How to Cure a Bulldog's Infected Wrinkle

People tend to think of wrinkles as an annoying sign of aging, and do everything they can to prevent or erase them. Not in the case of the bull dog, however! The most adorable part of a bulldog is their loveable wrinkles and cuddly bodies. And if you already own one, you should already know that the proper care for these wrinkles is key to maintaining good overall health. Without proper care, your bulldog’s wrinkles can become red, inflamed, and even severely infected. Read on for instructions on proper daily wrinkle care, and also what to do at the first sign of an infection.

Daily Wrinkle Care:

Wipe your bulldog’s wrinkles thoroughly with a paper towel or cloth DAILY. Make sure you get any “goop” out of them, and wipe them until they’re dry. Every-other day or so, use a wet cloth to wipe out the wrinkles, but don’t forget to leave them dry by wiping them with a dry paper towel or cloth after the wet one. Make sure you are getting ALL the wrinkles! As you know, they have many. The face folds and nose wrinkle are the most prone to infection, but the other smaller face wrinkles and the tail pocket are also important to clean daily.

If your bulldog seems prone to infection or red, smelly wrinkles using the above care, switch it up a bit. Instead of wiping with a wet cloth every-other day, use an acne pad instead. You can buy any brand, but Stridex works well. Thoroughly wipe out each wrinkle with these pads every couple of days instead of using the wet cloth, and continue to wipe with the dry paper towel every day. It can even be a good idea to wipe them out (at least the face folds and nose wrinkle) a few times a day. It’s ok to leave the wrinkles wet after wiping with the acne pads – the salyctic acid will treat the wrinkles and prevent bacteria from growing.

If a wrinkle shows signs of infection:

If you notice your bulldog rubbing his or her face on the ground, a strange smell, or any sign of redness in or around a wrinkle, it is important to take immediate action! You can usually prevent an infection from getting any worse on your own, at home, without having to take them to a vet. BUT- if this method doesn’t show improvement within a few days, it would be a good idea to take your dog to a vet.

First, give them a full bath and scrub all wrinkles (especially the infected area) with a wet wash cloth, in hopes of removing any dirt or lingering bacteria. Dry your dog well. Then, apply a mixture of Triple Antibiotic Ointment or Gel, and Neosporin (equal parts, about a nickel sized total, depending upon the size of the infected area) to the infected wrinkle area. You can buy Triple Antibiotic Ointment at most drugstores. Use generously and leave wet. Try to not let your dog rub the ointment off their faces, although this will be difficult. It should soothe the itching, but some dogs can get antsy just feeling something funny on their face, regardless if it feels good or not. Apply this mixture 2-3 times a day depending on the severity of the infection already. In between applications use a dry paper towel to get any of the old lingering ointment out. A good practice is to do the ointment in the morning, at lunch, and at night, using the dry paper towels a couple hours after each application. If you aren’t able to attend to your dog this much throughout the day (due to work, etc) an application in the morning, and one at night will suffice just fine.

Try this method for at least 3 days, but it can take a week to really do its job. After 3 days, if you don’t see any sign of improvement, take your dog to the vet. If you do see improvement, even a small bit of improvement, continue the method for a week and re-evaluate the situation then. You should notice the infection improving each day, little by little. If the infection was deep and serious, this method will not work, so it is important to use your best judgment and discretion on how bad your individual situation is.

For more information on English Bulldog care, check out my other hub on the subject:

How to Properly Care For Your English Bulldog