Your dog may not give you the hairy eyeball, but have you ever gotten the hairy mouth? If so, your dog’s teeth could be at risk.

What we’re talking about here is a dog’s own hair that can get wedged under the gums during self-grooming. Especially with short-haired breeds, coarse hairs can be loosened with licking. And if a dog is overgrooming, say due to allergies or parasites, lots of hair gets swept into the mouth.

You might be able to see some bristles poking out between your pooch’s teeth. But even if you don’t, they can still be causing gum irritation and inflammation, which can lead to painful infections.

Fortunately, there’s an easy fix. Your veterinarian can show you how to use a cotton-tipped swab or toothbrush to gently remove those hairs. And at the same time, they’ll check for causes of overgrooming.