Black crusties around mouth

[shaynar]

My dog gets black crusties but it appears to be black goop that clogs up her fur. It doesn't seem like it is an infection it's more saliva and food and dirt build up. What's the best way to get rid of it once it forms?. We can't pull it off it hurts her too much and water doesn't do the trick. I don't want to use something that will make her sick either

[Margot49]

Keeping the hair trimmed is a good idea.  You could try rubbing cornstarch in the hair and then try combing it out it not too matted.

[Ghilly]

What breed of dog is she?  Does she have long hair around her mouth?  If so, you can have a groomer (or you can do it yourself if you have clippers) give the hair around her mouth a close shave, so to speak, to remove the hair that the food and dirt cling to.  Eliminating the hair should eliminate the problem.  I tend to agree with you that it's a combination of saliva, dirt and food build-up, and it's pretty common in dogs with "beards".

Ghilly