How Much Does Dog Ear Hematoma Surgery Cost? $150 to $250 in Indiana, $242 in Omaha, $759 to $1,029 at Anicira and Up to $1,500 per Ear

What the repair is, in billing terms

An aural (ear) hematoma is a pocket of blood that collects inside the ear flap. Clinics list the repair as a surgical procedure, which means the bill is built from the same pieces as other minor surgeries: an exam, anesthesia, the operation itself, medications and follow-up. The Low Cost Spay & Neuter Clinic in Noblesville, Indiana describes the problem as a ruptured blood vessel, typically after head shaking linked to ear infections, allergies or insect bites. Whether your dog needs surgery, and what caused the swelling, is a veterinarian's call. The numbers below only show what clinics charge.

The price range at seven clinics

The pages give very different starting points:

• Low Cost Spay & Neuter Clinic (Noblesville, Indiana): $150 to $250.
• Good Samaritan Pet Doctor (Omaha, Nebraska): $242.
• Anicira, Harrisonburg, Virginia: surgery starts at $759.
• Howard County Animal Hospital (Ellicott City, Maryland): $800 to $1,000.
• Animal Works (Fort Collins, Colorado): $850 to $1,500 per ear.
• Anicira, San Diego, California: surgery starts at $1,012.
• Anicira, Manassas, Virginia: surgery starts at $1,029.

By my arithmetic, the gap between the lowest published price ($150) and the top of the highest range ($1,500) is $1,350, and the gap between the Omaha package and the Manassas starting price is $787. Two Anicira clinics in the same state, Harrisonburg and Manassas, differ by $270 on the base fee, so even one organization does not charge one price.

Why the cheapest numbers are not the whole bill

The two lowest listings are written differently. The Indiana clinic says its estimate does not include post-operative medications such as antibiotics, pain management or an e-collar, and that an exam or diagnostic imaging may be required first at extra cost. It also requires proof of a current rabies vaccine at the time of surgery. The Omaha clinic lists its $242 as an all-inclusive package covering the pre-surgical exam, monitoring, a dedicated anesthetist, pain management and rechecks, with fluids and antibiotics when indicated. Those two cheap prices are not built the same way, so compare what each one includes before comparing the totals.

How weight changes the total

Anicira adds a fee for larger dogs on top of its base price. These are the published figures, with totals worked out by me:

• Harrisonburg: $759 base, plus $116 for 51 to 75 lbs ($875), $154 for 76 to 100 lbs ($913) and $215 over 100 lbs ($974).
• Manassas: $1,029 base, plus $121 ($1,150), $165 ($1,194) or $220 ($1,249).
• San Diego: $1,012 base, plus $121 ($1,133), $165 ($1,177) or $248 ($1,260).

Cats pay the base price with no weight fee at these clinics. For dogs under 51 lbs the base is the whole surgical fee, before the extras in the next section.

Add-ons that are billed separately

Several of the pages list extras:

• Pre-anesthetic bloodwork: $130 at Anicira Harrisonburg and Manassas, $160 at San Diego. Howard County calls it optional for healthy pets under 3 years old. Our guide to vet bloodwork costs shows how lab prices compare with clinic charges.
• Culture and sensitivity testing: recommended at Good Samaritan, at $165 if elected.
• Take-home medications: listed as a separate charge at Howard County, and not covered by the Indiana estimate.
• Microchipping: offered at Anicira for $39 to $43, but optional.

Adding the $130 bloodwork to Anicira Harrisonburg's smallest-dog price gives $889, by my arithmetic. At San Diego the same combination is $1,172.

What is included in the surgical fee

Anicira's pages say the fee includes a pre-anesthetic physical exam, an individualized anesthetic plan, a patient warming system, and anesthetic vital-sign monitoring by licensed staff. They also list medications, antibiotics, an e-collar if needed and a follow-up exam when necessary. Howard County says its surgical prices cover all charges typically associated with the day of the procedure, including anesthesia, monitoring, perioperative medications and IV catheter support. Animal Works lists $850 to $1,500 per ear without saying what is bundled, and asks owners to call for a quote.

The exam and the cause can add to the bill

Most clinics want a veterinarian to look at the ear before booking. Our guide to vet exam fees explains how much that visit varies. If the clinic also treats whatever caused the head shaking, that is a second cost: ear cytology and medication are priced in our dog ear infection cost guide.

How to pay and what to ask

Anicira's Harrisonburg page says it accepts Scratchpay, Varidi and CareCredit for financing. Before you sign up for deferred-interest credit, read our comparison of CareCredit and fixed-APR vet financing. A written estimate should answer these questions:

• Is the price per ear, and does it include the exam?
• Are anesthesia, monitoring, take-home medications and the e-collar included?
• Is bloodwork required for my dog's age, or optional?
• Does a weight surcharge apply?
• Are rechecks free, and for how long?

Prices come from the Anicira (Harrisonburg, Manassas and San Diego), Howard County Animal Hospital, Animal Works, Low Cost Spay & Neuter Clinic and Good Samaritan Pet Doctor pages read on October 23, 2026. Prices change and differ by clinic, so confirm with the practice.

This article is about costs only and is not veterinary advice. Your veterinarian decides whether an ear needs treatment and how; if your dog's ear is swelling or painful, call a veterinarian.