Why Does My Dogs Nose Get Dry? Find out in this article.
The quick answer is:
A dry dog nose can sometimes be a sign of an auto-immune disease. there are many other reasons such as warm air, allergies, dehydration. It is best to consult with a veterinarian if concerned.
Quick fix for a dry dog nose is:
The Blissful Dog Nose Butter for Dry Dog Nose. You can order it here.
Dog noses are fascinating little structures.
Not only do dogs use their noses for breathing but dog noses also drain excessive tears from the eyes through tear ducts.
In addition, they have sweat glands, which help to cool the body through sweating. If your dog has a dry, red nose or the nasal skin is flaking, a sunburn might be to blame.
Talk to your veterinarian about a special lotion for protecting your dog from the sun. Dogs with pale or pink noses are especially susceptible to sunburn.
Protecting their sensitive snouts is important because repeated sunburn can lead to skin cancer. Dog noses are also involved in collecting information about the environment. They do this through sniffing, but not all of the “information” is carried through the nasal passage.
When a dog licks her nose, she transfers all sorts of scents to specialized scent detection olfactory glands located on the roof the mouth. This allows the dog to process her environment.
You’re used to your dog’s cool wet nose in your hand, looking for affection. But this time when he nudges you, you notice your dog’s nose is dry and warm to the touch. Does that mean he’s sick? Not at all.
A dog’s nose naturally changes from wet and cool to warm and dry several times over the course of a day. Most times, a dry dog nose is a completely normal physical phenomenon. A dry dog nose is uncomfortable for your dog, but it also interferes with their ability to smell properly.
A dogs’ strongest sense is their sense of smell, in fact, dogs use their moist little noses to analyze and understand the world around them. Dogs can’t smell as well without a moist snout, causing them to become agitated and possibly even nervous.
Why is a dog’s nose wet anyway?
There are two reasons a dog’s nose is naturally moist:
- A thin layer of mucus on a dog’s nose helps him smell. That superior sense of smell is partly due to that moist layer, which helps absorb and hold scents. You might even see your dog licking his nose — a way to actually “taste” the smell, giving him even more information about what it is.
- A dog’s nose is also one of the few places dogs can use to cool down. Dogs don’t have sweat glands like their human owners. Instead, dogs “sweat” from their noses and the pads of their feet.
Common causes for a dry dog nose
Most often, a dog’s dry nose is nothing to be concerned about. Some dogs naturally have drier noses than others, for one thing. A dry nose could simply indicate a dog just woke from a nap in the sun or near a heater or that your four-legged friend needs a drink of water from slight dehydration.
But sometimes a dog’s dry nose can be a side effect of a medical issue, such as:
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.
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.
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.
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.
- If your dog has a dry, red nose or the nasal skin is flaking, a sunburn might be to blame. Talk to your veterinarian about special lotion for protecting your dog from the sun. Dogs with pale or pink noses are especially susceptible to sunburn. Protecting their sensitive snouts is important because repeated sunburn can lead to skin cancer.
- Skin disorder.
If your dog’s nose is cracked, has scabs or sores, he might be suffering from a skin disorder. Your vet can let you know if that’s the problem.
Severe dehydration
A dry nose will likely be just one of many symptoms in a dog suffering from severe dehydration. Other symptoms include sunken eyes, dry gums, loss of skin elasticity, and weakness. Immediately direct him toward the water and seek medical attention for a dog you believe is suffering from severe dehydration.
Odd colored mucus
When examining your dog’s nose, look for any nasal discharge. If your dog’s nose runs, the mucus should be clear. If your dog’s nose has bubbly, thick, yellow, green or even black mucus, see your veterinarian.
What can you do for the common causes listed above?
Take note of the doggy details. When is your dog’s nose dry, is it only during certain times of the day or year? How long have you noticed a dry dog nose?
Taking note of the details can help you discover the cause. Many different things can contribute to a dry nose including weather, dehydration, allergies and more.
Your vet will also be better prepared to help you uncover the cause of your dog’s dry nose if you have answers to important questions regarding the time frame, severity of symptoms, changes in daily routines, etc. Your dog might be a beach babe but his or her nose is not immune to sun damage! A sunburn can cause a dry, flaky and red dog nose.
Knowing what causes a dry canine nose can help you better pinpoint relevant changes. Some of the leading causes of dry dog noses include:
- Weather, extreme heat or cold can contribute to a dry dog nose. Exposure to the sun can cause your dog’s nose to become sunburned. During winter the skin is also prone to drying out, especially if your dog spends time in front of a heater or source of warm, blowing air.
