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“Why is my dog’s nose dry?” – Reasons For Dry Nose in Healthy Dogs
As we mentioned earlier, a dry nose is not always a cause for concern. Here are several reasons why a healthy pup could have a dry nose:
When dogs sleep, they aren’t licking their noses, so the surface can easily dry out. Your dog’s nose should go back to normal after about ten minutes but if it doesn’t, you can offer them some water to rehydrate them after the nap.
Your dog’s nose can also become dry after hard exercise due to not drinking water and not licking their nose. They can also get a dry nose when they are too excited about something.
The older your dog gets, the drier their nose will become. Older pups produce less mucus, which makes their nasal passages dry.
Exposure to wind and sun can result in a dry nose, as can extreme cold and heat. This should be temporary unless your canine companion has been exposed to the elements for a prolonged period of time.
Brachycephalic breeds such as Pugs and Bulldogs that have shorter snouts also find it difficult to lick their noses. Other breeds such as Spaniels and Lhasa Apsos suffer from blocked tear ducts, which leaves their noses somewhat dry.
Tooth abscess
Dental issues in dogs can manifest as a dry dog nose. One such dental problem is a tooth abscess which can cause severe pain to your pup. This throbbing pain will be felt in the jaw, ear, and as a headache. Skin inflammation follows, causing the mouth area to feel warm and soft.
A dog with a tooth abscess will have problems regulating body temperature. The pup will also have a fever and a dry dog nose.
Dog Dry Nose: What Does It Mean?
While a short-lived dry dog nose is usually no cause for alarm, a skin condition, allergy or underlying disease can cause excessive dryness.
All of these symptoms are signs of trouble and should be evaluated by a veterinarian. Your pup not only has a dry dog nose but may also have an underlying disease destroying their health.
