Smush-faced dogs like this French bulldog are increasing in popularity due to their cuteness and fun-loving personalities.
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From their adorable snort to bulging eyes and ever endearing waddle, smush-faced dogs are increasing in popularity due to their cuteness and fun-loving personalities. In fact, French bulldogs have recently become the most popular dog breed in the United States, according to the American Kennel Club.
However, the same physical differences that make these pets adorable are also a catalyst for several ear-related issues.
Dr. Christina Gentry, a clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, provides insight into why brachycephalic, or smush-faced, dog breeds may develop ear problems and how they can be treated.
Unique Anatomy
Brachycephalic directly translates to “short-headed” and is the term used to describe adorable, flat-faced dog breeds such as pugs, bulldogs, boxers, and Shih Tzus.
To match their cuteness factor is a hefty list of health-related concerns that owners must be aware of when shouldering the responsibility of a brachycephalic dog’s care.
According to Gentry, these breeds generally have narrower ear canals than dogs with normally proportioned faces, meaning their ear canals tend to taper at the bottom.
Flat-faced dogs are at particularly high risk for middle ear effusion (MEE), or the accumulation of fluid in the middle ear cavity.
“This tapered shape can trap bacteria (and ear wax) toward the bottom, which, in some cases, can allow that bacteria to break through the eardrum and then go into the middle ear cavity,” Gentry said. “The short face and more rounded head leads to a slight change in position of the middle ear, making these conditions more common in these breeds.”
Bacteria that enters the middle ear cavity either through the eardrum or from an upper respiratory infection can cause a condition known as middle ear disease, or an infection of the middle ear.
“In these breeds, an infection in the middle ear cavity worries me because their middle ear is very close to their cute little brains,” Gentry said. “We don’t want an infection to spread.”
Another condition that is a particularly high risk for these breeds is middle ear effusion (MEE), or the accumulation of fluid in the middle ear cavity.
“When their Eustachian tube gets closed, either from a respiratory infection or from just anatomical differences that we see in these smush-faced dogs, the normal, small amounts of fluid that your middle ear makes can’t exit; they just build up over time,” Gentry said.
Dizzying Changes
Whether from middle ear infection or MEE, problems in the middle ear can cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms.
Because several important nerves run closely along the middle ear cavity, dogs with these conditions may develop nausea and dizziness.
If not recognized and properly handled as soon as possible, middle ear conditions can also cause other symptoms, including:
- Balance issues
- Head tilt
- Changes in eye movement
- Facial nerve paralysis (inability to blink)
“Without the ability to blink, if the disease lingers, these dogs can develop really bad eye ulcers and will have to see an ophthalmologist,” Gentry said. “I’ve had patients lose eyes because the ulcer has gotten so bad because they couldn’t blink.”
Remaining Cautious
When dealing with problems within the middle ear, Gentry notes that early detection is key.
She recommends proceeding with the utmost caution and specifies that any sign of an ear infection — even a mild abnormal head tilt in a smooshy-faced dog — should prompt owners to seek a veterinarian, who commonly treats these infections with medication.
However, some flat-faced pets that experience a serious case of middle ear disease may require surgery and could potentially even lose an ear canal. Fortunately, this does not significantly impact their ability to live a normal life.
While the cautionary tales that come with owning brachycephalic breeds should not be skimmed over, they also shouldn’t be a deterrent for owning these adorable dogs. With some extra time and attention, owners can make sure that their smush-faced pets live long, happy lives.
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