Dogue de Bordeaux Ear Infections: Signs, Causes and Ear Care

Living with a Dogue de Bordeaux means living with a lot of head. That enormous, deeply furrowed face is the first thing anyone notices, and it is also where most of the breed's grooming work happens. Between the wrinkles, the drool and a pair of small ears tucked against a massive skull, the ears can slip down the to-do list until a smell or a head shake brings them back to the top.

Below you will find what sets Dogue ears apart, which signs matter, the typical triggers, when to get a professional opinion and a fold-and-ear routine you can keep up week after week.

Why the Dogue de Bordeaux needs careful ear care

The Dogue, also called the French Mastiff, is one of the oldest French breeds and carries a strikingly large head for its body. Its features add up in ways that affect the ears.

• Small drop ears on a huge skull. The ears are rather small, slightly darker than the coat, and hang close to the cheeks with a rounded tip. Their size makes them easy to forget, but they still cover the canal.
• Heavy wrinkles. Deep, symmetrical folds run across the forehead and down beside the muzzle. Moisture, oil and debris collect in them and sit right next to the ear base.
• Short, fine coat. The coat comes in shades of fawn, from pale to deep mahogany. It sheds lightly but offers little cover, so the skin underneath reacts quickly to irritation.
• Prolific drool. Thick, hanging lips keep the lower face wet, and a head shake sends saliva everywhere, including onto the ears.
• Allergy tendency. Itchy skin is a familiar complaint in the breed, and allergic dogs often have inflamed ears as part of the picture.
• Short muzzle and heat. A shortened face makes cooling harder. Hot, panting dogs build up warmth and humidity around the head.

The Dogue shares traits with several other breeds, but the mix is its own. Our Mastiff ear article deals with a longer-muzzled giant with larger flaps. The Bulldog guide focuses on a much smaller, flat-faced dog with rose ears and narrow canals. And the Shar-Pei page looks at tiny, tight ears on a dog with a harsh coat and full-body folds. The Dogue sits in the middle: mastiff size, bulldog-like wrinkles and small, soft drop ears.

Signs to watch in a Dogue de Bordeaux

Because the ears are small and the face is busy, it helps to make a quick check part of daily fold cleaning. Things to look for:

• Head shaking that seems more frequent than usual drool-flinging
• Pawing at the side of the face or rubbing it on furniture
• A musty smell that stays even after you have cleaned the wrinkles
• Redness or a greasy film on the inner ear flap
• Brown or dark wax at the opening
• Scabs or hair loss on the outside of the ear or just below it
• Tilting the head or holding one ear oddly
• Grumbling or turning away when you handle the head

What usually sets off Dogue ear problems

Allergies. This is the root of many repeat ear flare-ups in the breed. Environmental triggers or food ingredients can leave the canal itchy, and scratching makes it worse. Your vet can help work out what is involved.

Damp folds next to the ears. Wrinkles that stay moist provide a warm, wet patch that can spread irritation toward the ear base.

Saliva. Constant drool raises humidity around the lower face and ear leather.

Heat. Overheated dogs pant and stay warm around the head, which suits yeast and bacteria. These organisms live on normal skin, and they can multiply when the ear is inflamed or moist.

Wax buildup. A closed flap slows airflow and lets wax collect in the canal.

Mites. Less common in adults but possible, especially in puppies from busy households. Your vet can confirm them with a quick look under the microscope.

When to see your vet

Home cleaning is for healthy ears. If something looks or smells wrong, have your vet examine the ear before you clean. Call if you notice:

• Pain: your Dogue 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

Please do not pour vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol or a kitchen oil blend into your Dogue's ears. These can burn an inflamed canal and are risky if the eardrum is not intact. Cotton swabs should never go down into the canal.

Fold and ear routine for a Dogue de Bordeaux

Think of the face and the ears as one job. Wipe and dry the wrinkles daily, or at least every other day in warm weather, and check the ears at the same time. A full ear clean every week or two suits most Dogues, plus an extra one after bathing or swimming. If your vet is managing allergies, follow their schedule instead.

1. Gather supplies first. Have soft cloths, cotton pads, a dry towel and a few treats within reach before you call your dog over. A Dogue will not wait patiently while you search for them.
2. Work at floor level. Sit on a mat and let your dog lie down or sit with its side against you.
3. Clean the wrinkles. Use a damp cloth to wipe each fold, then dry it thoroughly with a separate cloth. Finish with the folds nearest the ears.
4. Check each ear. Turn the small flap back and look inside. If you see swelling, redness or discharge, stop and book a vet visit.
5. Apply the cleaner. Fill the ear canal with a dog ear cleaner and massage the base of the ear for 60 to 90 seconds.
6. Allow a shake. Let your Dogue shake its head. Expect some drool to fly as well.
7. Wipe and dry. Wipe the inner flap and the opening with a cotton pad, then dry the ear and the nearby folds.

Cool-down tip: Clean ears when your dog is calm and cool, not straight after exercise when it is panting and warm.

About EcoEars: EcoEars is a botanical dog ear cleaner with no antibiotics or steroids, made in the USA in an FDA-registered facility. As directed on 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. Use it twice daily for 10 days in a row, then weekly or as needed. It is for dogs 12 weeks and older and for dogs only, since it contains tea tree oil.

Dogue de Bordeaux ear FAQ

My Dogue's face smells even after I clean the folds. Could it be the ears?

Yes. Ears and folds sit close together and can both smell. If the odor is strongest when you lift the ear flap, have your vet look inside.

Do Dogue de Bordeaux puppies need ear cleaning?

Start gentle handling right away so your puppy gets used to it. Use an ear cleaner only as its label allows, and ask your vet about any discharge.

Are allergies the reason my Dogue keeps getting ear problems?

Allergies are a common background cause in the breed, but not the only one. Repeat episodes deserve a vet workup to find the trigger.

How is Dogue ear care different from Mastiff ear care?

The Dogue's ears are smaller, while its wrinkles are deeper and more numerous. That makes fold care a bigger part of the routine than it is for most Mastiffs.