Boerboel Ear Infections: Causes, Food Allergies, and Recurring Ear Problems

Cold River

4 days ago

5 min read

Short answer: Food allergies can contribute to recurring ear problems in dogs, but recurring ear infections do not automatically mean a food allergy. Allergies, parasites, foreign material, ear shape and moisture can all play a part. If your Boerboel's ears keep flaring, treat what is there today, and work with your veterinarian to find what keeps bringing it back.

This page is education, not veterinary advice. If your dog's ears are sore, smelly or inflamed, call your veterinarian.

A strong dog still deserves comfortable ears.

At Cold River Boerboels, our approach to ownership goes beyond feeding, training and conditioning. Paying attention to changes matters, too. Repeated scratching, head shaking or an unusual ear odor deserves investigation.

If your Boerboel keeps having ear trouble, ask two questions: what needs treatment today, and what is allowing the problem to return?

What is an ear infection in a Boerboel?

Otitis externa means inflammation of the external ear canal. It can involve bacterial or yeast overgrowth, but inflammation and infection are not interchangeable terms. The Merck Veterinary Manual lists allergy (including adverse food reactions), parasites such as ear mites, and foreign bodies as primary causes, with ear conformation and excess moisture from the environment or swimming as predisposing factors. Treating the underlying cause helps reduce recurrence.

This distinction matters. Removing discharge is one part of care. Understanding why the ear became inflamed is another.

Signs your Boerboel may have an ear problem

Watch for:

Repeated head shaking or scratching.
Redness or swelling.
An unfamiliar or unpleasant odor.
Discharge or increased debris.
Pain when the ears are touched.

One ear or both may be affected. Discharge color alone cannot reliably tell you whether the problem is yeast, bacteria, parasites or a combination. The Merck Veterinary Manual's guide for dog owners notes that a dark discharge often points to yeast or parasites but can also appear with bacterial or mixed infections. Arrange a veterinary examination rather than choosing treatment by appearance.

Pain can also make a dog reluctant to have its head handled. The American College of Veterinary Surgeons explains that chronic disease can thicken the lining of the canal, block it and muffle hearing. Seek prompt care for marked pain, and urgent assessment for a new head tilt or loss of balance.

Why do ear infections keep coming back?

Recurring ear trouble may involve an untreated allergy, retained foreign material, persistent infection, or changes in the canal from chronic inflammation. Moisture and ear conformation can add to the problem.

Veterinary assessment commonly includes an otoscope examination and ear cytology, which means checking a sample under a microscope. These help guide treatment. The condition of the eardrum also affects which products can be used safely (Merck Veterinary Manual).

Cold River's take: if the ears keep flaring, find out what keeps lighting the fire.

Keep a record of flare dates, treatments, foods, treats, swimming and other skin symptoms. Bring that history to your veterinarian.

Can food allergies cause chronic ear infections in dogs?

Yes. Adverse food reactions can cause skin inflammation and ear disease. A 2019 evidence review in BMC Veterinary Research found that food reactions in dogs presented mainly as recurrent bacterial skin infections, otitis externa and atopic dermatitis. Otitis externa was reported in nine studies. Itching and skin infections can occur alongside it.

However, an ear infection does not establish a food allergy. Environmental allergies and other causes also belong in the investigation. Food is a possibility to assess, not an automatic explanation.

Can corn, wheat or soy be the culprit?

They can be triggers in individual dogs. A 2016 review of reported canine adverse food reactions in BMC Veterinary Research documented wheat, soy and corn. Beef, dairy and chicken were reported more often than any of them.

That means the investigation must include the whole ingredient list, including meat proteins, treats and extras.

A food without corn, wheat or soy may be appropriate when one of those ingredients is an identified trigger. But removing them will not address an allergy to an ingredient that remains in the recipe.

"No corn, wheat or soy" describes a formula. It does not guarantee that a dog cannot react to it.

The review summarized selected affected dogs, not the entire dog population. Its authors note that the data do not allow a true estimate of how common each allergen is, so its figures should not be read as the chance that any Boerboel will develop an allergy.

How do veterinarians investigate a food allergy?

A veterinarian may recommend a strict elimination diet using an appropriate prescription hydrolyzed or novel-protein food. The 2023 AAHA allergic skin disease guidelines say diet trials should run 4 to 12 weeks, and that 8 weeks may be needed to identify more than 90% of food-allergic dogs.

The trial must account for treats, table food, flavored supplements and medications. Ask your veterinarian how to handle these without interrupting necessary treatment. Reintroducing the previous diet under veterinary guidance helps confirm whether food caused the symptoms.

An ordinary switch between retail kibbles is not equivalent to a controlled elimination trial. AAHA notes that ingredients not declared on the label have been found in over-the-counter foods, which can undermine the results.

Active ear disease also needs treatment while the underlying cause is investigated.

Where good nutrition fits: the Cold River approach

At Cold River Boerboels, feeding is part of the overall program. We want owners to pay attention to how their individual dog responds, rather than assuming every food suits every dog.

Our nutrition page explains our use of Bully Max and our preference for formulas without corn, wheat or soy. Cold River Boerboels is sponsored by Bully Max. That feeding preference is separate from diagnosing or treating an allergy.

If a particular food ingredient is identified as a trigger, work with your veterinarian to select a suitable diet. The best fit for that dog may differ from what we feed in our own program.

Feed with purpose. Observe your dog. Investigate recurring problems.

Read about our feeding approach here: The Cold River Nutrition Program.

Ear care: what owners should do

Follow your veterinarian's instructions for cleaning and prescribed treatment. Avoid cotton swabs in the canal and irritating home remedies such as vinegar mixtures. Keep water out of the ears during bathing, and if your dog swims, ask about an appropriate drying product (Merck Veterinary Manual).

Complete treatment and attend rechecks. Improved odor or less scratching does not necessarily mean the infection has cleared. Some recurring cases require ongoing management.

An educational article can help you recognize a problem. An ear examination determines the next step.

Boerboel ear infection questions

Does recurring ear trouble prove my Boerboel has a food allergy?

No. Food reactions can involve the ears, but recurring problems require an investigation of other causes as well.

Is food without corn, wheat or soy automatically suitable for an allergic dog?

No. Suitability depends on the dog's actual trigger and the complete recipe. Meat proteins can also cause reactions.

Should I change kibble or treat the ears first?

Have the ears assessed promptly. Treating active disease and investigating a possible underlying allergy can proceed together under veterinary guidance.