There are many reasons why your French Bulldog’s ears aren’t standing. A French Bulldog puppy with floppy ears is simply irresistible to most people. But the question is, are Frenchie’s ears supposed to be that way?
Ears not standing could also be French bulldogs that were born with folded ears or that don’t have the right genes to support upright ear carriage.
French bulldogs fully developed with floppy ears are not as common. Some people might think that the dog has a health problem if its ears are not in an erect position.
Are French Bulldogs born with floppy ears?
Yes, French Bulldogs can be born with floppy ears. This is because the ear cartilage is not fully developed, and the ears will usually stand up on their own as the puppy gets older.
Do French bulldogs always have their ears up?
No, Frenchies do not always have their ears up, but it is rare to see a French bulldog with their ears down.
However, some Frenchies were either born with folded ears or genetically predisposed to have floppy ears.
Can French Bulldog’s ears stay down?
Yes, Frenchie’s ears can stay down, but this is not common. If your Frenchie’s ears are down, it is likely that there is an underlying health problem that needs to be addressed by a veterinarian.
Why Your French Bulldog’s Ears Aren’t Standing Up
There are many reasons why your Frenchie’s ears aren’t standing. Here is a list of a few to consider:
Puppy Ears
When they are puppies, their ears are often floppy because the cartilage is not yet fully developed. If a French Bulldog drops its ears while it is a puppy, there is a good chance that it will stand up on its own as the dog gets older.
Teething Period
As your Frenchie’s teeth start to come in, calcium is concentrated in the teeth which lead to their ears to become softer. This might result in the ears not standing.
Hereditary Ear Floppiness
Just like any other dog, there is a genetic component to how your French Bulldog ears will look and whether or not they will stand up. If your Frenchie has floppy ears, it may simply have the wrong genes to support upright ear carriage.
Slipped Ear Cartilage
French Bulldogs that were born with folded ears might have ear cartilage that has slipped from its original place, which will not allow the ears to stand up on their own.
Injury
Sometimes a dog can injure one or both of its ears, and this can sometimes affect your French Bulldog’s ability to have upright ears.
Old Age
As your French Bulldog gets older, the muscles that hold the ear cartilage in place might weaken, and this will cause the ears to droop.
Infection
If your French Bulldog has an ear infection, this can also cause the ears not to stand up.
Allergies
Dogs that suffer from allergies can sometimes have floppy ears because of the inflammation in the ear canal.
Tumors
Lastly, tumors can also be a reason why your French Bulldogs ears might not be standing up.
As you can see, there are many reasons why your Frenchie might not have erect ears.
If you are concerned about your dog’s health, it is best to take him or her to the veterinarian for a check-up.
However, most of these reasons are not serious, and some might resolve on their own if you simply give your dog time.
When do French Bulldog ears stand up?
Frenchie’s ears should stand up when the puppy is about 5 to 15 weeks old. You can tape the ears up to stand if you want.
However, there are some situations where the ears do not stand up until the age of eight months.
When do French Bulldog ears stop growing?
Frenchie’s ears will stop growing when the dog reaches full maturity, which is usually around 18 to 24 months old.
How to fix French Bulldog floppy ears
Making your French Bulldog ears stand up can be done in several ways.
Taping the ears to stand
Taping, or holding the ear cartilage up with tape, can work to hold French Bulldogs ears up if they are not standing up on their own.
However, this method should only be used temporarily because it can stress the dog’s ears if left on for an extended period.
Surgery
If the reason why your French Bulldog ears are not standing is because of slipping ear cartilage, surgery can be done to fix this problem, but it is expensive.
However, this should only be done as a last resort because there could be complications with anesthesia and ear infections after surgery.
Cartilage stimulating supplements
If your dog’s ears are droopy because of lack of cartilage, you can give your Frenchie supplements to help stimulate the ear cartilage so it will grow and strengthen.
Give them chew toys
If your French Bulldog has floppy ears due to weak ear muscles, you can give them chew toys to help build up the strength of these muscles.
Consult with your vet
If you are concerned about your dog’s ears not standing up, it is best to consult with your veterinarian. They will be able to do a physical examination and determine the root of the problem.
How do you tape a French Bulldog’s ear up?
There are many different ways to tape your French Bulldog ears up to make them stand. However, some methods are more effective than others.
The most common way to tape a Frenchie’s ear is to use surgical tape, but you can also use masking tape.
1. Cut a small piece of surgical tape, but not too long or short. Make sure it is just big enough to fit in your Frenchie’s ear.
2. Place the tape on the back of your Frenchie ear to pull the ear back.
3. Make sure that the tape is secure and will not come off easily.
4. Repeat on the other ear.
You should also check the ears every day to ensure that they are not becoming red or irritated.
Some other methods that can be used include using bobby pins and hair bands. However, these methods are not as effective as surgical tape or masking tape.
When to tape French bulldog ears?
You can tape your French Bulldog ears up when they are not standing up on their own. You can do this when the puppy is 5 to 15 weeks old.
However, you should only do this temporarily because it can stress the dog’s ears if left on for an extended period.
How long tape French bulldog ears?
You should only tape your French Bulldog’s ears up for a short period of time. You should not leave the tape on for more than two to three days and then give your dog a break.
You can then repeat the process for two to three days more.
If you leave the tape on for too long, it can stress the dog’s ears and cause them to become irritated.
Other reasons for floppy ear
Some other reasons for floppy French Bulldog ears are:
- Birth defect;
- Ear infection;
- Lack of blood flow to the ear;
- Ear mites;
- Obesity.
If you notice your French Bulldog ears are drooping for any reason other than lack of cartilage, it is best to consult with your veterinarian in order to determine the problem.
Common stages of a French Bulldog’s ear development
A standard ear development in French Bulldogs goes through four stages:
1. The first phase is when the puppy’s ears are just starting to grow, and they are very small and floppy.
2. The second phase is when the ears start to stand up on their own but can be all over the place with one up and one down.
3. The third phase is when the puppy’s ears will start to grow in size, and the cartilage will become stronger.
4. The fourth phase is when they reach their full size and are fully developed, and a French Bulldog’s ears stand up by themselves.
If your French Bulldog ears are not standing up, it is most likely because they are still in the early stages of development. You can help them along by using the methods mentioned above.
When should you be worried?
If your French Bulldog is 10 months old and their ears are not standing up on their own, you should be concerned. You should take your pup to the veterinarian to have a physical examination. If there are no underlying problems, you can try taping their ears up until they fully develop.
Floppy ears do not cause any health or life-threatening problems to Frenchies. However, French Bulldog’s ears floppy is considered a deformity since the breed is known for their bat ears.
French Bulldog Ears Health
You should also care about the general hygiene of your dog’s ears. Keeping your dog’s ear canal clean will prevent infections that can lead to folded or floppy ears.
Just like you take care of any other part of your body, you need to take good care of your dog’s ears.
Conclusion
There are many reasons why a French Bulldog’s ears might not be standing up. If the dog’s ear cartilage is still developing or if it does not have the right genes, its ears should stand up on their own as the French Bulldog gets older. Otherwise, it is best to take your French Bulldog to a vet for an examination.