- Allergies to food, plastic water dishes or toys, household cleaning products, and pretty much anything else your dog develops sensitivity to.
- Dehydration.
- Underlying medical issues such as canine skin disorders.
Remove potential dog allergens
The most common allergens and symptoms of allergies see the table below.
| Seasonal allergies. | Food allergies. | symptoms of allergies. |
| Dust. | Beef or Lamb. | Itching. |
| Mites. | Chicken or Pork. | scratching. |
| Pollen. | Wheat. | Hives. |
| Grass. | Yeast. | Ear infections |
| Flea bites. | Corn. | Lumps. |
| Mold. | Rabbit or Fish. | Hair loss |
| Soy or Dairy. | Chewing and licking paws. |
Allergies are a leading cause of dry dog noses. The tricky thing about allergies is different dogs have very different sensitivities. There are a few key contributors you can remove in order to see if it makes a difference.
Plastic is a common dog allergy that can cause a dry, crusty dog nose.
If your dog has a plastic dish for food or water switch it out for a stainless steel bowl. Certain dog foods treat, and household products can also spark your dog’s allergies.
Try and pinpoint any changes to the environment around the time your dog’s nose dried out and became chapped. From here, you can start to remove or change these elements to see if it makes a difference.
Call your veterinarian if your dog’s nose is not getting better
If you don’t see your dog’s nose getting better after making a few changes, you should visit your veterinarian to find out the underlying cause. Your vet can conduct certain allergy tests to see if your dog is allergic to anything in particular, as well as check for more serious underlying conditions.
Diseases that can cause a dry dog nose
There are some diseases that can cause a chronically dry nose.
Auto-immune disorders, such as lupus or pemphigus, can cause changes in the surface of the nose that leads to dryness, cracking, and bleeding.
Auto-immune disorders are diagnosed with blood and urine testing, and a biopsy of the nose. They are treated with immunosuppressive drugs, such as prednisone. Severe allergic reactions to pollen, mold, food, etc. can lead to redness and swelling of the nose, as well as excessive rubbing and scratching of the face.
Allergies can be treated with anti-histamines, and in severe cases, steroids must also be prescribed.
Treatment for a dog with a dry nose
For a case of a chronically dry nose, your dog may benefit from a prescription lotion specifically designed to hydrate and nourish the skin on the nose.
Because dogs are nose lickers, whatever lotion is used must be safe for ingestion. Most skin lotions that are sold over the counter are not safe for ingestion.
It is for this reason that I do not recommend treating the nose with any over the counter lotions unless your veterinarian has specifically recommended it to you. If you notice changes in the way the skin on your dog’s nose looks, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to discuss options in diagnosis and treatment.
Runny nose
A runny nose could also indicate a health issue in a dog. The extra nasal discharge might indicate a serious underlying issue, such as an upper respiratory infection.
While typically a dog’s wet — or dry — nose is nothing to be concerned about, it can be one subtle sign of a larger medical issue.
Most often, if a dog’s dry nose is something to be worried about, you’ll see changes in your dog’s behavior, such as lethargy, poor appetite or vomiting, that indicates a visit to a vet is necessary.
If he seems as spry as ever, it is likely nothing to be concerned about, but still worth monitoring him just in case. Sniffing out the true meaning of your dog’s dry nose allows you to determine if it’s healthy or a symptom about which you should be concerned.
Related Questions
My dog licks his nose extensively. Is something wrong?
Dogs can also lick their noses excessively due to neurological conditions (partial seizures), excessive anxiety, behavioral reasons (dogs will lick their muzzles to signal submission), or because of their nose itches from allergies.
If your dog is acting sick, feels warm, seems to lick her nose excessively, and/or is coughing or sneezing, then it is time to see your veterinarian figure out what is wrong, and then fix it.
My pup had a dry nose since forever. Should I be worried>
A chronically dry nose can be unpleasant for your pup, depending on the root of the issue. Some conditions can cause your dog’s nose to become very dry and cracked, which could be painful. It would most likely feel similar to a human experiencing cracked or raw skin.
These conditions include sunburn or other dermatologic diseases. Some conditions might also cause nasal discharge or crusting, which can be uncomfortable. If your dog is releasing more gunk than normal, the sniffles could be caused by a variety of conditions like allergies, an infection, or even a tumor.
It’s important that pet owners bring their pup in to be examined by a professional if they notice any change in appearance or behavior. Keep that brilliant nose in fighting form, and your pup can continue to sniff with all 220 million receptors.
