Urgent: Consultation Needed for Buster’s End-Stage Ear Disease 🐶👂💔
Dear Dr. Kraemer, I hope this email finds you well. I’m reaching out concerning my 4-year-old Bulldog, Buster. Unfortunately, he has been diagnosed with irreversible stenotic end-stage ear disease, and I’m seeking your expertise and guidance on how best to manage his condition. 🩺🙏
Thank you for your prompt attention. #EndStageEarDisease #BulldogHealth #VetConsultation
Best regards, Tammy & Joe Green, and Buster 🐾
Bulldog Ear Infection End-Stage Disease 5 X MUST KNOW
- Ear disease is very common in bulldogs and may start at a young age.
- Bulldog’s narrow ear canal, lack of self-cleaning canal, and allergies are the main causes of end-stage disease
- End-stage ear disease is irreversible and requires total ear canal resection
- Early prevention with manual ear wiping, rinsing, and cleaning are critical
- Prevention includes Dr. Kraemer’s Bully Ear Disease Bundles
Wellcome to our “Prevention Over RX” bulldog community
Ear Infection End-Stage Disease in Bulldogs Cause
Ear disease is prevalent among both English and French bulldogs, often manifesting at a young age.
The primary causes include:
➡️Poor Anatomy: Bulldogs are prone to ear issues due to their naturally narrow ear canals and a predisposition to allergies.
➡️Inadequate Self-Cleaning: Bulldogs lack effective ear canal cell migration and wax movement, which hampers their ears’ self-cleaning abilities.
➡️Allergies: Bulldogs’ susceptibility to allergies intensifies symptoms like itching, pain, and inflammation, further aggravating ear conditions.
What are Bulldog Ear Infection End-Stage Disease Symptoms❓
Ear infections in bulldogs can begin as early as a few weeks of age.
You will typically note
- REDNESS
- RUBBING & SCRACHING
- DISCHARGE: (purulent, dark, smelly, excessive)
- SMELL
- PAIN
- SWELLING
- NARROW STENOTIC THICKEN EAR CANAL
The main factors are ear canal abnormal anatomy and allergies
How to Diagnose End-stage Ear Disease in Bulldogs and Fr. Bulldogs ❓
- OTOSCOPIC EXAM: polyp, tumors, hyperplastic ear canal, tympanic membrane
- CYTOLOGY: Bacteria and yeast
- CULTURE: Bacteria
- LOW POWER MICROSCOPE: mites
- IMAGING (RADIOGRAPHS, CT, MRI): Tumors, mass, growth
Without proper prevention and care, irreversible end-stage ear disease is a likely outcome.
How To Prevent Ear Infection End-Stage Disease in Bulldogs❓
Because bulldog ears don’t self-clean like ours and like other dog breeds, early and frequent preventive cleaning is critical
Proper preventive care can reduce
- Infection (bacteria, yeast, mites)
- Pain & Discomfort
- $$$ Medical Treatment
- $$$$$ Ear Surgery
🚨Without proper prevention and care, Bulldogs are at high risk of developing irreversible end-stage ear disease.
Bulldog Ears Regular CLEAN, RINSE and WIPE:
Remember, there is a learning curve to becoming an expert.
Repetition will help you recognize even minor changes from the norm.
Bulldog and French Bulldog Ear Cleaning: HOW-TO
Your bulldog’s external ear canal starts vertically and then takes a sharp horizontal turn, ending at the membrane (tympanic membrane). SEE DIAGRAM
Bulldog Irreversible Ear Disease / PREVENTION STEP BY STEP:
WIPE Wipe the ear flap and inner folds
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.
⚠️WARNING: 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).
BULLDOG & FR. BULLDOG EAR DISEASE PAIN:
Ear infections in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs are painful, and it’s important to remember that your pet feels pain just as you do. Effective treatment for chronic and/or severe otitis should always be prioritized.
- PAIN: pain management
- INFLAMMED: anti-inflammatories
- RINSE: topical otic rinses
- WIPE: ear cleansing wipes
- FLUSH: ear flushing
Comprehensive care addresses the infection and alleviates your pet’s discomfort, promoting a faster and more comfortable recovery.
