American Foxhound Ear Infections: Signs, Causes and Ear Care

Many American Foxhounds spend their lives as part of a pack, housed in a kennel and taken out in groups for long mornings of hunting or hound exercise. In that setting, dozens of ears belong to dozens of dogs, and it is easy for one sore ear to go unnoticed for days. Foxhounds who live in homes as single pets face a different issue: they need miles of exercise, and an under-exercised hound may scratch, chew and fuss for reasons that are easy to misread.

Whether you keep one Foxhound on the sofa or help care for a whole pack, this article walks through why the breed's ears need watching, how to spot a problem, typical triggers, when veterinary help is essential and how to fit ear checks into a busy kennel or household.

About the American Foxhound's ears

The American Foxhound is a tall, rangy scent hound, lighter in bone and longer in the leg than its English Foxhound relative. Most are tricolor, white with black and tan, though other hound colors appear. The coat is close and hard, a practical covering for a dog built to run all day across fields and through woods.

The ears are long and fairly wide, set moderately low, and hang as soft drop ears with rounded tips. Drawn forward, they reach close to the nose. That generous ear leather lies against the cheek and covers the canal, so air circulation underneath is limited. Vets studying records from UK practices reported hounds and dogs with long, hanging ears at higher odds of ear inflammation, and Foxhounds fit that description.

Lifestyle adds a few factors of its own:

• Pack and kennel life. The breed is closely associated with the hunting traditions of rural Virginia, where hounds are commonly kept in packs. Shared bedding, close contact and busy routines can let parasites pass between dogs and make individual ear checks easy to skip.
• Long days outdoors. Hours of running through dew, rain, brush and stubble leave ears wet, dusty and full of plant debris.
• Scratching and scuffling. Hounds playing, bumping and jostling in a run can nick ear tips and edges.
• Allergic itch. Environmental and food allergies affect hounds as well as companion breeds, and ears are a common place for symptoms to appear.

The smaller, more compact Harrier is a close pack-hound relative with shorter, rounder ears.

Warning signs to look for

In a group of hounds, comparing dogs side by side can help. One that behaves differently from its packmates deserves a closer look. Common signs include:

• Persistent head shaking, or one ear held lower or at an odd angle
• Scratching at the ear until the hair on the side of the head looks thin or ruffled
• Dark, crumbly or greasy debris inside the ear
• A strong, unpleasant odor
• Red, swollen skin at the canal opening
• Scabs or bleeding on the ear tips
• Growling or moving away when another hound or a person touches its head

Kennel dogs that share space can pass ear mites back and forth. Our guide to ear mites in dogs explains how they spread and why every dog in the group may need to be checked when one is diagnosed.

Frequent triggers

Ear mites. Tiny parasites that cause intense itching and coffee-ground debris. They are more common in young hounds and in groups. Only your vet can confirm mites and recommend the right product.

Dampness. Morning dew, puddles and rain can leave the canal wet long after the coat dries.

Plant debris. Burrs, seeds and grass awns from hedgerows and fields can work into the ear opening.

Allergies. If ears flare repeatedly, particularly along with itchy paws or skin, an underlying allergy may be involved.

Missed checks. Not a cause in itself, but in a busy kennel a mild problem can progress before anyone notices.

When to see your vet

Your vet should examine any ear that is already sore or inflamed before it is cleaned or medicated, since the eardrum must be checked first. Book a visit if you notice:

• Pain: your dog yelps, flinches or will not let you touch the ear
• Head tilt, loss of balance, circling or unusual eye movements
• Bleeding, or a swollen, puffy ear flap (this can be a blood blister called an aural hematoma)
• A bad smell together with discharge
• Redness or swelling that is getting worse
• Symptoms that have not improved after a few days, or keep coming back

If one hound in a pack is diagnosed with mites, ask your vet whether the rest of the group should be examined too. Steer clear of kitchen remedies like vinegar, peroxide or alcohol, and never use cotton swabs inside the canal.

Building ear checks into a hound routine

For a healthy Foxhound, a weekly ear check and clean is a reasonable baseline, with an extra look after wet or brushy outings. For a pack, it helps to tie ear checks to something you already do, such as feeding time or post-exercise rubdowns, and to keep a simple log so no dog gets skipped.

1. Work in a calm spot. Pull one hound aside from the group so it is not distracted or crowded.
2. Check both ears. Fold each leather back and look at the opening, the inner surface and the tip. Stop and call your vet if you find redness, swelling, discharge or a strong smell.
3. Raise the flap to open up the canal.
4. Fill the canal with a dog ear cleaner.
5. Massage the base of the ear for 60 to 90 seconds.
6. Allow a good shake.
7. Wipe the visible ear and inner leather with cotton or gauze. Use a fresh pad for each dog.
8. Note it down. A quick tick on a kennel chart keeps the routine consistent.

New to the process or setting up a kennel kit? Our post on how to clean your dog's ears and the tools you'll need lists the supplies worth having on hand.

About EcoEars: EcoEars is a botanical dog ear cleaner with no antibiotics or steroids, made in the USA in an FDA-registered facility. Per the label, fill the ear canal, massage the base of the ear for 60 to 90 seconds, let your dog shake, and wipe away loosened debris. The label directions are twice daily for 10 days in a row, then weekly or as needed. It is intended for dogs 12 weeks and older and for dogs only, since it contains tea tree oil.

American Foxhound ear FAQ

How is an American Foxhound different from an English Foxhound when it comes to ears?

Both breeds have long drop ears. The American is taller and finer-boned, but ear care is much the same for both: regular checks, drying after wet work and a vet visit for anything painful.

Should I use separate supplies for each hound in a pack?

Yes. Use a fresh cotton pad or gauze for every ear and wash your hands between dogs. That keeps debris from being carried from one hound to the next.

My pet Foxhound scratches its ears when it is bored. Is that a problem?

Restless scratching can be behavioral, but it can also mean itchy or sore ears. Have your vet rule out an ear problem first, then look at whether your hound is getting enough exercise.

Do ear tips need special care?

Check them during each session. Small scabs from brush or play are common, but tips that keep splitting or bleeding usually mean the dog is shaking its head a lot and should be seen.