Ear disease in dogs

Measured in 8 breeds across 8 sources. Figures are grouped by how they were measured, because those groups are not comparable with one another.

18.7%Highest recorded
8Breeds measured
$154Typical treatment cost

1-year clinical

Share of dogs recorded with the condition in a single year of veterinary records.

Not a lifetime risk. A dog that develops this at age 9 is not counted in a year it was not diagnosed.

  • Chinese Shar-Pei

    clinical or cohort VetCompass Shar Pei 2023, 2013 n = 1,913

    1,913 Shar Pei under UK primary veterinary care

    18.7% 16.9% to 20.4%

  • French Bulldog

    clinical or cohort VetCompass 2018, 2016

    UK primary-care dogs of this breed

    16.3% 14.8% to 17.9% $154 typical

  • Bulldog

    clinical or cohort VetCompass Bulldog 2019, 2013 n = 211

    1,621 Bulldogs under UK primary veterinary care

    13% 11.4% to 14.8%

  • West Highland White Terrier

    clinical or cohort VetCompass Westie 2019, 2016

    6,605 West Highland White Terriers under UK primary veterinary care

    12.3% 11% to 13.8%

  • German Shepherd

    clinical or cohort VetCompass GSD 2017, 2013 n = 185

    1,660 German Shepherd Dogs under UK primary veterinary care

    11.1% 9.7% to 12.8%

  • Boxer

    clinical or cohort VetCompass Boxer 2023, 2016 n = 335

    3,219 Boxers under UK primary veterinary care

    10.4%

  • Rottweiler

    clinical or cohort VetCompass Rottweiler 2017, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs of this breed

    6.1% 5.2% to 7.2% $154 typical

  • Shih Tzu

    clinical or cohort VetCompass Shih Tzu 2024, 2016

    UK primary-care dogs of this breed

    5.5% 4.7% to 6.5% $154 typical

Where these figures come from

  • VetCompass Shar Pei 2023 Grade A

    Is it now time to iron out the wrinkles? Health of Shar Pei dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK. Canine Medicine and Genetics. 2023.

    View source
  • VetCompass 2018 Grade A

    O'Neill DG, Baral L, Church DB, Brodbelt DC, Packer RMA. Demography and disorders of the French Bulldog population under primary veterinary care in the UK in 2013. Canine Genetics and Epidemiology. 2018;5:3.

    View source
  • VetCompass Bulldog 2019 Grade A

    O'Neill DG, Skipper AM, Kadhim J, Church DB, Brodbelt DC, Packer RMA. Disorders of Bulldogs under primary veterinary care in the UK in 2013. PLOS ONE. 2019;14(6):e0217928.

    View source
  • VetCompass Westie 2019 Grade A

    O'Neill DG, Ballantyne ZF, Hendricks A, Church DB, Brodbelt DC, Pegram C. West Highland White Terriers under primary veterinary care in the UK in 2016: demography, mortality and disorders. Canine Genetics and Epidemiology. 2019;6:7.

    View source
  • VetCompass GSD 2017 Grade A

    O'Neill DG, Coulson NR, Church DB, Brodbelt DC. Demography and disorders of German Shepherd Dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK. Canine Genetics and Epidemiology. 2017;4:7.

    View source
  • VetCompass Boxer 2023 Grade A

    O'Neill DG, Skipper AM, Barrett K, Church DB, Packer RMA, Brodbelt DC. Demography, common disorders and mortality of Boxer dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK. Canine Medicine and Genetics. 2023;10:4.

    View source
  • VetCompass Rottweiler 2017 Grade A

    O'Neill DG, Seah WY, Church DB, Brodbelt DC. Rottweilers under primary veterinary care in the UK: demography, mortality and disorders. Canine Genetics and Epidemiology. 2017;4:13.

    View source
  • VetCompass Shih Tzu 2024 Grade A

    Dale F, Brodbelt DC, West G, Church DB, Lee YH, O'Neill DG. Demography, common disorders and mortality of Shih Tzu dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK. Companion Animal Health and Genetics. 2024.

    View source

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