Your Frenchie’s ear can harbor the nastiest dirt. It can accumulate dust, grimes, and germs that will have a foul smell. The biggest concern here is that this dirt can cause ear infections if not removed immediately. So for this post, I will discuss French Bulldog ear cleaning, what you need to do, and what to avoid.
First things first, check which of these ear cleaners suits your dog:
| EAR CLEANER | BRAND | EXPERT RATING | CHECK PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Our Top Pick! DOCTOR BEASLEY'S Advanced Ear Bomb Cleaner |  | Check Price |
 | Mister Ben's Ear Cleaner for Dogs | | Check Price |
 | VetPro Complete Ear Cleaner for Pets |  | Check Price |
Why do you need to clean your Frenchie’s ears?
Can you live without cleaning your ears ever? It’s gross, right? Imagine how thick and smelly your ear wax will be. The same goes for your French Bulldog.
While Frenchies are not as active as other dogs, their ears can get pretty soiled in a matter of weeks. It can be a mixture of dust, pollens, mites, and other environmental elements that will attach to your dog’s body.
If not cleaned, your Frenchie may suffer from an ear infection. This will cause discomfort and pain to the pooch, not to mention the repulsive smell emanating from its ears.
You should always consider ear cleaning as part of your dog’s grooming process. This will help prevent health problems that will cost a lot of money to treat at the vet’s clinic.
However, it must be done right to prevent hurting your pooch.
Ear infection in dogs
Ear infections happen to a lot of dogs, but the owners only notice it once the symptoms are already adverse. So what causes an ear infection in the first place?
One of the culprits here is moisture. When there’s a water source, yeast and bacteria will proliferate. Aside from that, your French Bulldog might have allergies, something that this breed is notorious for.
Wax buildup is also the most common reason behind ear infections. This is preventable only if you’re going to take the extra step of cleaning your dog’s ears. Below, I discussed the easy steps to guide you at home.
Foreign bodies and ear canal injuries will also trigger ear infections. If you’re cleaning your Frenchie’s ears regularly, but the pooch still gets infections, the vet is the best person to call. Take note that once the ear infection is already in place, cleaning alone isn’t enough.
The vet will conduct a comprehensive ear test to determine which part of the ear is infected. The ear infection can either be otitis externa, media, or interna. This refers to the part affected by the infection. The farther it is into the ear, the more serious the infection will be.
The following are signs that your Frenchie has an ear infection:
- Excessive head shaking
- Bad odor
- Ear itchiness and pawing
- Crusting in the ears
- Swelling and pain in the ear canal
- Dark discharge from the ear
French Bulldog Ear Cleaning
To ensure that your Frenchie’s ears are free of infection, you should check and clean it periodically. At least once a month would be fine for most Frenchies, in time for their bath.
For the ear cleaning task, you’ll need the following:
What you need:
- Ear cleaning solution (I have recommendations below!)
- Safety tweezers
- Cotton balls
- Paper towels
- Ear wipes
- Some of your Frenchie’s yummy treats
Step-by-step guide:
Step 1. Start on the outside
Before you perform a deep-clean, you should start on the ear lobes of your Frenchie. Use a cotton ball and soak it with the ear cleaning solution. Wipe the earlobes and make sure there’s no dirt left. You don’t have to go inside the ear for this part. Removing the dirt on the earlobes prevents it from getting inside and adding up to the wax.
Step 2. Go further
Once the earlobes are clean, use another ear cleaner-soaked cotton ball. Now, start swabbing the entrance of the ear canal. This will have more dirt, so don’t hesitate to change the cotton ball several times.
Step 3. Apply the ear cleaner inside
Next, squirt a small amount of ear cleaner into your dog’s ear canal. Hold your dog’s earlobe vertically by pulling it slightly upward.
After that, massage its ear to spread the solution evenly. If your Frenchie wants to shake its head, let it do so to spread the cleaner even more. Just watch out for the streaks that may come out of its ear. I suggest that you wear a face shield for this matter.
Step 4. Wipe, wipe, wipe
Once the ear cleaner has soaked your dog’s ear, it’s important to wipe the outer part. Use a paper towel to remove the dirt and excess cleaner. Next, finish it with an ear wipe. You can reach into the opening of the ear canal gently to wipe away more grimes. Be slow and gentle to prevent hurting your dog’s ears. You can use a safety tweezer to reach further, but don’t push through if your dog is wiggly.
Step 5. Reward
After cleaning your Frenchie’s ears, give it some yummy treats. This will teach your dog that cooperating is a rewarded behavior. It will make ear cleaning much easier in the future.
IMPORTANT REMINDER: Never use Q-tips when cleaning your dog’s ears. It will just push the dirt further into the inner ear, which will defeat your grooming efforts. Also, if your dog appears to be in pain, stop cleaning its ears and phone the veterinarian.
When to go to a professional groomer
French Bulldog ear cleaning is fairly easy – that is, if your dog doesn’t have ear infections. If you don’t know have experience doing this before, you can bring your dog to the groomer and watch how they do it.
Take note that this will cost a fee, but it’s much better than doing it wrong and paying for a visit to the vet’s clinic.
I always deem it important that we know what’s happening to our pets’ bodies. This is only possible if we know how to groom them. Through these routine checks, you can spot any changes that may indicate a health problem.
