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How to treat my dog's mild lip fold dermatitis at home safely?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Male | neutered | 1 year and 9 months old | 36 lbs

I suspect that my dog has lip fold dermatitis. It looks fairly mild for now. Is it possible to treat at home by keeping clean and dry? If so, how? Are there any ointments I can apply? PS. There is usually less redness. The photo is after I cleaned and patted it dry. This has been like this for about a week now.

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Published on August 8th, 2018

You can try cleansing with some diluted betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) solution. Try not to get any in his mouth. Keep the areas as dry as possible. Any ointment applied will likely get licked off. have your veterinarian examine Benny if daily cleansing does not improve the inflammation.
If you use plastic bowls for his food and water, consider switching to ceramic or stainless steel. Plastics have been implicated with allergic reactions.

7Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Linda G, MS, DVM
Veterinarian
Hello. Yes, this does appear to be lip fold dermatitis, but only with a veterinary visit can this be confirmed. It can be due to an allergic response to either diet or inhalant allergens, or it can be due to an infectious agent resulting in mucocutaneous pyoderma. Normally, we would try treating this with a minimum of 4 weeks of antibiotics while applying a steroid/antibacterial/antifungal ointment. At home, make sure water & food dishes are stainless steel or ceramic & not any type of plastic. You can gently clean the area with an antibacterial wipe, such as Hibiclens ( available at all pharmacies ). I would do this each time your pet eats & drinks. If it does not seem to be clearing up, or the condition worsens, please see your veterinarian for follow up care. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
6Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Published on August 12th, 2018
Use warm water and a soft cloth. Gently cleanse the area using diluted Hibiclens. Dry it thoroughly afterwards.
You don't need a large amount. Try to keep it out of Benny's mouth. A little won't harm him, but it doesn't taste good.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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