Your Guide to Skin and Ear Infections in French Bulldogs

Frenchies have risen massively in popularity, but do you know how a skin or ear infection in French Bulldogs could affect them? These aren’t uncommon for this breed so make sure you know all about it.

According to the Australian National Kennel Council, the count for registered French Bulldogs in Australia has increased by 850% in the last 20 odd years. It’s pretty easy to see why. With their giant pointy ears and adorable big eyes, they’re one of the super cute brachycephalic breeds.

Despite their large ears, we can promise you they’re selective in what they hear. The food bowl shaking from a kilometre away? Sure. You calling them to come for a bath? Not a chance.

And it’s these beautiful big ears that can be problematic. In fact, otitis externa and otitis interna featured in our top 10 most common claims in 2021 for dogs like these. This is an infection of the outer or inner ear respectively. Not only that, Frenchies also known to suffer from skin issues.

So if you’re thinking of adding a French Bulldog to your family, here’s what you should know beforehand.

Reasons for an ear infection in French Bulldogs

Otitis, which is just a fancy technical term for “ear infection” (or inflammation) is common due to a variety of reasons. Let’s go over them:

• Ear shape: Their bat-shaped ears are more likely to get dust, dirt, hair, and other debris stuck.
• Compressed head: The shape of a French Bulldog’s skull means they have a narrow ear canal, which provides the ideal environment for bacteria and yeast to grow.
• Allergies: Food and environmental allergies are common in lots of purebred dogs, especially Bulldogs. French Bulldogs are prone to allergies, which can make them more likely to develop ear infections or inflammation, especially if they scratch their ears a lot.
• Endocrine system problems: For some Frenchies, endocrine disorders like hypothyroidism or Cushing’s disease can cause secondary ear infections.

Common skin problems in French Bulldogs

Whether you’re the proud parent of a French Bulldog or you’re looking to get your hands on one, you should be up to date about their potential skin conditions.

Because plenty of purebred dogs struggle with allergies, skin conditions are common. This isn’t only for French Bulldogs, or even Bulldogs in general. Skin allergies are also particularly common in breeds such as the Beagle, Labrador and Golden Retriever, as well as Poodles, and Spaniels.

A doggy DNA test is a great way to determine whether your dog might be prone to skin issues or other health problems. Find out more in our article on dog health problems by breed.

Sadly, for French Bulldogs, their wrinkly skin and fine hair presents an ideal opportunity for skin conditions to develop. Thankfully, this isn’t guaranteed, but they do tend to be prone to:

• Atopic dermatitis: allergic reaction on the skin that can be brought on by grass, food, dust, and other allergens. This is one of the most common causes of skin irritation in dogs
• Lip-fold, nasal fold, and tail fold pyoderma: skin irritation occurring in the folds of the lip, nose, and under the tail due to excess moisture
• Hives: which may develop in relation to food allergies
• Parasites: such as mites or fleas
• Hot spots: aka a localised area of skin inflammation and bacterial infection
• Skin cancer

Keep in mind that these aren’t mutually exclusive. Your furball could have atopic dermatitis in conjunction with mites, for example. Want to know more about dermatitis and other skin concerns? You can read all about it in our in-depth article on dog skin conditions.

Dealing with a skin or ear infection in French Bulldogs

If you’re concerned that your gorgeous French Bulldog has or might develop skin or ear problems, it’s best to manage them with the help of your vet. Depending on the severity, they’ll be able to suggest the best way forward. This could be surgery for ear problems, or medications such as antibiotics, antifungal treatments, or antihistamines.

That said, we recommend you take some steps to help mitigate your Frenchie’s chances of developing these issues. And to add to that, these will help to limit their symptoms if they do run into issues.

• Feed a good quality food designed for allergies and food sensitivities. You may want to chat to your vet about supplementing this with pre- or pro-biotics and immune boosters
• Try to limit moisture in the ears, nose, mouth, and other skin folds. Dry these areas thoroughly after a bath or swim
• Use medicated shampoos when you do bath your dog
• Consider using barrier balms and topical treatments if your dog develops skin problems
• Stick to a regular flea and tick treatment routine to limit problems with parasites
• Clean your dog’s ears regularly

And to add to that, one last point: choose your breeder carefully.

Find a reputable breeder

This is the case for all dogs, but even more so when it comes to purebred dogs like French Bulldogs. There are several reasons for this.

Firstly, supporting ethical and reputable breeders helps secure a better future for purebred dogs. Puppy mills and puppy scams are rife in Australia, and not doing your due diligence means these unethical mills receive financial support from unsuspecting buyers, which allows them to continue operating.

Not only that, choosing a reputable and ethical breeder is important for your pup, too. When breeding dogs, an ethical breeder will make sure to breed with healthy parents who are less likely to pass on hereditary disorders or health issues to their offspring. An ethical breeder will also ensure puppies receive proper care during their first few weeks, which gives them a better chance of living a healthy life.

Be prepared for anything with dog insurance

Taking out dog insurance helps to protect you against unforeseen vet bills. If your beloved pup does develop any of these ear or skin conditions, you’ll have the upper hand in taking care of your furbaby.

Don’t just take our word for it – ask all our happy customers who have claimed for ear infections!