Rather than just rub her face on a pillow or furniture, Lenore has this funny way to clean her folds. She rubs them on the edge of the glass bathroom door. The thickness fits right into her fold (her head and folds are admittingly large for a pug) and she does a couple quick rubs on each side in the morning. The first time I saw he do this, I panicked and immediately thought she needed a thorough cleaning or had some itchies. Now she just does it as part of her morning routine. And yes, we regularly check her folds and keep them clean so there is no irritation or infection that she is scratching. She just takes care of business, not even leaving a trace.
Raised by a cat as a puppy, Chewie learned to clean his folds by licking his paws and cleaning them similar to a cat. Le Mops and Lola also did this. be thorough, but they did a pretty good job. We'd go in ocassionally and clean them as well, just to While Lenore knew Le Mops, she didn't pick up many of his cat-like traits.
Now we have Lulu, Patty, and Lyapuff who don't obviously clean their own folds! So we're back to being regular pug owners. As a pug parent, it's important to understand the significance of cleaning your pug's facial folds.
Why is cleaning a pug's fold important?
Pug's facial folds are prone to collecting debris and moisture, creating a breeding ground for bacteria and yeast. Failure to clean these folds regularly can result in skin infections, foul odor, and discomfort for your lovable pug.
How often should you clean a pug's fold?
It is recommended to clean your pug's fold at least once a month to prevent the buildup of dirt and bacteria--more if you live in a moist or humid area. However, if your pug is particularly prone to skin infections or has a deep fold, you may need to clean it more frequently, up to two or three times a week. Some pugs develop clumps of goo that can poke out of the fold--these can look like scabs but are just buildup of dirt and gunk. Make sure to keep the fold clear of these chunks. Lots of visits to dog parks or doggy day care necessitates more frequent cleaning! I found that my apartment dwelling pugs that got multiple walks in the city a day versus having a yard needed more frequent cleaning.
You'll see some guides tell you to clean daily, but unless your pug has allergies or is prone to infections, this isn't usually necessary and can cause dryness from overcleaning. Usually a baby wipe is the easiest way to clean if you are cleaning daily. However, if there is a frequent odor, use a medicated malacetic pad instead. The baby wipe can actually cause more moisture build-up in some cases so the malacetic combats that while treating the yeast.
Like all things pugs, every pug is different, so find the routine that works best for your companion. In the 30 years I've owned pugs, I've been lucky to not have super high maintenance fold cleaning schedules, but there have been moments when more frequent cleaning has been needed. Lola had severe allergies that took a long while to get under control and we had to clean her folds, ears, and paws frequently as part of that care. Once the allergies were under control, she went back to having very low maintenance folds. Adapt, adapt, adapt--we're all used to that when we're owned by a pug!
Additional tips for maintaining a pug's fold:
- Regularly check your pug's fold for any signs of redness, swelling, or discharge, as these can indicate an infection.
- Keep your pug's fold dry to prevent the growth of bacteria and yeast.
- If you notice any persistent issues with your pug's fold, such as a foul odor or inflammation, consult your veterinarian for further guidance.
Anyway, this topic was just on my mind as I watched Lenore rub her face on the bathroom glass this morning. I always check the glass to make sure she isn't leaving any goo behind! Nothing this morning and she seems happy!
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