Every time we do a full groom on your furry friends, we trim the hairs around the lips. This helps keep their mouths smelling as fresh as they can be, and, prevents irritation or obstruction when eating. It also gets rid of the staining. But what exactly causes that change in colour?
Porphyrin is a naturally occurring substance in tears and saliva and creates the discolouration in fur, which is particularly noticeable on light-coloured canines. By itself it is perfectly normal, although it is important to check there is nothing more sinister behind your pooch’s salivation, especially if there is a lot of it.
Dental disease is extremely common once dogs reach around three years of age, with a build-up of plaque and bacteria leading to inflammation of the gums and loosening of teeth. Also, the presence of polyps or growths could be another reason why your pup is dribbling; it is always good to monitor oral health during your daily toothbrushing sessions.
Stress and allergies are another cause for staining around the mouth and feet, particularly if your pet salivates excessively and chews those paw pads. However, in most canines, those floppy lips are just wet with the anticipation of covering you with sloppy smooches! ❤
~ Tania Marie de Saram