My Top 3 Recommended Ear Cleaners
MY TOP PICK: DOCTOR BEASLEY'S Advanced Ear Bomb Cleaner
Product Name: DOCTOR BEASLEY'S Advanced Ear Bomb Cleaner
Product Description: My best pick for dog ear cleaners is the DOCTOR BEASLEY'S Advanced Ear Bomb Cleaner. This is made to provide immediate relief on itchiness, inflammation, and ear infections. It can also fight fungal and yeast infections efficiently. Aside from that, this ear cleaner is antifungal, antibacterial, and antiseptic. This will not cause chemical burn either, which is perfect for sensitive French Bulldogs. If your dog has an ear infection, you can use this every five days to restore your dog's ear health. For maintenance, this works as a monthly ear cleaner.
Offer price: $$$
Availability: InStock
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Formula
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Odor
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Ease of Application
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Value for Money
Overall
Summary
However, you have to be careful when applying this ear cleaner. The purple color stains on towels and porous surfaces. I suggest applying this to your dog on the tub so you can rinse off any splatter easily.
Overall, this is an excellent ear cleaner for dogs with infections. I’ve been using this for my Frenchie, and it has yielded stellar results ever since – no mites, infections, whatsoever.
While it costs a little bit more than other ear cleaners, the additional bucks are well worth the price. If you’re paying a lot on the vet and your dog’s ear problem still lingers, try this and see the difference.
Pros
Effective against infections
Fast results
No chemical burn
Cons
The coloring stains on fabric, so be careful
RUNNERS-UP
Mister Ben's Ear Cleaner for Dogs
Another ear cleaner I swear by is the one from Mister Ben’s. This offers fast relief to stop itching, infections, and other irritations. No more head shaking for your Frenchie!
Aside from that, this is made of six active ingredients that target the root cause of the ear problem. It also works well as a regular cleaner if your pooch doesn’t have infections.
The best thing about Mister Ben’s is its all-natural formula. It’s also infused with cold-pressed Aloe to combat itchiness and fungal infections.
For every purchase of this Mister Ben’s Dog Ear Cleaner, the brand will donate $1 to animal rescue shelters. It’s a great way to groom your dog and help other canines out there.
The only thing I noticed is the smell. It’s not foul, but it’s not the most appealing either. But since it’s all-natural, it’s not a deal-breaker for me.
Over the years, I have spent hundreds of bucks finding the right ear cleaner for my Frenchie. This, together with DOCTOR BEASLEY’S, are just some of my best finds.
VetPro Complete Ear Cleaner for Pets
Last but not the least, I recommend the VetPro Complete Ear Cleaner for Pets. This is infused with Vitamin E and Aloe that soothes itchiness and ear pain. It can also fight yeast infection, bad ear odor, and cakey ear wax.
Moreover, this has limited ingredients, so it’s unlikely to cause irritation to your dog. This is also alcohol-free, so it doesn’t dry the inner ear as other cleaners do.
The best thing about this ear cleaner is their 100% money-back guarantee. If the cleaner didn’t work for your Frenchie, you could get your money back, no questions asked.
I also like the smell of this ear cleaner, which is a bonus part aside from its cleaning prowess. Overall, it meets my expectation in terms of fighting the ear infection of my French Bulldog and other canines at home.
Lastly, I want to highlight the brilliant positioning of the applicator tip. It’s made for ease of use, especially for reluctant doggos. This is also a little cheaper than other options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the brown stuff in my dog’s ears?
A: A brown discharge from your Frenchie’s ears is a sign of a potential ear infection. This is usually accompanied by a foul smell. It’s important to bring the dog to the vet for proper diagnosis and treatment. Take note that aside from ear infections, this discharge can also be due to polyps, mites, and other problems.
Q: Why does my dog have black gunk in her ear?
A: French Bulldogs with black debris in the ears likely have a yeast infection. However, it could also be mere dirt that accumulated on the doggo’s ears. If the black gunk wipes off easily and doesn’t recur, it’s usually not a cause of concern. But to be sure, you should bring this up on your dog’s next routine checkup to the vet.
Q: Can I use vinegar to clean my dog’s ears?
A: You should never use anything other than an ear cleaner formula for French Bulldog ear cleaning. Vinegar is highly abrasive and will cause irritation to your dog. Besides vinegar, you should also avoid rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide because it will cause ear canal’s inflammation.
Q: How can I soothe my dog’s itchy ear?
A: A good cleanse will help reduce the itchiness of your French Bulldog’s ears. Never use vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and any DIY solutions because it will cause irritation. If the itchiness persists, you should bring your dog to the vet for proper diagnosis. The vet can also prescribe medication in case your French Bulldog needs it.
Q: Is coconut oil good for dogs’ ears?
A: Coconut oil is natural and can be safe to use for dogs’ ears. Still, I recommend consulting with the vet first to assess possible side effects. Usually, a few drops of coconut oil will help reduce itchiness and kill parasites harboring inside your pet’s ears.
Final words
French Bulldog ear cleaning is simple with the right products and procedures. However, if your pooch is suffering from an infection, it’s best to bring it to the vet. Ear infections will cause discomfort and bad odor on your dog’s ears, so it must be treated properly and immediately.
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