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A Green, Smelly Patch Beside a Springer Spaniel's Mouth

by A reader

Reader Question
My 7-year-old English Springer Spaniel is in very good health apart from recurring ear infections. Recently his breath got worse than normal. A teeth cleaning helped only briefly. I noticed a green patch along the left side of his mouth and assumed it was grass staining. The vet gave an oral rinse and antiseptic wipes, which help, but the smell and staining come back. We realized the odor comes from the green patch. I've started alternating the wipes with hydrogen peroxide and planned to add cider vinegar. Something has to work! Any thoughts?


Answer from Our Team

A smelly, stained area beside the mouth in a Springer is very often lip fold dermatitis. Spaniels have deep folds in the lower lip where saliva and food collect, allowing bacteria and yeast to grow, which causes a strong odor and discoloration. It often goes with ear infections, since both are linked to the same skin tendency or allergies.

Daily cleaning with antiseptic wipes and drying the fold well usually controls it. Please skip the hydrogen peroxide and vinegar, which can irritate the skin and slow healing. If it keeps coming back, a small surgery to reduce the lip fold is a permanent fix and works very well.

Ask your vet to check the fold and swab it for yeast and bacteria.

See fungal skin infections in dogs.

This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.

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