Ear Disease in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs Prevent & Treat:
Bulldogs ear disease prevention and treatment require diligence and repetition for life
1. BULLY EAR RINSE:
Topical Rinses like Dr. Kraemer’s
2. BULLY EAR WIPES:
Ear Wax and Debris Removal Cleansing Wipes like
3. EAR RX:
Topical Ear Medication typically includes a mix of an
- anti-inflammatory (steroid)
- antibacterial
- antifungal
If infection of the middle and inner ear is suspected, systemic medication would be required
4. PAIN RX:
Pain control is critical, ear disease in general and end-stage disease in particular can be very painful. The medication usually included analgesics like gabapentin and anti-inflammatories like NSAIDs
5. THERAPEUTIC BULLY SUPPLEMENTS:
Pain control and anti-inflammatories
6. NON-RX PAIN RELIEF:
Pain Control and anti-inflammatories Non-RX-like
7. ALLERGY AND ITCH CONTROL
In addition to pain control, it is important to manage allergies and itchiness.
Ear Infection in Bulldogs RULE OF THUMB👍:
RINSE & WIPE:
Rinse and flush once or twice weekly.
RINSE: In case of chronic or acute otitis with a persistent infection, consider rinsing daily or every other day with a rinse that has antiseptic properties like
- Dr. Kraemer’s V4B Yeasty Bully Antiseptic Ear Rinse.
This bully antiseptic flush could help control yeast and bacteria, prime the canal, and enhance the effectiveness of the topical otic Rx your veterinarian may have given you.
WIPE: Use wipes and a cotton ball to remove all the wax and debris like
Ear End-State Disease in Bulldogs and Fr. Bulldogs TIPS & WARNINGS
Below are selected end-stage ear disease tips and warnings, courtesy
#1 🩺EAR DISEASE FOOD ALLERGY TIP:
For chronic cases, consider an 8-week trial of a strict hypoallergenic diet (hydrolyzed or novel) to rule out food allergy.
#2 🩺EAR DISEASE ATOPIC ALLERGY TIP:
A liquid gold serum allergy test (VARL)t can be done to rule out atopic allergies.
#3 🩺EAR DISEASE BULLDOG STRESS TIP:
For high-anxiety or non-cooperative Bulldogs, consider discussing with your veterinarian the option of an “encouragement RX”—a prescribed tranquilizer. This can help minimize injury risks for both pets and owners, reduce stress, and alleviate pain during treatment.
Prioritizing your bulldog’s comfort and safety is essential, and a tranquilizer can aid in thorough flushing and application of treatments while allowing for safe monitoring of progress. Consult your vet to see if this approach could benefit your bulldog’s treatment plan.
- Bully StressLess Chews
- Bully Hemp Calm & Relax Chews
#4 🩺BULLDOG ITCHING OTITIS TIP:
Allergy-related otitis in Bulldogs may not always come with intense itching, so it’s important not to rule out allergies based solely on the absence of itchiness. Allergies can present in various ways, and ear issues may develop without obvious itching. Therefore, it’s essential to consider allergies as a possible underlying cause of otitis, even when itching is minimal or absent.
#5 🩺BULLDOG EAR DISEASE LASER THERAPY TIP:
I highly recommend class 4 cold laser which I use daily in my practice as part of the short- and long-term therapy and control of ear disease in bulldogs. Laser therapy is inexpensive, has no adverse effects, helps in reducing swelling and pain, and enhances healing.
#6 🩺BULLDOG EARS AND SKIN ALLERGY TIP:
A Bulldog’s ears are essentially an extension of their skin, meaning that skin allergies can also affect ear health. Since Bulldogs are prone to skin allergies, any allergic reaction or skin inflammation can extend to the ears, making it crucial to consider skin health as part of their overall ear care.
#7 🩺BULLDOG ALLERGIC OTITIS TIP:
Atopic dermatitis in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs is often linked to the breed’s genetics. It’s a common misconception that if only one ear is affected, allergies cannot be the cause. However, Bulldogs can experience allergy-related otitis externa in just one ear. Allergies can present differently in each individual, and ear issues may manifest asymmetrically.
