I'm a vet and these the 5 dog breeds most prone to ear infections - plus how you can prevent them

By Maria Chiorando For Mailonline

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A vet has revealed five breeds of dog who are most prone to suffering from ear infections - and why.

UK-based content creator @ben.the.vet shared the list in a video on TikTok, where he has around 210,000 followers. 

Ben regularly shares videos which focus on animal welfare topics, sharing information on how to responsibly care for companion animals.

Many of his videos cover the various health challenges different species and breeds face, often delving into the physiological qualities animals have that can cause health issues.

His recent video discussing ear infections in dogs was accompanied by a caption which said: 'If your dog is one of these breeds make sure you are cleaning their ears out properly using an appropriate ear cleaner regularly.' 

In a recent video, Ben the Vet (pictured) listed five dogs who have a higher risk of developing ear infections - and why they are more prone to them

In a recent video, Ben the Vet (pictured) listed five dogs who have a higher risk of developing ear infections - and why they are more prone to them

Speaking in the video, Ben said: 'Here are five dog breeds that are especially prone to ear infections. Number one is the basset hound. 

'These dogs are like yeast central. They have lots of redundant excess skin, and very pendulous ears, and we know pendulous ears double the risk of ear infection.'

This, he explained, is because these ears 'reduce airflow over the ear canal opening and create this ideal environment for bacteria and yeast to overgrow'. 

Ben added that people who have basset hounds should clean their ears routinely, at least once a week.

He continued: 'Second on the list are designer crossbreeds like labradoodles and cockapoos.'

According to Ben, this is something he has seen in his own veterinary practice. 

In addition, he cited a study (titled Frequency and predisposing factors for canine otitis externa in the UK – a primary veterinary care epidemiological view) which found that these dogs have 'a higher risk than other crossbreeds of ear infections'.

Ben explained: 'Partly, this is because they often have very hairy ear canals, which they've inherited from their poodle parents, but they also seem to have a very high rate of skin allergies, which is a very common cause of ear infections in dogs.'

Among the breeds listed in the video (pictured) were basset hounds, cocker spaniels, shar-peis, French bulldogs, and designer crossbreeds like labradoodles and cockapoos

Among the breeds listed in the video (pictured) were basset hounds, cocker spaniels, shar-peis, French bulldogs, and designer crossbreeds like labradoodles and cockapoos

Moving onto number three (though he noted that the list 'isn't in any particular order'), Ben listed the cocker spaniel.  

'I love cocker spaniels,' he said, 'but their ears are their Achilles heel. 

'They seem to very quickly develop secondary changes in their ears, a narrowing of their ear canal, which can become permanent, and mean ear infections become extremely challenging to get under control.'

The next breed on his list was shar-peis, which, he noted, are 'extremely prone to ear infections because they have an anatomical narrowing - or stenosis - of their ear canal'. 

Ben explained: 'This means that it's very difficult to clean their ears and extremely challenging to get infections under control.

HEALTH ISSUES: The vet noted that 'none of [his] videos are complete without including a French bulldog' as this breed is prone to so many health problems (stock image)

HEALTH ISSUES: The vet noted that 'none of [his] videos are complete without including a French bulldog' as this breed is prone to so many health problems (stock image)

'Shar-peis are a breed that I find often end up needing a major surgery, something called a total ear canal ablation...which involves removing their whole ear canal just to enable them to live a pain-free life.'

Listing the fifth and final breed, Ben said: 'None of my videos are complete without including a French Bulldog. 

'Unfortunately, they don't have hairier canals or floppy ears, but they're a breed with a really high rate of skin allergies.

'As I said, that's a very common primary cause of ear infections, and I see loads of them coming into my clinic needing treatment for this.

'The good thing with them, though, I find, is that if you do get their allergies under control, their ears tend to follow suit more easily than some other breeds.'

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