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Why are there dandruff-like flakes and lumps around my dog's mouth?

Updated on September 23, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Yorkshire Terrier | Female | spayed | 4 years and 5 months old | 8.378 lbs

My dog has clumps and clumps of dandruff like flakes and lumps around her mouth. I don't know what it is could I please get some advice. She is still active and still eats her food. No behaviour changes.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Dr. Strydom, DVM

Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on August 28, 2017

That is a strange place to have dandruff (if that is the only location)! Dandruff is called seborrhea. That is only a symptom of an underlying issue, not the cause. Being next to the mouth I would suspect there is some bacterial overload in the saliva that is causing an infection and subsequent seborrhea in that area. How are her teeth? If there is a heavy tartar build up on them that could be the culprit.

I would suggest you get this leave-on mousse (make sure it gets on the skin) as it will treat bacterial and fungal problems as well as the seborrhea. You may need to trim the hair in the affected areas to make sure the treatment contacts the skin.

https://www.chewy.com/douxo-chlorhexidine-climbazole/dp/110820

I'm not sure if you can get it in Australia so you may have to order it from the US and have it shipped there unless you can find a comparable product locally.

If no improvement with this treatment, or if the teeth have heavy tartar, then I would get her to the vet for an exam.

Hope this helps. Best wishes!
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