It’s important to consider allergies as a potential cause of ear problems, even if only one ear is affected.
#1 ⚠️BULLDOG EAR INFECTION ANTIBIOTICS WARNING:
Oral antibiotics are typically not recommended for treating otitis externa in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs. They can be expensive, may not always be effective, and their overuse can lead to antibiotic resistance.
As a result, oral antibiotics should be avoided in most cases of otitis externa. Instead, topical treatments like ear drops or cleansers are often preferred, as they can directly target the infection while minimizing the risk of systemic side effects.
#2 ⚠️BULLDOG OTITIS MEDIA WARNING:
Otitis media, or middle ear infection, in Bulldogs, can occur in chronic cases or in conjunction with ear polyps and tumors. In such instances, additional neurological symptoms may present, such as
- head tilt
- twitchy eyeballs,
- circling, ataxia (wobbliness)
- nausea.
If these signs are observed, your veterinarian may recommend diagnostic imaging such as an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI to assess the extent of the condition and identify any underlying causes.
#3 ⚠️BULLDOG EAR SURGERY WARNING:
Bulldogs typically do not benefit from partial ear resections, such as the removal and opening of the vertical ear canal. In most cases where surgery is necessary, it involves end-stage stenotic ears, and the only viable option is Total Ear Canal Ablation with Lateral Bulla Osteotomy (TECA with LBO).
If your veterinarian suggests a different type of surgery, it’s wise to be skeptical and seek a second opinion. If TECA is recommended, ensure that your veterinarian has extensive experience and a successful track record with this procedure. TECA involves the complete removal of the ear canal and is generally performed to treat chronic or severe ear diseases, such as end-stage otitis externa or otitis media.
#4 ⚠️BULLDOG EAR STENOSIS SURGEON WARNING:
Total ear canal ablation should only be performed by a skilled and experienced veterinary surgeon.
In advanced cases of ear disease, the ear structure often becomes severely distorted. It’s crucial to navigate delicate nerves and blood vessels carefully, and thorough cleaning of the bulla is essential to eliminate all bacteria. Improper handling during the procedure can result in neurological issues for your bulldog and the development of a persistently draining tract that may require revision.
On the other hand, when performed by a skilled surgeon, this procedure can provide significant relief for your Bulldog or French Bulldog, effectively resolving a painful and distressing issue.
#5 ⚠️EAR DISEASE AND ITCING WARNING:
If your bulldog is exhibiting signs of ear irritation, such as rubbing or scratching, it’s important to start an itch relief treatment and consider using a protective buster collar to prevent further trauma. Excessive scratching can damage the blood vessels in the ear flap, leading to an “aural hematoma,” where blood accumulates in the ear flap and often requires surgical intervention to repair.
Moreover, scratching can irritate the epithelial cells lining the ear canal, resulting in swelling and the formation of ulcers. Taking prompt action can help prevent these complications and ensure your bulldog’s comfort.
#6 ⚠️BULLDOG STENOTIC EAR END-STAGE WARNING:
The persistent cycle of chronic infection—often involving both yeast and bacteria—along with inflammation marked by itching, swelling, redness, and pain, can lead to a severe and irreversible condition.
In this advanced state, the cells lining the ear canal may experience fibrosis, followed by calcification, mineralization, and even bone formation (ossification). When the ear canal becomes obstructed by bone, traditional medical management may no longer be effective. In such cases, total ear canal ablation (TECA) with lateral bulla osteotomy (LBO) becomes the only viable option to eradicate the disease and relieve your bulldog’s pain and distress.
#7 ⚠️EAR DISEASE OTHER CAUSE WARNING
In addition to chronic infection and inflammation, several other factors can contribute to ear canal disease (otitis) in Bulldogs. Hormonal imbalances, such as hypothyroidism and hyperadrenalism (Cushing’s syndrome), as well as the presence of tumors, polyps, or foreign bodies like foxtails, can also play a role. However, these causes are less common compared to the primary factors previously mentioned.
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