Is My 3-Year-Old French Bulldog Losing His Hearing?

What Causes Hearing Loss and Deafness In Bulldogs

Dear Margaret (and Sir Charles, the distinguished gentleman)
Let’s pull up a comfy chair, pour Sir C. a treat, and talk  Bulldog Ears 101.

First, a quick tour of the ear — because it’s not just a cute place to scratch.

Bulldogs and Fr. Bulldogs Ears Anatomy

The ear has two main zones

#1 The External Ear Canal

Think of it like one of those old-fashioned trumpet horns from black-and-white movies, you know, the kind grandpa held to his ear while yelling, "Speak up!”.

This part funnels sound inward.

#2 The Inner Ear

Inside the ear (medial and inner ear) is a fancy system of tiny bones, fluid, hairs, and nerves that turn sound waves into “I heard you!” brain messages.

Anything that disrupts the path from the ear opening to the inner ear can affect hearing.

What Causes Hearing Loss and Deafness In Bulldogs?

Here’s the Bulldog twist…While most dogs lose hearing later in life as part of growing older, bulldogs and Frenchies have their own playbook.

Bulldogs are born with narrower ear canals and a genetic talent for allergies and wax build-up — a combo that cause:

1. clog the ear
2. breed yeast and bacteria
3. cause swelling
4. inflame the canal
5. eventually close it permanently (stenotic end-stage ear)

Imagine trying to hear through a stuffed-up straw, not easy, right?
That’s essentially bulldog ear disease.

Other less common causes include:

• middle/inner ear infections
• polyps or tumors
• certain medications
• loud or chronic noise exposure (dogs are likely more sensitive to sound than us)

The good news is that those typical bulldog ear conditions can be prevented and possibly reversed to help halt further hearing loss.

What To Do To Prevent Hearing Loss?

1. Preventive routine ear cleaning and wiping is critical
2. Treat allergies early
3. Jump on ear infections ASAP
4. Schedule thorough veterinary exams

A proper ear evaluation often requires anesthesia to:

• otoscopic exam of the canal
• perform cytology or culture
• sometimes advanced imaging (MRI/CT)

Fun Bulldog and Human Ear and Hearing Facts

(for Sir Charles’ cocktail parties)

✔ The fetus develops their hearing system in their mom's second trimester of pregnancy

→ so talk sweetly to those womb babies!

✔ The balance structures and nerve sits right next to the hearing one

→ so hearing loss might also present with vestibular problems such as wobbling, circling, and nausea.

✔ trivia bonus: Women before menopause often hear better than men — likely estrogen magic.

Hearing Loss In Bulldogs Final Thoughts

Sir Charles isn’t alone, Frenchies are overachievers when it comes to ear issues.

Don’t feel terrible, feel empowered. Preventive ear care (rinse, flush, wipe) is key.

Many bulldogs hearing can be saved and stabilized by implementing:

•  proper ear hygiene
•  a skilled exam
• early intervention

Give Sir C. a royal ear rub from me ....gently, of course.

Dr. K 🐾

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