Skin and ear problems

Ear and skin trouble is among the most common reasons any dog visits the vet, and in seniors a new skin problem can point to something else. In UK Labradors the most frequent diagnosis was ear infection, affecting about one in ten and most often the chocolate-coated dogs¹; in French Bulldogs ear infection and skin-fold dermatitis led the list². Two hormone diseases of older dogs show first on the skin: hypothyroidism brings a thin, dull coat, hair loss and repeated skin and ear infections³, and Cushing's disease brings thin skin, symmetrical hair loss and recurring infections⁴.

So a senior whose ears keep flaring, whose coat has changed, or whose skin has become thin and slow to heal deserves bloodwork as well as a topical treatment. Lumps are a separate matter and belong with the cancer entries.

Routine care helps: dry ears after swimming, keep skin folds clean and dry, groom regularly so you see the skin, and log flare-ups in Oldie's care history so the pattern is visible to the vet.

This is general information, not a diagnosis. Your vet knows your dog.

Sources

1. Labrador retrievers under primary veterinary care in the UK: demography, mortality and disorders (McGreevy PD et al.). Canine Genetics and Epidemiology 5:8, 2018 (peer reviewed). Accessed 2026-09-22.
2. Demography and disorders of the French Bulldog population under primary veterinary care in the UK in 2013 (O'Neill DG et al.). Canine Genetics and Epidemiology 5:3, 2018 (peer reviewed). Accessed 2026-09-22.
3. Hypothyroidism in Animals. Merck Veterinary Manual. Accessed 2026-09-22.
4. Cushing Syndrome (Hyperadrenocorticism) in Animals. Merck Veterinary Manual. Accessed 2026-09-22.