Newfoundland Skin Fold & Drool Care

A six-year-old Newfoundland with drool and skin fold moisture — that's a very specific daily maintenance challenge. The lip folds and under-chin area especially can get sore fast if they're not wiped down properly. Are you dealing with redness or any smell around the folds, or is this more about getting ahead of it before it becomes a problem?

That pink tinge and smell together usually means the fold is staying damp between wipes — the moisture sits there and bacteria or yeast start building up. It's not an infection yet, but it will become one if you leave it. What are you currently using to clean the area, if anything?

A damp cloth can actually make it worse — you're adding moisture without anything to counter the bacteria. You need something that cleans, dries the area down, and has a mild antimicrobial element. For a Newfie with this level of drool, I'd go daily. The product I'd recommend is Vetericyn FoamCare Antiseptic Pet Spray — it's gentle enough for daily use on skin folds, rinse-free, and it actively addresses the bacteria causing that smell without stripping the skin. A lot of giant breed owners use it specifically on jowl and fold areas. You spray a little onto a dry cotton pad and wipe each fold out, then let it air dry for thirty seconds before he shakes it off.

Yes — Vetericyn is non-toxic and the formulation is designed for use around the mouth and on mucous membranes, so incidental licking isn't a concern. That's actually one of the reasons it's popular for jowly breeds. The irritation you're seeing now should calm down within a week of daily cleaning if you use it consistently. If the pink deepens or starts weeping before then, that's worth a vet visit to rule out a mild yeast infection that might need a topical antifungal — but most cases like yours resolve with routine cleaning alone.