Hey alls

My cousin has a one year old pug. She has to clean the fold of skin over his nose - sorry don't know what it's called - every day. She is wondering if there is any way to prevent it from getting all gunky and crusty. My dogs all have long noses, so I couldn't help her there. Anyone have any ideas?

How does it smell?

What kind of debris is in there? Black, sticky, or dry flakes of skin?

Is the end of the nose (the black part) also crusted?

What is she using to clean the folds?

The smell is my #1 question.

In fact, why don't you tell her to PM me with those details. I'm pretty bracheocephalic-experienced, and Pug folds may not be a big topic here.



Or wait. Is this a SchH Pug?

I'm a Pug fan -- I'd like to hear the nose-fold discussion.

Katie

OK, then, Angela, if you can post that info ....

She says there is a very slight odour to it.

Texture is gummy, there is a very slight odour - she says kind of doggy-ish smell?. Sometimes there are flakes but mostly just sticky-ish. She also says sometimes his whiskers come out when she cleans that area? And the skin looks pink.

Just the folds, not his actual nose where his nostrils are.

To clean it, she uses a cotton ball, a q-tip, peroxide and then polysporin. Sometimes Canestin (sp?) (anti fungal cream). She cleans it every other day. Sometimes every day if it needs it.

I hope that was helpful LOL. And no, he's not a Schutzhund pug. hahaha... he's actually the calmest and most laid back pug I have ever met! I didn't think they came in the calm variety.

Pugs definitely come in "laid back" varieties. They often have extreme food and couch drive.

There are exceptions, of course!

The owner needs to get the debris analyzed. I would absolutely not go with a "yeast only" diagnosis unless the stuff was 'scoped.

My club has several members who rescue/foster Pugs. I have Pugs in my house too. I have seen (twice with me and several time with others) treatment for yeast "kinda" work, but the problem was really a combination of yeast overgrowth in there having opened the door to bacteria. So yes, it was partly yeast, BUT .....

I found this out a few years ago when my Pug at that time had to have antibiotics for something entirely unrelated and ta-da! Deep fold over the nose was 99% clear for the first time in (literally) years. A little yeast topical cleared it 100%.

I am not a fan of overusing antibiotics at all, which is why I say that even though I have now seen several of these yeast-plus-bacteria messes in the fold, I urge that it be tested first. Suit the treatment to the problem.

If indeed it IS yeast only, this is one kind of yeast overgrowth that I've had success with treating topically. But the debris has to be examined. I would reinforce that even a vet who smells yeast, sees yeast, and says yeast, STILL look for bacteria. They are long-time buddies. And yeast topicals will NOT help with bacteria.

This is all JMHO, but it's formed from some pretty extensive experience.

I would add that no matter what it is, keep it dry in there. That means that if it is yeast only, use the Maloseb pledgets or whatever the vet prescribes, but then hold the fold open to dry it, or blot it after the topical get a minute to sink in. Don't apply moisture and then allow the fold to - well - fold. That's more moisture for the yeast (and bacteria, in fact).

As for the black nose-end, please describe that. Thick brown crust or what?

I have a Frenchie and I use the kirkland bath wipes to clean his folds. The only spot that has anything is right behind what nose he has. It's light brown. Before switching to raw he had the brown stuff in his folds, now they are clean. For his crackly nose I've been using neosporin. Is that bad? I might try some green salve which is recommended for wounds.
Also I wipe his face off with whatever shirt I am wearing when I see his eyes run. At least 2x's a day I wipe his face off.

Healing Green Salve, 1 oz.: Olive Oil Herb Infusion of *Calendula, *Chamomile, *Comfrey, *Plantain, *Lavender, *Rose Petals, *St. John's Wort, *Shepard's Purse, *Oregon Grape Root, *Yarrow, *Beeswax, Vitamin E, *Lavender EO, *Carrot Seed EO, Rara Avis Flower Remedy Blend.
* Certified Organic

The green salve sounds good as long as he can't lick it off as comfrey is not safe to use internally.

If he had a yeasty problem in the folds I might suspect it on the nose as well though.

He licks whatever I put on there so I wont be using the salve then. I guess I'll use the vitamin E in a tube. Thanks for that info on the comfrey.