How to treat my dog's raw nasal folds when I can't afford a vet?

He may have a skin fold dermatitis. Depending on what it looks like, he may need an oral antibiotic and/or corticosteroid to help treat the infection and inflammation. You could have your vet examine him to determine the best way to treat. I have never used Savalon but Mal-A-Ket wipes are helpful with skin fold dermatitis.

Your dog may have rubbed it raw, under the couch or through the fence maybe? I suggest washing the area gently with antibacterial soap and water. Apply a warm washcloth 2-3 times a day for five minutes at a time to help keep it clean and draining. After washing and the compress, dry thoroughly and apply a dab of antibiotic ointment that **does NOT** contain hydrocortisone to the wound. Steroids will slow healing. An OTC triple antibiotic ointment will suffice. Rub it in well and don't leave any excess for your pet to lick off. If it does not show signs of healing or if your dog develops a fever, loses his appetite, starts vomiting or has diarrhea have him seen by your veterinarian right away. Potential cause may include allergies, infection, automimmune disease or even cancer. An e-collar (cone) may be used to prevent rubbing or pawing.

That looks like either a pretty good scrape or the start of a ringworm infection or an uncommon disorder called eosinophilic furunculosis. I wouldn’t put any medication on it yet, as medication such as cortisone could make it worse if it is ringworm, but I would do a warm water and Epsom salt compress a few times the next 1-2 days. If it starts to scab over and dry up it is probably just a scrape. However if it is getting larger, or if another one pops up then she should be evaluated by a veterinarian soon. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Medicating around the mouth is hard because they tend to lick medications right off. Sometimes just wiping with a warm wet cloth and drying thoroughly once per day can help with a moist dermatitis. Otherwise, you’ll need to see your vet for an oral medication or a medication that is safe to be licked. Best wishes to you and Bentley.

Please trim the fur so you can see the wounds. If they aren't deep please clean it with hydrogen peroxide and apply a thin film of antibacterial ointment on it. If the wounds are deep they may need to be sutured together by your veterinarian. As long as Sully is eating fine and the wounds do not look red or have discharge his skin should heal fine. If the wounds become infected they will be painful, red, and may have a discharge. He would need veterinary treatment then with antibiotics and perhaps pain medication. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Sully.

Brachycephalic dogs (dogs with short faces) commonly develop skin problems in their facial folds. The combination of excessive skin and the tearing from their eyes commonly results in excessive moisture in their skin folds which can easily become infected. There are a number of medicated wipes on the market that your veterinarian can recommend to treat and help prevent skin fold infections since this will likely be a recurrent problem. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Definitely keeping the area clean on a daily basis is one of the best things you can do. Also make sure that you keep the food bowls cleaned with soap and water once a week. This may be related to a food allergy and you may talk to your veterinarian about a food trial with a hydrolyzed diet. Lastly, adding in an omega-3 fatty acid for dogs can help improve skin health overall. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.