Bloodhound Skin and Ear Care: Managing Folds, Wrinkles, and Chronic Otitis

Based on peer reviewed veterinary research · For educational purposes only · Updated October 2026 · 8 min read

Why Do Bloodhounds Get Skin Fold and Ear Infections?

Bloodhounds get skin fold and ear infections because their loose skin, deep wrinkles and long ears trap moisture, heat and debris against the skin. The breed was developed for scent tracking, and the folds and ears are thought to help hold scent near the nose. The downside is poor airflow and constant dampness in the places where skin touches skin.

Inside a fold, friction damages the surface of the skin, and saliva, tears and skin oils collect. This environment allows normal skin organisms, mainly Malassezia pachydermatis yeast and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius bacteria, to multiply and cause inflammation. This is called skin fold dermatitis or intertrigo.

The same principle applies to the ears. A long, heavy ear flap covers the ear canal, keeping it warm and humid. In a large UK primary care study, breeds with pendulous ears had higher odds of otitis externa than breeds with erect ears (O'Neill et al., 2021). Underlying allergies, which also occur in hounds, make both problems more likely and more likely to recur. Our guide to skin fold dermatitis in dogs explains the condition in general terms.

Which Areas of a Bloodhound Are Most at Risk?

The highest-risk areas are the lip folds, facial wrinkles, neck dewlap and ear canals. The lower lip fold catches drool and food and is often the first place owners notice a foul smell. Facial wrinkles around the eyes stay damp from tears, which is made worse by the eyelid problems common in the breed, such as ectropion and entropion.

The dewlap, the loose skin under the throat, stays wet after drinking and rubs against the chest. The ear canals and the inside of the ear flaps collect wax and debris, and the tips of the ears often drag through food, water and mud. Less obvious areas include the armpits, the groin and between the toes, especially in overweight dogs.

Because these sites are hidden by loose skin, check them by gently lifting and spreading each fold at least a few times a week. Early redness and odor are much easier to treat than an established infection.

Signs and Symptoms to Watch For

The earliest sign is usually a musty or sour odor from the face or ears. Inside the folds you may see redness, a moist or greasy surface, brown waxy debris and hair loss. Bloodhounds with ear disease shake their head, scratch their ears, tilt the head or resent having the ears touched.

The table below shows how yeast and bacterial infections usually differ, although many dogs have both at once and cytology is the only reliable way to tell.

How to Treat Bloodhound Skin Fold Infections at Home

Mild fold dermatitis with redness, odor and greasy debris, in a Bloodhound that is otherwise well, can usually be managed at home. Ear infections are different: a painful, swollen or discharging ear should be examined first, because the eardrum must be checked before anything is put into the canal.

1. Clean each fold gently. Lift the fold and remove debris with a soft, damp cloth or gauze. Do not scrub, since friction worsens inflammation.
2. Bathe with a medicated antifungal shampoo. Wash the face, neck and body with a medicated antifungal shampoo, massage it into the folds and leave it on for the contact time on the label before rinsing (Bond et al., 2020).
3. Dry every fold completely. Pat each wrinkle, the lip folds and the dewlap dry with a clean towel. Moisture left behind restarts the problem.
4. Treat stubborn folds between baths. A topical antifungal spray applied to a clean, dry fold helps control yeast on the days you do not bathe.
5. Wipe the lips and dewlap after meals and drinking. This removes saliva and food before yeast can use them.
6. Keep the ear flaps clean and dry. Wipe the inside of the ear flap and lift the ears to air them after bathing or swimming.
7. Track progress for two weeks. With consistent treatment two to three times a week, mild fold dermatitis typically starts to improve within one to two weeks. See your veterinarian if it spreads, bleeds, becomes painful or keeps coming back.

Veterinary Treatment Options for Bloodhound Folds and Ears

Your veterinarian will take cytology samples from the folds and ear canals to see whether yeast, bacteria or both are present, and use an otoscope to check the eardrum. Current guidelines recommend topical antifungal and antiseptic therapy as a cornerstone of treatment for Malassezia dermatitis, with oral antifungals reserved for widespread or resistant disease (Bond et al., 2020). For chronic otitis, treatment usually combines thorough cleaning, prescription ear medication, and investigation of an underlying allergy (Nuttall, 2016).

