Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen Ear Infections: Signs, Causes and Ear Care

With its tousled coat, bushy eyebrows and scruffy beard, a Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen looks like it just rolled out of a hedge, and very often it has. PBGV owners love that happy, rough-and-ready look. What they sometimes overlook is what lies under all that hair: long, hair-covered ears that hang almost to the ground on a dog whose head is never far from the dirt.

If you share your home with one of these merry French hounds, read on for why PBGV ears deserve regular attention, what early trouble looks like, the usual triggers, when it is time for the vet and a grooming-friendly routine for keeping the ears clean.

What makes PBGV ears different

The PBGV is a small, short-legged scent hound from France, built longer than it is tall, with a sturdy body and a tail usually carried high. The coat is rough, harsh and a bit unkempt by design, with a softer undercoat beneath. Most are white with lemon, orange, black or tricolor markings. A beard and mustache frame the muzzle, and long eyebrows shade the eyes.

The ears are long, narrow and soft, set low, and they fold inward as they fall. Instead of the smooth leather of a short-coated hound, they are covered in long hair. Because the legs are short, the ear tips hang very close to the ground.

That combination creates a few specific risks:

• Hairy ear leather. Long hair on the flaps holds water, mud and plant debris, and it can stay damp long after a walk in wet grass.
• Inward-turned flaps. Folding in toward the head means the ear closes neatly over the canal, limiting the airflow that helps an ear dry.
• Low ground clearance. On a dog this short, ears trail through puddles, leaf litter and the water bowl.
• Beard moisture. A wet, food-flecked beard sits right below the ears and keeps the area damp after every drink or meal.
• Allergies. Like many breeds, some PBGVs develop itchy skin from environmental or food allergies, and the ears are a common target.

Studies of dogs seen in UK veterinary practices found higher odds of ear inflammation in hound breeds and in dogs with hanging ears, and the PBGV has both traits, plus the extra hair.

PBGV vs. Basset Hound

Both breeds are low-slung scent hounds with long ears, but they are built very differently. The Basset has a short, smooth coat, heavier bone and very long, velvety ear leather with folds of loose skin around the face. The PBGV is lighter and more agile, and its ears and face are covered in rough hair. For the smooth-coated version of the low-to-the-ground problem, see our Basset Hound ear guide. Another short-legged breed with low-hanging ears is covered in our Dachshund ear guide.

Early signs of a PBGV ear problem

All that hair can hide redness and discharge, so you may need to part the coat to see clearly. Watch for:

• Head shaking or flapping one ear more than the other
• Rubbing the face along furniture, rugs or the lawn
• Mats or sticky clumps forming in the hair at the base of the ear
• Waxy, dark or yellowish material at the canal opening
• A musty or sour smell when you lift the flap
• Red, swollen or warm skin beneath the ear hair
• A grumpy reaction to being brushed around the head

If you see discharge, note its color and consistency for your vet. Our article on ear discharge in dogs explains what different types can indicate.

Common triggers

Wet, matted ear hair. Mats hold moisture against the skin and limit airflow even further. Brushing the ears out regularly matters as much as cleaning the canal.

Debris from the ground. Burrs, grass seeds and soil collect in the ear hair and can slip into the canal.

Allergies. Recurring flare-ups in both ears, often with itchy feet or skin, can signal an allergy that needs your vet's input.

Hair in the canal. Some PBGVs grow hair inside the canal itself. Whether it should be removed is a decision for your vet or an experienced groomer.

Mites. More often seen in puppies. They cause strong itching and dark, crumbly debris.

When to see your vet

Cleaning helps keep healthy ears healthy. If an ear is already sore or smelly, your vet needs to look at the canal and eardrum 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

Avoid vinegar, peroxide, rubbing alcohol and DIY oil blends, and never poke cotton swabs into the ear.

A grooming-friendly ear routine for PBGVs

Most healthy PBGVs benefit from a weekly ear check and clean, combined with brushing the ear hair. After wet or muddy outings, dry and comb the ears the same day. If your dog has had repeated problems, follow your vet's recommended frequency.

1. Brush the ears out. Gently comb the hair on each flap and around the base to remove tangles and debris before cleaning.
2. Dry the beard. A quick towel of the face keeps drips from running back toward the ears.
3. Part the hair and inspect. Lift the flap and check the skin and canal opening. Stop and call your vet if you see redness, swelling or discharge, or notice a strong odor.
4. Hold the ear up to open the canal.
5. Fill the canal with a dog ear cleaner.
6. Massage the base of the ear for 60 to 90 seconds.
7. Let your PBGV shake.
8. Wipe the opening and inner flap with cotton or gauze, then blot the ear hair dry.

Ask your groomer about tidying the hair at the base of the ear so air can move more freely. Keep the flap hair long enough to look like a PBGV, but short enough to dry.

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.

PBGV ear FAQ

Should I trim the hair on my PBGV's ears?

Light tidying around the base can help airflow, but the breed's look depends on a tousled, unstyled rough coat, so ask your groomer about the right balance. Hair inside the canal is a question for your vet.

Why do my PBGV's ears get matted?

Long, soft ear hair tangles easily, especially when it gets wet or dragged through debris. Brushing a few times a week keeps mats from forming and holding moisture.

Do PBGVs need their ears cleaned more often than Bassets?

Not necessarily more often, but the routine is different. PBGVs need ear brushing as well as canal cleaning, while Bassets need more attention to the folds of their smooth ear leather.

Is the beard really linked to ear problems?

A damp beard keeps the area around the ears humid. Drying the face after meals and drinks is a simple habit that helps keep the ears drier.