They’ve experienced harsh weather
Your dogs nose may also dry out when its exposed to harsh weather conditions. Being outside in very sunny, dry, or windy weather can make the nose lose moisture more easily and possibly cause irritation or sunburn.
“Just like human skin, dogs rely on humidity too – cold, dry winters are tough on all of our skin,” Sypniewski says.
Your dogs nose may also get dried out indoors if they sleep too close to a vent or heating source.
What can be done about a dry nose?
In most cases, no treatment is needed when you notice your dog’s nose is a little dry but don’t see any of the other signs listed above. Perhaps your dog may have just woken up or got a little dehydrated after heavy exercise. Offer him or her some water and see if that helps.
However, if your dog’s nose is sore and crusty or you notice the signs listed above, it’s best to visit your vet to rule out anything more serious. He or she will carefully examine your dog’s nose and the rest of your dog as well.
In some cases your vet may want to biopsy your dog’s nose. He or she will do this by collecting a small tissue sample from your dog’s nose and sending it to a veterinary pathologist for evaluation under the microscope. This technique is especially helpful for diagnosing autoimmune diseases because the cells will have a distinctive appearance. With these conditions, having a definitive diagnosis is important because the treatment involves immunosuppressive medications.
If your vet suspects your dog has hyperkeratosis or a breed-related dry nose, you’ll be happy to hear that this is often just a cosmetic issue. However, because it can lead to fissures and bleeding, it’s a good idea to try to soften and remove the excessive crusty material.
Applying a balm to increase hydration can be helpful. You can try lanolin or puncturing a Vitamin E capsule and rubbing the liquid contents on the nose. Commercially available products such as Snout Soother® are also popular. Another good option is Dermoscent BIO BALM®, which has been shown to improve hydration and suppleness of the nose when used daily. Ensure you do not accidentally obstruct your dog’s nostrils when you apply any of these nose balms.
Why is my dog’s nose dry?
Now that you understand how your dog’s nose normally stays wet, let’s talk about what it means when your dog’s nose is dry. Some of these eight reasons for a dry nose are completely harmless while others are more worrisome.
This one is pretty simple. When your dog is fast asleep, he or she is too busy dreaming to be licking his or her nose. Dogs will often have a dry nose when they first wake up, but it will soon become wet again once they resume their usual licking.
Hard exercise, not having a drink of water for a while, or illness can all cause your dog to become dehydrated. This can dry out the surface of the nose. In mild cases of dehydration, the dryness resolves once your dog has a big drink of water. If it persists beyond a few days or if your dog is showing other signs of illness, it’s best to have your vet check him or her out.
Dogs with short snouts are referred to as brachycephalic (which literally means “short-headed”). This includes dog breeds like Pugs, Bulldogs, and Boxers. Because of their adorable smushed faces, these dogs usually have trouble getting their tongue to reach their noses. Since they may not be able to lick their noses effectively, this means they will have a drier nose than their longer-nosed counterparts do.
Dog Dry Nose: What Does It Mean?
As a dog parent, how often have you thought to yourself, “Why is my dog’s nose dry? Do I need to call the vet?” It can be hard to know what to make of your dry-nosed pup, but integrative veterinarian, Dr. Julie Buzby, is here to help. She describes how a dog’s nose stays wet, lists eight reasons for a dry nose, and explains when a vet visit is in order.
Did you know that part of your dog’s amazing ability to detect smell depends on your dog’s nose staying wet? That wet nose has a very important purpose. The moisture traps odors and helps give your dog his or her amazing sense of smell.
So, should you be concerned if your dog’s nose is suddenly dry? During my years as a veterinarian, I have talked to countless dog parents who were worried because they noticed their pup’s nose was dry and warm rather than being cold and wet. It is understandable that they would be concerned because most people have heard the old wives’ tale that says a warm, dry nose means a dog is sick.
Thankfully, although there are a lot of reasons for a dry nose, the majority of them aren’t a cause for concern. To understand why your dog’s nose may be dry, first let’s discover how your dog’s nose gets wet.