Does your Boston Terrier have skin folds or nose wrinkles? Some dog parents find them adorable. But, are you aware of the infection risks they pose if not taking care of?
So, how to clean Boston Terrier nose wrinkles? Follow these steps to keep your Boston Terrier’s nose wrinkles clean and free of moisture, preventing infections:
- Clean your BT’s nose wrinkles daily.
- Keep your BT’s wrinkles as dry as possible.
- Identify signs of skin infection.
- Switch away from carbohydrates.
Find out how to recognize infection signs, what to use to clean them and how to do it effectively.
Boston Terrier’s Nose Wrinkles
Some dogs, including Boston Terriers, often have folds of skin on their faces (also known as nose wrinkles). Rather than being a result of being overweight, wrinkly Bostons are due to their flat face shape (brachycephalic breed trait).
These skin folds can be soft or deep. However, they can pose health issues for your pooch if not tended to properly.
Wrinkles are a breeding ground for bacteria that would cause infection if not treated correctly. So, cleaning them thoroughly is an important part of daily maintenance for a Boston Terrier with wrinkles and folds.
Boston Terrier’s Nose Wrinkles Issues
If your Boston Terrier has recurrent problems with skin folds, you should check with your vet for specific advice.
Here are some common issues that wrinkled skin can cause in your pooch:
Irritation
Anywhere your dog’s skin touches or rubs together, there’s going to be skin irritation. This friction further irritates the skin and causes even more inflammation and moisture.
It’s important to address this issue as soon as possible to keep it from getting worse.
In most cases, the red, raw-looking skin is due to the skin rubbing together. This can be easily addressed using coconut oil. Refer to Nose Wrinkles Cleaning Essentials section below for more info!
Infection
These wrinkles and folds result in a warm and moist environment that can lead to the growth of bacteria and yeast, causing infection.
If you notice an odour, open wounds or skin that looks a lot more than just irritated, take your pooch to your vet. Your Boston Terrier could have an infection, which may require a prescribed treatment.
Skin Fold Dermatitis (Intertrigo)
Skin Fold Dermatitis, AKA intertrigo, is an inflammation of the skin folds. This condition occurs due to the moisture and heat that builds up in the folds of skin, which is a perfect breeding ground for all kinds of bacteria, yeast, and fungi.
It’s more common in the summer when it is hottest. Common signs include:
- Bad odour.
- Red skin.
- Itchiness.
- Crusted skin.
- And small lesions.
If you identify any of these signs, check with your vet to determine the type of infection and prescribed treatment for your dog’s individual circumstance.
How to Clean Boston Terrier Nose Wrinkles
The goal is to keep your dog’s wrinkles healthy by having a maintenance routine that makes sure they are as clean and dry as possible.
Here are a few steps to follow to clean your Boston Terrier’s nose wrinkles and avoid infections:
#1 – Clean Your BT’s Nose Wrinkles Daily
You can use a soft damp cloth or grooming wipes (which has antibacterial properties) to wipe between your dog’s wrinkles once a day.
You could also do it twice a day, in the morning and at night. I think it depends on how deep your dog’s wrinkles are and how dirty they get! Keep a written record of your dog’s condition to see what works best.
This cleaning routine removes any lingering food particles, dirt, and moisture (like skin oils) between your Boston Terrier’s skin folds.
Be gentle when you clean the skin fold to avoid irritating your dog’s skin.
#2 – Keep Your BT’s Wrinkles As Dry As Possible
After you wash your dog’s wrinkles, it’s very important to dry the area thoroughly with a soft cloth.
Determining what is the right amount of moisture can be tricky.
- Too much moisture: promotes the growth of bacteria and yeast, causing infections.
- Too little: causes dry skin and irritation.
The trick is to keep your Boston’s wrinkles dry enough to prevent infections, yet moisturized to keep his skin healthy.
So, after drying his skin folds gently but thoroughly, moisturize his skin with a bit of coconut oil. Continue reading to discover the properties of this oil.
#3 – Identify Signs of Skin Infections
Since an infection or irritation in your BT’s wrinkles can cause significant discomfort if not addressed quickly…
The signs to watch out for are the points highlighted above, in the “Skin Fold Dermatitis (Intertrigo)” section, but here they are again:
- A bad odour.
- Red, inflamed or irritated skin.
- Itchiness.
- Crusted skin.
- Small lesions.
If your Boston Terrier’s wrinkled skin is infected, then cleaning wrinkles alone with a soft damp cloth won’t get rid of the infection.
After cleaning your dog’s skin folds, you will need to use an anti-fungal or anti-bacterial balm or wipes to combat the infection. However, you should check with your vet first for a specific treatment for your dog’s condition.
#4 – Switch Away From Carbohydrates
Finally, switching to a lower carbohydrate food or totally avoiding them helps.
Here’s why:
High carbohydrate foods encourage bacteria and yeast growth throughout your dog’s body – they (the bacteria) feed off carbohydrates.
Insider Tip: Also, it helps to stay away from oatmeal shampoos as they contain carbohydrates that will only feed the bacteria on the skin.
Nose Wrinkles Cleaning Essentials
Here’s what I use and what works for me. Consult with your vet if you are unsure of what to use 😉
Face Wipes
As you probably noticed from my previous blog post about Boston Terrier grooming, dog wipes are very useful and versatile. They have multiple uses, such as:
- Cleaning your dog’s paws.
- Also, cleaning their ears (refer to How to Clean Boston Terrier Ears).
- To remove a stain on your dog’s hair.
- To wipe the excess tears from the fur beneath the eye and prevent staining (refer to How to Clean Boston Terrier Eyes and Tear Stains).
And in this case, you can use wipes to clean your Boston’s nose wrinkles easily. Also, thanks to the antibacterial properties, you are preventing any fungal infections.
I refer to them as dog wipes because a lot of commercial wipes have many harsh chemicals that are not only harmful to us, but also to our dogs! These dog face wipes (available in Amazon) are free of alcohol, parabens and harsh chemicals.
Anti-Bacterial and Skin Soother
As a preventive measure and also to treat the infected skin folds after cleaning them… I recommend coconut oil (also available on Amazon).
Here are some reasons why coconut oil benefits your pooch:
- Skin health: It improves skin health and clears up conditions like flea allergies, eczema, itchy skin, and contact dermatitis.
- Antimicrobial properties: It has antifungal and antibacterial properties as well. That’s why it helps heal and relieve cuts, hot spots, wounds, stings, and bites.
- Infection prevention properties: It helps prevents yeast infections, particularly candida.
- Skin moisturizer: This oil is also a rich source of lauric acid. It moisturizes dry skin and gives your dog’s coat a shiny gleam.
- Odour reduction: It reduces doggy odour when applied to their skin; plus doggy breath when used as part of dental treatment.
- And many more!
Like the wipes, coconut oil has many purposes, which prevents you from buying multiple solutions to treat each condition.
In Summary
Keeping your Boston Terrier’s nose wrinkles in good health involves regular cleansing and keeping the area free of moisture. This is the best way to keep skin infections at bay.
Grooming is an important factor for your Boston Terrier’s overall health! For more BT grooming tips, check out How to Groom a Boston Terrier – Basic Guide blog post.
Also, remember that a healthy diet and regular exercise have a huge impact on your Boston’s longevity and quality of life!