How to Maintain Dogs with Wrinkles and Folds

If your dog has wrinkles and folds, there are certain everyday and weekly cleaning routines you must adhere to, which if left unchecked could lead to problems.

Training your puppy to have his eyes and wrinkles checked and wiped clean is as easy as petting him. He will become accustomed to a warm damp cloth moistened with plain water, as though it were part of getting his daily dose of loving.

An older dog is more likely to develop eye infections or dermatitis irritations because many are caused from allergens that develop as the dog matures. Some are internal problems, like tear staining, chiefly caused by an enzyme in the dog's bodily fluids. Saliva and tears can cause unsightly brown stains along the folds they drain on. Some dogs are born with closed tear ducts, thus causing the natural flow of tear secretions (normally tears drain down through the nostril) to seep along the outside of the eyes and along the snout. Short of surgery to open the tear ducts, there is little to offer help to prevent the staining. There are a number of store preparations you can purchase to lighten the damage, for example the 'eye tear stain' remover. However you may prefer to trim the area short. Caution, though, folks, keeping the hair short in tight folds can become an irritant and cause the hair to become ingrown.

Moisture is the enemy of wrinkles and folds. Dark, damp and warm crevices provide an optimum breeding ground for bacteria and nasty germs. Ears are the most common place for such dreaded afflictions. Dogs that are especially prone to this are ones that have large fold-over ears, such as cocker spaniels. Regular cleaning with something as simple as isopropyl alcohol or hydrogen peroxide will keep them dry and clean. There are many ear cleaning preparations available at your local pet stores, but for dogs that are prone to ear troubles, avoid the cleaners made with an oil base. Powders are effective to keep the ear dry as well.

In conclusion, the best advice is an ounce of prevention will be a pound of reward. Once a week thorough cleaning of mouth, eyes, and ears for any breed will save you plenty of money at the vets and will give you a happy pet. Hopefully these few tips will help you keep your dog with wrinkles and folds and trouble crevices in tip top health.