Floppy dog ears are common when a dog is young.
However, it becomes rarer as the dog starts to enter its middle-age years. This is when the dog is at its peak and will have its ears standing up observing everything it hears.
In some situations, those floppy ears can return. This can make you ask, why are my dog’s ears floppy all of a sudden?
A dog’s ears can become floppy all of a sudden because the ears are injured or there’s an infection causing inflammation on the ear. This can lead to the dog’s ears starting to flop. The best course of action is to treat the ear and inspect what the root cause is.
It’s important to note, a dog’s ears flopping is not normal. It is best to consult with a vet to figure out what the main issue is with the dog’s ears suddenly flopping.
This article will take a peek at why a dog’s ears are floppy all of a sudden and what to do about it as a dog owner.
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Reasons Dog Owners Are Floppy All Of A Sudden
1. Physical Injury
If one of the dog’s ears is drooping then it might have to do with physical injury.
Dogs can injure this part of the body just like any other. This means it’s important to get to the bottom of where the injury took place and how to heal it.
If both dog ears are drooping, this can still be a sign of injury around the ears or head. You will want to take the time to consult with a vet to do an x-ray and visual inspection. This can help come up with a reasonable diagnosis if there’s an injury to the dog’s ears.
Floppy ears don’t always happen due to trauma to the area but it is still best to be sure. You will want to account for everything including potential injury to the ears.

2. Infection
In some cases, a dog will end up with an infection.
This infection will spread to the ear and is going to cause inflammation. When the area is inflamed, the dog’s ears can start flopping all of a sudden.
You will be taken aback by this but it is important to treat the infection. The floppy dog ears are a symptom of what’s going on and it’s best to treat the infection to get rid of the inflammation.
This is a must to keep the dog healthy.
If you leave the infection untreated, the dog may be going to have additional symptoms that are harder to handle.
3. Ear Mites
If the dog is constantly touching or pawing its ears, this means it might be dealing with something inside the ear canal.
This can include ear mites, which are quite common in all types of dog breeds.
If the dog has ear mites, this will cause it to want to scratch its itch. This can be uncomfortable and that is why a lot of dogs hurt themselves while trying to get to the ear mites.
It’s important to find the right ear mite treatment for dogs to help get rid of them. This is one of the best ways to make sure the ears are not floppy any longer.

4. Anxiety or Panic
The dog may be suffering from a sudden bout of anxiety.
This can happen when a dog has been harmed or it has been in a traumatic event. Each situation is unique and it might not have anything to do with you as a dog owner.
This is why it’s also important to look at other signs that a dog is anxious. This can include not wanting to come out or refusing to eat.
If a dog is panicked, it is possible the ears can start to droop a bit. It’s almost a way for the dog to want to look as small as possible due to its psychological state.
Final Thoughts
Why are my dog’s ears floppy all of a sudden?
A dog’s ears can become floppy all of a sudden when it is dealing with an infection, ear mites, a traumatic injury, or is feeling anxious. Each situation is different and it’s important to inspect the ear for more information.
If you are still unsure, make sure to consult with a vet to learn more about what’s going on with the dog’s ears. If a dog’s ears are suddenly floppy, it’s likely going to be associated with the ear and the resulting infection or inflammation.
Take the time to treat this and the dog’s ears will be back to normal in no time.
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