Subject: Seeking Guidance for Max’s Allergic ears 🐾👂🌼
Dear Dr. Kraemer, I’m reaching out concerning my 6-month-old English Bulldog, Max. 🐶 Unfortunately, he’s been showing signs of allergy and itching his ears, they are now red swollen and have brown discharge, how best to prevent and manage his condition? 🩺🌿
Thank you for your time and assistance! 🙏 #AllergicOtitis #BulldogHealth #VetConsultation
Allergic otitis in bulldogs and French bulldogs is one of the most common bulldog ear diseases and is considered the most common primary cause.
Bulldog Allergic Ear Otitis 5 X MUST KNOW
- Allergic otitis is one of the most common primary causes of bulldog ear disease.
- The ears are the extension of the skin; thus, skin allergies often lead to allergic otitis.
- Itching, rubbing, redness, and inflamed ears often lead to bacteria and yeast infections.
- Treatment includes bully therapeutics, cleaning wipes, waxless rinses, and a yeasty bully flush.
- Prevention includes Dr. Kraemer’s Allergic Ear Otitis Care Bundles
Members of this bulldog community prefer prevention over RX
What Causes Ear Disease In Bulldogs And French Bulldogs?
Allergies are the most common reason for primary ear disease.
#1 Bulldog Allergic Ears (Allergic Otitis)
The ears are the extension of your bulldog skin, thus, allergic otitis often presents with other allergies.
#2 Bulldogs Ear Disease Secondary Cause::
Bacteria and yeast are the most common reasons for secondary ear disease.
Common Bulldog and French Bulldog Allergies
- Atopic Environmental Itching Allergy: most common
- Food Allergy: not as common as you might think.
- Contact allergy: least common.
Allergic Ears In Bulldogs / PRESENTATION
- Ear itching, scratching, and rubbing
- Red & Puffy Ears
- Ear Discharge
- Head-Shaking
- Skin Itch Dermatitis
- Excessive ear wax
YEAST AND BACTERIA WARNING
Following allergic otitis, bulldogs and French bulldogs are often prone to developing secondary bacterial and yeast infections in their ears. These infections can exacerbate itching and inflammation, leading to significant discomfort for your pet.
Additionally, you may notice a change in the character of the ear discharge, becoming purulent and emitting a foul odor. 🤢🦠 Prompt veterinary attention and appropriate treatment are essential to address these secondary infections and provide relief.
How to Diagnose Allergic Ears In Bulldogs And French Bulldogs?
- OTOSCOPIC EXAM: It often needs to be done under anesthesia due to pain and the need for flushing and suction.
- CYTOLOGY: Samples from the ear canal under the microscope will likely show wax cells, white blood cells, bacteria, and yeast
- SEASONS: Seasonal is consistent with environmental allergies, while year-round is consistent with food allergy
- SKIN DISEASE: The presence of skin allergy dermatitis with an ear disease makes allergic otitis a likely diagnosis.
- FOOD TRIALS: the ultimate diagnosis to help rule out food allergy
- ALLERGEN BLOOD TESTING: to help r/o environment atopic allergy
- IMAGING: radiograph, CT, MRI to help with the diagnosis of other cause
How to Prevent Allergic Otitis in Bulldogs?
Prevention care is critical, easy to implement, inexpensive and usually does not require prescription medication.
#1 Ear Cleaning & Wiping
Bulldog Ears Therapeutic Supplements:
- V4B Bully fish oil SKIN-IMMUNE-Joint
- Hypoallergenic Diet (If Food Allergy)
Bulldog Allergies Itch Control
- V4B Bully ItchLess Medicated Shampoo
- V4B Bully ItchLess Medicated Conditioner
- V4B Bully ItchLess Medicated Spray
BULLDOG EAR CLEANING STEP-BY-STEP
APPLICATION: Fill your bully ear canal to the top with a proper rinse, making sure to coat the entire canal.
CLEANING: Take a cotton ball and stick it in as far as it will go using your fingers. There’s no need to be scared; you can’t go past the curve of the canal and damage the eardrum with a finger or a cotton ball, On the other hand, Q-tips should only be used for the top part and ear-flap folds (pinna).
TWISTING: Twist the cotton ball around and bring it up for inspection.
INSPECTING: Don’t forget to survey the texture and color of the inner pinna (inner part leading to the canal).
How To Treat Allergic Ear Otitis in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs?
Just like prevention, many aspects of treatment can be managed with non-prescription products.
However, topical rinsing and wiping are often more challenging because increased discomfort and swelling of the ear canal make these steps harder for the dog to tolerate.
1. BULLDOG EARS RINSE & FLUSH:
2. BULLDOG EAR TOPICAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY:
Topical Steroid
3. TOPICAL ANTIBACTERIAL & ANTIFUNGAL:
- drops: daily
- ointment: daily
- pack: deposit placed in the ear and left for days or weeks
Antiseptic medicated packs are ideal for difficult to treat dogs
4. E-CONE
Buster collar to protect from self-trauma
5. SYSTEMIC ITCH CONTROL RX:
Oral or injectable
WARNING: Systemic antimicrobials are only recommended for an infection of the medial and inner ear.
Allergic Ear Disease In Bulldogs Summery:
Because of their brachycephalic (short-faced) anatomy, bulldogs and Fr. bulldogs have abnormally narrowed ear canals, which predisposes them to chronic ear disease from a very young age.
This anatomical disadvantage is further compounded by the breed’s strong tendency toward allergies, creating the perfect setup for recurring ear problems.
BULLDOG EAR DISEASE PREVENT & CARE
PAIN & $$$: Prevention is critical in helping to avoid lifelong suffering, pain, and medical expenses.
RINSE & WIPE: Prevention care must include proper ear cleaning, rinsing, flushing, and wiping.
EARLY & OFTEN: Prevention care must be performed often and for the life of your bulldog
BULLY TOPICAL & SUPPLEMENTS: Prevention care must be done with the right mix of bully topicals & supplements
EAR DISEASE PREVENT & CARE WARNING
A lack of commitment to early prevention and lifelong care for your bulldog’s ear is likely to result in:
- Recurrence and painful chronic disease
- Secondary infection: yeast & bacteria
- Hyperplasia of the ear canal: stenosis, and narrowing
- Irreversible changes: fibrosis, calcification, and ossification
- END-STAGE EAR DISEASE
Bulldog End Stage Ear Disease will require radical ear canal resection surgery (TECA w BO).
Allergic Ear Disease In Bulldogs Warnings:
Below are selected allergic otitis warnings courtesy of Dr. Kraemer
#1 BULLDOG OTITIS MEDIA WARNING:
Uncontrolled external ear canal disease often leads to middle and inner ear disease
Middle and Inner ear disease is often associated with vestibular disease (ataxia, head tilt, sickness motion, etc.)
#2 BULLDOG HEARING LOSS WARNING:
Chronic ear disease can result in hearing loss and deafness.
#3 ALLERGIC OTITIS DIAGNOSIS WARNING:
Ear mites, ear polyps, and tumors are less common causes of ear disease in bulldogs.
Nevertheless, they should be ruled out during the diagnosis process.
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