Ketoconazole is an azole antifungal that blocks the synthesis of ergosterol, an essential part of the yeast cell membrane, while chlorhexidine disrupts the membranes of both bacteria and yeast. The combination is commonly used for mixed fold infections (Mueller et al., 2012). Vetified Yeast Dermatitis Shampoo is a medicated antifungal shampoo for bathing the whole dog, and Yeast Dermatitis Spray contains chlorhexidine gluconate 2% and ketoconazole 1% for targeted use on folds between baths. For ears, Ear Infection Relief + Cleaner contains 0.2% ketoconazole and 0.2% chlorhexidine. These are FDA-registered OTC veterinary drugs listed on DailyMed.

Our yeast infections in dogs page, our step-by-step guide to cleaning dog skin folds and our article on ear care for floppy-eared breeds explain these options further. Severe, recurrent fold disease is sometimes managed surgically with fold resection.

Prevention and Long-Term Management

For a Bloodhound, fold and ear care is a lifelong routine, not a one-off treatment. Build a short daily habit: wipe the lips and dewlap after meals, check the facial folds, and dry anything that is damp. A weekly medicated bath during high-risk periods, and every one to two weeks for maintenance, helps keep yeast numbers low.

Use raised, narrow water and food bowls or a snood so the ears do not hang in them. Check and clean the ears weekly, and always dry them after swimming, bathing or a day of tracking in wet grass. Keep your dog at a lean body weight, because extra weight deepens folds and adds new ones.

Autumn and winter bring their own challenges, with wet walks, muddy fields and indoor heating that dries the surface of the skin while the folds stay damp. If infections keep returning despite good hygiene, ask your veterinarian about an allergy workup. Our guide to between-bath care for dogs with recurring yeast has a sample routine.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I clean my Bloodhound's skin folds?

Wipe the lip folds and dewlap after meals and check the facial folds daily. Most Bloodhounds also benefit from a medicated bath every one to two weeks, with extra baths during flares.

Why do my Bloodhound's ears smell bad?

A bad smell usually means yeast or bacteria are overgrowing in the warm, humid ear canal under the heavy ear flap. Have your veterinarian examine the ear, since the right treatment depends on what is growing and whether the eardrum is intact.

Can I use an antifungal shampoo on my Bloodhound's face?

Yes, a medicated antifungal shampoo can be used on the facial folds if you keep it out of the eyes. Massage it into the folds, follow the label contact time, rinse well and dry each fold.

Do Bloodhounds need surgery for skin folds?

Most Bloodhounds are managed with daily cleaning and medicated products. Surgery to reduce the folds is usually considered only for severe, repeated infections that do not respond to good hygiene and treatment.

Sources

1. Bond R, Morris DO, Guillot J, et al. Biology, diagnosis and treatment of Malassezia dermatitis in dogs and cats: Clinical Consensus Guidelines of the World Association for Veterinary Dermatology. Veterinary Dermatology. 2020;31(1):28-74. DOI
2. O'Neill DG, Volk AV, Soares T, Church DB, Brodbelt DC, Pegram C. Frequency and predisposing factors for canine otitis externa in the UK: a primary veterinary care epidemiological view. Canine Medicine and Genetics. 2021;8(1):7. DOI
3. Mueller RS, Bergvall K, Bensignor E, Bond R. A review of topical therapy for skin infections with bacteria and yeast. Veterinary Dermatology. 2012;23(4):330-e62. DOI
4. Nuttall T. Successful management of otitis externa. In Practice. 2016;38(Suppl 2):17-21. DOI
5. Hillier A, Lloyd DH, Weese JS, et al. Guidelines for the diagnosis and antimicrobial therapy of canine superficial bacterial folliculitis (Antimicrobial Guidelines Working Group of the International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases). Veterinary Dermatology. 2014;25(3):163 to e43. DOI

Related Reading

• Skin Fold Dermatitis in Dogs: Managing Intertrigo in Wrinkly Breeds
• How to Clean Dog Skin Folds: A Step-by-Step Guide
• Best Ear Cleaners for Floppy-Eared Dog Breeds: Prevention Guide

E. Maddens

Founder of Vetified. Develops topical antifungal and antimicrobial formulations for companion animals. Vetified products are listed on DailyMed and manufactured through FDA-registered facilities in the United States.

Research basis: All Vetified content references peer reviewed research published in journals including Veterinary Dermatology, JAVMA, and Journal of Small Animal Practice.