I also put some of these herbs directly on his ear. We’re also blessed that we have an excellent family homeopath. So she’s able to guide us to the right remedy.
The particular remedy, which I gave my dog yesterday, is the same one he had last winter, during another health crisis. That was much worse than the this one. Our dog stopped eating. Actually, he developed an aversion to food, along with diarrhea. When this happens, it’s a good bet an animal is very sick.
However, he responded really well to one dose of the right remedy. Since then, his appetite has totally turned around. He’s also been peppy and energetic.
This black spot seemed to grow larger rather quickly. But it’s doesn’t seem to be growing larger. Our vet seemed happy it’s not eating through his ear. As you can see in the picture below, it’s an ugly area. But the picture makes it look worse than it is. Some of it now seems to be falling off. I need to put some gloves on and carefully remove what’s no longer attached to his skin.
My Dog Has Black Spots On His Ears
I’m trying to look on the bright side. I don’t know what this black spot is. It could be cancer. Or, there’s the chance that it isn’t. My homeopath believes that anything that appears on the outside of the body is better than an internal problem. Right now, our dog is doing really well, except for that spot.
Also, I have to remember our precious pup celebrated his 14th birthday some months ago. We can’t keep him forever, as much as we’d like to.
Last Christmas, it seemed as if his life was nearing its end. Then he bounced back. (We call it our “Christmas miracle.”) Now, it’s nearly summer and we still have him. Every day with him is a gift.
Since he responded so well to the same remedy last winter, I’m cautiously optimistic that we’re going to see more healing. My homeopath warned me that we might see some discharge from this area. That’s what seems to be happening now.
In any event, I have to count my blessings. We’ve had this great dog in our life for more than 10 years, after adopting him from a no-kill shelter. He’s been the perfect dog for our family. We want to keep him around as long as possible.
Why Does My Dog Have Black Spots On His Ears?
I still don’t know what this black spot is. Nor does our vet. Nor would a diagnosis make a difference, at this point. I hope this spot clears up. We’re doing everything in our power to make it go away. It doesn’t seem to be spreading beyond this area. I feel totally blessed that we have such wonderful animal care experts to turn to, when we need them.
Holistic dog care really seems to be coming of age. That’s why I encourage my readers to seek out holistic veterinarians and to read as much as they can about natural dog care. Then, if and when they’re faced with a health crisis, their pet will get the best care possible.
I really hope this spot we’re seeing is not cancer. If it starts to spread, we’ll continue to treat it naturally. (I need to stress that this is our choice, especially given our dog’s age, and that I’m not advocating a particular treatment approach for anyone else’s pet.)
Unfortunately, cancer in canines is on the rise. It parallels what we’re seeing in the human population. Right now, if your dog lives to be 10, there’s a 50 percent chance of being diagnosed with cancer. Here is a book written by a vet that contains tips on how to possibly prevent cancer in dogs.
Natural Vet’s Guide to Preventing and Treating Cancer in Dogs
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