Why Are My French Bulldog Ears Curling?

The Short Answer is:

French Bulldogs, as well as any other breed of dog, have naturally curled ears as they go through the teething process. It is nothing to worry about. Once your pet has gone through the teething phase, you may be able to tape them up, but they will usually rise on their own.

In this article you will know the answer to the query “Why Are My French Bulldog Ears Curling?“.

An estimated 14% of Frenchies suffer from ear infections according to studies done by American veterinarians. Is there any connection between this and your French Bulldogs ears curling?

Do you really need to worry about your pets ears being floppy and curling backward? Do those symptoms indicate a health issue?

French Bulldogs are known for their ‘bat ears’ which make them so adorable. A puppys ears going up is indeed an interesting and exciting milestone.

You may be worried that your new Frenchie pups ears are curling and not erecting and he is already a few months old. Is he in need of a vets help?

Why Do French Bulldogs’ Ears Curl?

You may not be aware but Frenchies do not have pointy ears by birth? You read that correctly. This endearing feature would not appear immediately after birth. You might think your puppys ears are funny during the first few weeks of his life. Perhaps they are floppy or curled. You may also see one ear standing up and the other hanging loosely. This is very strange!

The bottom line is that you should not panic about this. You should not worry about those weird ear behaviors. Teething has something to do with them.

The French Bulldog goes through this particular process from the time they are around 2 weeks old until they are about 8 months old. During this time your pets ears will begin to seem like they start taking on their own. However you need not worry about this.

Teething and Ear Curling

While you are chewing notice what happens to your temples as you do so. Do they move as well? Your French Bulldogs bite causes the same pulsating movements. Muscles in the area are working which may cause ear muscles to strain. Because of this they tend to lose their shape as well as their erectile strength. When your Frenchie is done teething they will definitely come back up.

Additionally when a puppy is teething his calcium requirements increase as different parts of his body require calcium for development. Unfortunately this essential mineral is not distributed evenly throughout the body. Another reason why his ears may droop or fold back is this issue.

Floppy or droopy ears are not the only sign that your pet is teething; he will also chew on just about anything around him have loose milk teeth blood spots drooling and a mild fever.

At What Age Should a Frenchie’s Ears Stay Upright?

Each French Bulldog puppy will experience the teething process at its own pace. It may take some people as little as a few weeks to undergo these changes while others may take several months.

In other words there are no hard rules here. When it comes to the age when your pets ears will stop curling and erect instead the same rule applies.

Frenchies ears can be expected to stand up at any point between the age of 5 and 15 weeks. You just have to be patient.

How to Make French Bulldog’s Ears Stand Up

There are things that you can do if you think that your French Bulldogs ears are taking a while to hold up as they should. Tapping is one method that breeders often use.

Heres what you need to do:

Masking tape (1.5-inch) is needed.

Hold the base of the right ear of your Frenchie and make sure it is upright.

Make sure the masking tape is loose around the base of the right ear.

Follow the steps above for the left ear as well.

Once both ears have been erected and leveled use another piece of masking tape to create a bridge in between. Make the bridge firmer this time.

Wait about 5 days before removing the tape.

Removing gently is the key.

Observe if your French Bulldogs ears are now standing up by themselves after removing the tape. Otherwise repeat this same procedure for an additional five days.

Taping may result in different results from dog to dog. For some people this technique only needs to be used once to work while for others it must be repeated. Frenchies may also not respond to this strategy.

Even after you tape twice if you do not get the bat ear effect you are aiming for you should leave it alone and let your puppys ears rise up on their own.

Are There Food Items That Can Help the Ears To Stay Upright?

As we mentioned earlier teething and the supply of calcium play a role in your puppys ears being floppy curled or drooping. At this point you might be wondering if there are certain foods that can help the ears erect on their own.

It has been suggested that giving your Frenchie things like yogurt and cheese which are rich in calcium can help with this problem.

However this is not supported by science. Whether this will help is unclear. Additionally if you decide to increase your pets calcium intake you should be very cautious because this could lead to digestive problems. Frenchies can get upset stomachs because of calcium intake.

4 Ways To Assist Your Teething Frenchie

Your pup may experience pain and discomfort during the teething stage which could last for a few weeks or even months. A natural reaction for him is to chew on anything he can get his teeth into so you can expect him to do just about anything to ease the pain. Of course you do not want him to ruin the things that matter to you most.

What is the best course of action? Here are some suggestions for helping a teething Frenchie:

Give Some Toys

The best way to keep your Frenchies mouth occupied is to get him some toys designed for teething dogs. Toys like ropes teething sticks balls and rollers can also be found as well as a puppy flyer.

Keep Your Valuables

If you want to ensure that your dog does not get into items that belong to you then you need to be organized. You should store those items in a place where your pet cannot access them.

Serve Frozen Treats

A frozen food item like carrots can also help divert your dogs attention. The next time he chews on your chair leg he should just go ahead and indulge himself in cool snacks instead. In addition to providing relief for his sore gums the coldness will also ease his discomfort.

Work Him Out

A puppy can also be entertained by exercising. He should be able to keep himself busy and get a good nights sleep as a result.

3 Ways To Keep Your Dog’s Ears Healthy

Especially if their ears are neglected French Bulldogs can suffer from ear infections. Remember that prevention is always better than cure so be sure to keep your dogs ears healthy as well while waiting for them to grow on their own.

Following are some tips on how to properly care for your puppys ears:

Watch Out for a Weird Smell

It is important for you to know how your Frenchies ears smell like the owner. You are most likely experiencing an infection if you smell an unusual odor. It is important to seek the help of your veterinarian if there is a dark-colored discharge.

Look for Other Signs

Apart from a stinky odor other symptoms of ear problems include frequent scratching redness swelling hardened skin around the ears and hair loss in that area. Donot hesitate to take your pet to the vet if you see any of these signs.

Clean Your Puppy’s Ears

Like you make sure your dogs ears are cleaned regularly especially after a bath. However do not be too harsh when cleaning the ears. There is a gentle solution you can use to assist with this task.

Your veterinarian is the best person to ask if you are unsure of the type of cleaning solution and tools to use.

Conclusion

French Bulldogs as well as any other breed of dog have naturally curled ears as they go through the teething process. It is nothing to worry about. Once your pet has gone through the teething phase you may be able to tape them up but they will usually rise on their own.

Focus on relieving his teething discomfort instead of waiting for your Frenchie to develop those bat ears. It is also important that his ears remain healthy.

Amanda (Author)

With over a decade of experience, Amanda is a distinguished dog trainer. Her expertise in canine behavior has transformed countless lives, fostering harmonious human-canine connections. Through compassionate and personalized approaches, she empowers owners to understand and connect with their furry companions, creating a legacy of joyful tails and transformed lives.

Osvaldo Maciel (Content Reviewer)

Osvaldo Maciel, a stalwart in the field with 14 years of experience, is a revered dog trainer. His journey is defined by a profound understanding of canine behavior, shaping unbreakable human-canine bonds. Osvaldo guides owners to connect with their beloved pets, leaving an indelible mark of happiness and transformation. His legacy shines through the countless lives he has touched.