French Bulldog Ear Problems

In this research you will know the answer to the query “French Bulldog Ear Problems“.

The ears of French Bulldogs are the cutest. Unfortunately their gorgeous ears make them vulnerable to all kinds of problems. We discuss the most common issues French Bulldog owners encounter in this research along with their likely causes and treatments.

Ear Shape

We should note that French Bulldogs can have two distinct ear shapes: bat-eared or rose-eared. Similar to the English Bulldog these are folded in. The breed was originally known for its rose-shaped ears. The Americans however thought this was not distinctive enough so they chose the bat-eared design. An individual can identify bat ears by the shape of their ears and the proportion of their ears to their heads. The American Kennel Club will disqualify your rose-eared Frenchie from the competition if you live in America.

Infections

Scratches are caused by dogs. There is no denying it. Anything within their reach is scratched including themselves the floor and their beds. Its probably nothing to worry about – your dog just needs to scratch an itch. In any case if your Frenchie is constantly picking at his ears you may want to take a closer look. There are many different types of ear infections that these poor dogs suffer from and they’re not fun. In the early stages of the illness picking it up will help immensely in the recovery process.

Frenchies are prone to ear infections which can lead to deafness in severe cases. Ouchies. Talk to your veterinarian if you suspect anything is wrong. They know what they’re doing and they can help your pooch get back to health in no time.

Its a good idea to clean your pups ears regularly as a precaution – this research will explain how you can do it. By doing this you will avoid infections caused by bugs and nasties. Furthermore you’ll find it much easier to notice anything amiss since you’ll be inspecting those ears regularly.

When your Frenchie has an ear infection you will usually see some blood-filled blisters (hematomas) in their ears. It is caused by severe head shaking and excessive scratching where blood vessels burst in the ear causing these painful blisters to form. You can also blame your pups discomfort on foreign objects stuck in his ears. They might also have some painful swollen discolored areas in their ears which you probably would not be able to touch. Its understandable. As if that werenot enough they can also develop a fever and have yellowy-brown discharge from their ears. Such poor babies.

Your Winstons ear infection might clear up on its own or you might need some serious surgery. If the hematoma is severe the vet may drain the blood to prevent scarring and ear deformity before performing surgery.

Bugs

Ticks are a problem for Frenchies too. They tend to get them in their ears however because those cute perky ears are the perfect hiding places for ticks fleas mites and other nasties. Poor things.

Additionally some dogs are allergic to fleas and mites. Its gross and can lead to allergic dermatitis where your pup is allergic to flea saliva. Yikes. No worries though. Regardless of how clean your home is fleas are a common problem for dogs and cats alike. The good news is that it can be treated easily. Make sure Fidos bedding is clean and ask your vet about flea collars or spot treatments. Fleas and flea eggs will be removed this way.

The situation is slightly different for mites. Lunas ear canal is home to these parasites which live on the lining of her ear. Their diet consists of digging into this tender skin or feeding on the oils and ear wax in the ear canal. Its disgusting. Typically puppies and young dogs are affected by ear mites but they can appear at any age. 

However they are usually treatable just as fleas are. Consult your veterinarian for the best solution – these include ear cleaning medication and insecticidal ear drops. Keep in mind that ear mites are highly contagious jumping from dog to dog and even from other types of animals. You must therefore catch them early or you’ll have a full-blown war on your hands. It is also important to treat other pets in your home (including cats) since they are so contagious. 

The debris that the mites produce could block Lunas ears completely if you have a severe infestation. In the ear this stuff looks like coffee grounds and it accumulates over time.

Having these unwelcome guests in her ear will cause your pup to shake her head vigorously and scratch at her cute ears like a possessed creature. Along with potential ear infections this could result in ear hematomas (which occur when the blood vessels in the ear burst causing pain and inflammation).

Nevertheless some Frenchies are extremely sensitive to ear mites which complicates matters. Those ear mites can cause a wild ride for your pup if he suffers from immune hypersensitivity reactions. A bacterial infection can occur when the ear mites pierce the skin in your pups ear. If you fail to treat the irritation in time your puppy could become deaf.

Infections caused by ear mites show the same symptoms as general ear infections: excessive scratching head shaking restlessness reddish swelling on the inside of the ears discolored discharge and a bad odor.

For once though our Frenchies have the upper hand over their floppy-eared cousins. As a result of the Frenchies rose or bat ears they tend to have fewer ear mite infestations than floppy-eared Spaniels. 

Allergies

He might be allergic to your poor Frankie. Almost anything can cause reactions in these poor pups – material food fleas grass pollen – to name a few. The majority of these can be corrected by removing the offending thing from the environment. Have your dog checked out by the vet if you see him scratching uncontrollably? Using the elimination technique you can find the offending item or situation if allergies are the culprit.

Most allergies in Frenchies appear around the ears and belly so scratching in that area is usually helpful.

Hair Loss

French people sometimes lose the hair around their eyes and ears. Mange could be responsible for such a strange occurrence. Like other ear-related problems this one is caused by mites specifically the Demodex mite species. Hair loss is caused by these tiny creatures burrowing into hair follicles usually in localized areas. 

When you notice Bella developing bald spots around her eyes and ears take her to the vet for a check-up. Taking care of these things quickly prevents further complications and irritations for your dog.

Just like in humans hair loss can also be caused by hormonal imbalances. Several hormones influence hair growth and hair loss in French Bulldogs including estrogen melatonin testosterone growth hormone cortisol and thyroxin. If mites are not to blame perhaps you should ask your vet to check Bellas hormone levels. What a poor puppy.

Dog Bites

Its an obvious one but it deserves mention. Your pup might have been injured if he got into a fight with another animal (or another dog). As animals have all kinds of bacteria in their saliva these bites could become infected resulting in severe complications. You should have your pup checked out by a veterinarian if he has sustained any of these types of injuries.

Cold Ears

All Frenchie moms will tell you that their furbabies get cold very quickly. Frenchies cannot regulate their body temperature effectively compared to other breeds of dogs. The short coats and brachycephalic skulls contribute to this. Therefore Frenchies cannot sleep outside due to the extreme cold especially in colder regions.

The first sign that Luna is too cold is when her ears are cold. Putting her in pajamas or giving her an extra blanket is the best thing you can do. By giving your Frenchie some PJs you’ll help keep her clean and keep those hard-to-remove dog hairs off of your furniture and carpets. If you can keep your Frenchie in cotton pajamas since they are prone to skin allergies.

Conclusion

French ears are the cutest regardless of whether they’re rose-shaped or bat-shaped. Nevertheless these poor pups can suffer from a variety of ear-related ailments. Consider taking a closer look at your puppy if he shakes his head excessively or scratches his ears for no apparent reason. The following research should provide some insight into the issues you’re likely to face with your beloved pets ears.

If you want to read more about dog health tips read here: Dog Health Tips and Tricks.

French Bulldog Ear Problems (Watch Video)