If we would ask hundreds of people what is the first feature they spot on the French bulldog breed, most of them would say it’s their ears. French bulldog ears not only catch everyone’s eye, but they also collect a lot of dirt. Since they are wide-opened, every owner of this furry gremlin needs to clean them regularly.
Why do you need to clean French bulldog ears?
Since Frenchies have big bat-shaped ears, their ear canals are exposed to collecting different environmental allergens, plant pieces, dirt, and debris. Considering that some French bulldogs are on a higher tendency to suffer from allergies due to their weak immune systems and brachycephalic skulls, owners should pay attention not only to their ear cleaning but also to their folds’ hygiene.
Frenchie’s folds are dark and moist places that are susceptible to developing infections if they don’t get regularly cleaned. In the following sections, you’ll discover the best tips for cleaning French bulldog ears and what products to use. So, let’s start.
How to clean French bulldog ears at home?
Ok. We know that your Frenchie doesn’t like to see you with cotton balls and some strange ‘product’ approaching his head. Scaring your dog is the last thing you should do. That’s why teaching a Frenchie to stay calm and relaxed during the ear cleaning should be performed gradually. The first ‘ear cleaning class’ will certainly not last for even a minute, however, the key for success is in teaching a dog to stay calm.
You can relax your pooch by showing him affection and giving him some treats. Gently cross your hand across his ears and observe your dog’s behavior. Since cotton balls (or a gauze) are essential to use for ear cleaning, my advice is to allow a dog to sniff it. Since he’ll probably wonder what it is, you should allow him to lick it as well. As you can guess, he won’t react enthusiastically.
By performing classes day by day, you’ll be a step closer to successfully clean your French bulldog’s ears.
1- Gently open your dog’s ear canal and use a cotton ball (or a gauze) soaked in a sodium chloride 0.9% solution. As another replacement, you can use a wet baby wipe and wipe out the dog’s outer ear.
2- The next step presents applying Spirit French bulldog Ear-cleaning solution in your dog’s ear canal. Gently massage the area around your dog’s ear and allow him to extensively shake the head after a minute.
3- Don’t forget to give your pooch a treat and to tell him praise words for showing obedience
How often to clean your Frenchie’s ears?
Ear cleaning is important, but it’s also important to have a limit on everything. Having an ear wax is healthy because it protects your dog’s ears from environmental allergies and other potential dangers. Therefore, don’t overclean your Frenchie’s ears.
It’s enough to use a Spirit French bulldog Ear-cleaning solution twice a month. In the meantime, I advise you to regularly check for a stuck plant and observe your dog’s behavior. If he started to excessively scratch the ears and if they became smelly, then he started to suffer from an ear infection.
Ear Yeast infection is also common in the French bulldog breed. The signs usually include the strong smell that reminds of popcorns. It should be treated with antifungal medicines and requires cleaning a dog’s affected spot with a mild solution made of 70% of water and 30 % of apple cider vinegar.
This solution should not be applied inside your little gremlin’s ear canal but can be used for wiping out the outer ear. I recommend you to soak a sterile gauze in a solution and to use it daily until you don’t see an improvement. Apple cider vinegar is completely safe for a dog, and you can also add a teaspoon to your dog’s water bowl. It helps your dog’s skin to become healthy, while his hair will look shiny and smooth.