FACTS OF CORELATION BETWEEN DRY NOSE OF DOG & ITS HEALTH

It’s commonly thought that you can tell a dog is healthy if his nose is cold and wet, but this isn’t necessarily true. Not only does a cold, wet nose not always indicate good health, but a warm, dry nose doesn’t automatically mean a dog is sick.

A cold, wet nose means a healthy pup. That wet nose is part of the reason why your dog has an amazing sense of smell. The wet nose draws in tiny particles to be examined by your dog’s olfactory glands.

So, if your pooch has a dry nose, should you be concerned? What are some reasons why dogs have dry noses? Most of the time, a dry nose is nothing to worry about, but it could be a sign of something more serious. Below are six reasons why your dog’s nose might be dry.

1. Sleeping

It’s completely normal for your dog’s nose to become dry while he’s sleeping. This happens simply because your dog is not licking at his nose while he’s asleep. His nose should be nice and wet again within 10 minutes of waking up.

2. Warm Air

Do you ever wake up with a dry, scratchy throat during the winter months? That’s probably due to the flow of warm air from your heating vents. Warm airflow can have the same effect on your dog’s nose. Has your pooch been sleeping right next to a vent to keep warm? His nose should regain its moisture once he moves away from the vent.

3. Allergies

Dogs can get allergies just like humans can, and one of the symptoms of doggy allergies is a dry nose. You can talk to your veterinarian about getting a prescription allergy medication to relieve your dog’s dry nose.

You can also control the dryness by dabbing on a little petroleum jelly, coconut oil, or olive oil. It’s important to keep your dog’s nose moist, because the skin can start to crack if it stays dry for too long.

4. Plastic

Aversion to plastic is quite common for dogs. You may be able to relieve your pooch’s dry nose just by switching his plastic bowls for ceramic or stainless steel bowls. Also, take away any toys that have plastic on them; rubber is a good replacement.

5. Sunburn

A dry nose could actually indicate sunburn. To prevent this problem, apply a doggie sunblock (available online or in pet stores) to your dog’s nose before taking him outside. You can also use a regular sunscreen that is designed for babies.

6. Dehydration

Has your dog been drinking enough water? A dry nose could be a sign of dehydration. If there is plenty of water available for your dog to drink, but he is not drinking, you should take him to the vet.

Most of the time, a dry nose is nothing to worry about. But chronic dry nose, or a nose that has cracked, could be a sign of a more serious issue. In those cases, your vet can review the symptoms and determine what is causing your dog’s dry nose.

Why Is A Dog’s Nose Often Wet?

In order to discuss a canine’s warm nose, it’s important to understand why a dog’s nose is often wet and cold.

Here are a few proposed explanations:

• Housekeeping: A dog’s nose gets into everyone’s business, not to mention his food dish. He constantly licks his nose to keep it clean, leaving it cool and wet.

• Cooling off: A dog is covered with hair and is unable to sweat through the skin like a person does. Instead, dogs dissipate body heat through their mouths, by panting, and through their wet noses, by evaporation. Special mucous glands inside the dog’s nostrils produce the clear, watery fluid that helps speed the cooling process.

• Scent detection: A dog’s sense of smell is approximately one million times greater than ours. It’s thought that a wet nose helps absorb the tiny water droplets that carry a scent, making the most minuscule odors easier to detect.

Why May a Dog’s Nose Sometimes Be Dry?

• A healthy dog’s nose is often warm and dry after sleep.

• For some dogs, a dry, chapped nose is normal, especially with age.

• Dehydration or exertion may cause a warm, dry nose.

• Lying in the sun or spending time near a heat source may result in a dry nose.

When Should I Be Concerned About My Dog’s Nose?

The temperature of your dog’s nose is a poor gauge of overall body temperature. If your dog has a warm nose but is alert and acting normally, he’s probably in perfectly good health. However, there are some times when a dog’s dry, warm nose could be of concern. If it is associated with any of the following signs, see your veterinarian right away:

• Listlessness.

• Acting painful.

• Poor appetite.

• Redness and/or the flaking skin on or around the nose.

• Presence of nasal discharge.

• Cracked nose or sores and scabs on the nose.

Even if your dog’s nose is wet and cool, any of the above signs require a visit to the veterinarian.