Gunk Face

[Campo26]

Hi Everyone. So I have a two year old male BM and I've noticed over the past month or so that he's been getting this black gunk build up in one of his folds on one side of his face. I clean it everyday, normally with a baby wipe and then with a dry paper towel, but every day there is more black build up (dry) coupled with brown (wet) goo. He was recently at the vet for a whole other issue and I mentioned it to her but she said he didn't have an eye infection. Any suggestions as to what I can do to stop/minimize this? Not only is it pretty gross, but it seems to be uncomfortable to him, I'll catch him rubbing his face on his bed. He's also on Benadryl daily for his allergies, not sure if that would affect anything. Thanks in advance!

 

[tmricciuto]

I've not heard of that, so not sure I have any advice. My pups are just 7 months and I clean their mouth flaps every time they eat or drink.

I'm interested to hear what other's have to say.

 

[Boxergirl]

I think you mean the fold by his eye? That's pretty common in brachy breeds. I could see it being an issue if your BM has a muzzle on the shorter side. A few of my boxers have had this problem and you definitely do have to keep it clean and as dry as possible or the skin can become infected. I always clean the area and then apply a little vaseline, bag balm or something to protect the skin that is safe to use close to the eye. I've not really found any way to stop it when it's not due to an eye infection. I did find that my dogs with allergies had more eye discharge, so the Benadryl is a good idea.

 

[DDSK]

Possibly could be caused by food allergy also.
Are you feeding chicken and or grain based foods?
If so might want to change to a chicken and grain free food and see if it clears up.

 

[DennasMom]

I'd opt to use some coconut oil and not the baby wipe. There might be something in the wipe that's not agreeing with him, so it's not allowing it to heal.
Coconut oil has good anti-fungal and anti-yeast properties, and is very soothing. Safe for use around the eye, too.

If there's a yeasty smell to it, apple cider vinegar might be helpful (as a wipe), too.

I agree with going chicken and grain-free for food - that might help you reduce the need for the benadryl.

 

[Yamizuma]

I'd opt to use some coconut oil and not the baby wipe. There might be something in the wipe that's not agreeing with him, so it's not allowing it to heal.
Coconut oil has good anti-fungal and anti-yeast properties, and is very soothing. Safe for use around the eye, too.

If there's a yeasty smell to it, apple cider vinegar might be helpful (as a wipe), too.

I agree with going chicken and grain-free for food - that might help you reduce the need for the benadryl.

Yep. Our friend's Neo gets very goopy from allergies, both food and environmental (grass, etc.).


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[Campo26]

hmm I'll def try the coconut oil / apple cider vinegar. thanks for that! he has very bad allergies, both food and environmental. He's actually allergic to chicken (found that out the hard way when he was a pup). I have him on Taste of the Wild - Pacific Stream. His skin still isn't great plus now this eye thing but his stool is normal with it at least. Breeder had him on Nutro Natural - chicken and he got to a point where he was reacting very badly. I don't know if I would cause more harm than good switching his food again?

 

[tmricciuto]

I wouldn't switch his food unless you were thinking of going to raw. My girls can't have chicken kibble, but I've given them chicken feet and a piece of breast and they didn't have any reaction. Some others have said on the boards that they think the reaction has to do with how it's processed.