Wondering how to take care of your bulldog’s tail pocket? A lot of people don’t realize their Frenchie even has one until it becomes infected. Common for wrinkly dogs, a tail pocket is a gathering of excess skin that creates a small “pocket” directly under a dogs tail (similar in structure to a human belly button). Sometimes this pocket can collect debris, hair and even fecal matter throughout the day, and if not cleaned regularly can become irritated or even infected. If left alone, an irritated tail pocket can cause your Frenchie to excessively scratch and scoot on their tail area. It can also cause swelling, dryness, infection, and more. It’s very important to clean the tail pocket to prevent bacteria growth, and you should also make sure you’re drying the area well after each cleaning.
BULLDOG TAIL POCKET CLEANING TIP #1: CLEAN THE AREA, CAREFULLY REMOVE ALL DIRT AND DEBRIS
Use a moist clean rag or hypoallergenic wipe to gently clean the area, removing dirt until the area is clean. Bulldog tail pockets are sensitive so proceed with extreme caution and a gentle touch. Clean your Frenchie’s tail pocket daily until the infection heals. Thereafter, you can clean your dog’s healthy tail pocket a few times each week to prevent future infections.
TIP #2: ALWAYS DRY
After cleaning it well, make sure to dry the space. Moisture can easily be trapped in the pocket and cause infection, so you want to make sure it’s dry. If your French bulldog has been experiencing an irritated, moist tail pocket then follow up with some Wrinkle Paste. Squishface Wrinkle Paste forms a water-resistant barrier that will keep moisture, fungus & bacteria from gathering. Squishface Wrinkle Paste, in particular, is made with hypoallergenic plant-based ingredients so your dog’s sensitive skin won’t be irritated. Linked here: https://squishface.myshopify.com
How Often Should You Clean the Tail Pocket?
The frequency a tail pocket needs to be cleaned depends on your pup. A good indicator that you’re not cleaning it often enough is if a bad smell is coming from the tail area or if you notice your dog frequently scratching or scooting on the carpet. To start, try cleaning it at least once a week. If there is a lot of buildup and dirt in the area during this weekly cleaning, then increase the frequency to two to three times a week. If an infection has already occurred, then it can be helpful to gently wipe out the pocket once a day until the irritation subsides.
It can be easy to miss a tail pocket, especially if you’ve never seen one before. Regularly checking the area can help you catch any problems early on. You don’t want to miss an infection or it could become a serious issue. Properly caring for your pup’s tail pocket is the best prevention method of avoiding irritation. As long as you keep a dog’s wrinkles clean, your fur baby will be happy and healthy.
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