Can you guess what is the greatest nightmare of every Frenchie? Well, despite they are famous for being so gorgeous and unique, these affectionate pooches have one hidden smelly spot. As you already know, the French bulldog tail is naturally cropped and makes them prone to experience the issues with a so-called pocket.
What is a French bulldog tail pocket?
French bulldog tail pocket is a dark and moist place hidden deep beneath his/her tail. Unfortunately, it is prone to collect dirt and feces which may lead to the development of serious infections. That’s why is extremely important to regularly clean your Frenchie’s tail.
Unlike facial wrinkles that are easy to spot, many batpig owners are not aware of the fact that their pooches have tail pockets until they start to release a bad smell. French bulldogs like all other dogs like to roll and climb in the craziest places you could ever imagine. Of course, cleaning of your dog’s fur is easy, but what about his/her tail? Well, you’d better take a better look what’s going on in there!
How to properly clean a French bulldog tail?
First of all, I advise every Frenchie owner to clean their dog’s tail every time he/she went to potty. You can use a simple baby wet wipe (because it’s free of alcohol) and to gently clean beneath his/her tail. If you take a better look at this area, you will see the debris and moisture that can cause your Frenchie’s tail to become red and swollen.
A dog that goes through an infection will show inflamed skin that is painful of touch. The feeling is similar to a rash, so your Frenchie may feel like his tail pocket skin is burning.
If you want to thoroughly clean the French bulldog tail, I advise you to use a mix of mild water and baby soap. You can apply this solution on a cotton ball and to gently clean the skin around your dog’s tail. The next step presents the cleaning of the pocket. I advise you to use gloves before you start to perform the cleaning. You might not like the odor of the debris that may end up on your hands.
Lift your French bulldog’s tail gently and clean the shallow layer of the hairless skin. You can do this by using a mix of water and baby soap, or a 50-50 solution of water and apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is famous for its anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal effect. This magical mix can also be used in case your pooch suffers from a Yeast infection.
On inflamed and red tail pocket skin it’s safe to apply a baby diaper rash cream with Zinc. Zinc strengthens the skin and can reduce the amount of natural oil the skin produces.
Possible French bulldog tail issues
Hemivertebra or screw tail is a congenital condition where a dog’s vertebra is deformed/twisted. This type of issue is common in brachycephalic breeds such as French bulldogs, English bulldogs, and Pugs. While some batpigs may not experience any difficulties in walking, others may feel pains and weakness. In order to escape your pooch to suffer from this issue, I advise you to carefully choose a French bulldog puppy. Note that only buying a puppy from a reputable breeder can save you from paying high medical bills in the future.