He Was Taking a Cat Nap
When your dog is asleep he’s dreaming, not licking his nose. Therefore, it’s common for your dog’s nose to dry out while they nap. Once they wake up, they’ll be licking away, rehydrating their nose.
Think about it, when you work out and sweat a lot, you become dehydrated. The same goes for your faithful friend. If you’ve just taken him for a run, or he was running around with his playmates at the park all day, he’s going to become dehydrated too. His nose will be proof of that.
Once he rehydrates, his nose will return to its moistened state.
Older pups tend to have drier noses. It just comes with age, like gray hair and wrinkles in humans. It’s nothing to worry about, but you could always dab some dog-safe balm on his nose to help keep it moist. He would do the same for you.
Certain dog breeds like Bulldogs and Pugs that have shorter snouts also have trouble licking their noses. Other breeds like Lhasa Apsos and Spaniels suffer from blocked tear ducts. Both of these things leave them with noses on the drier side.
A little dog-friendly moisturizer will fix that right up.
Just like us, dogs can suffer from allergies, which causes their noses to dry out. Dog’s can have environmental-related allergies, skin-related allergies, and even food-related allergies.
If the allergies are severe, your pup may need allergy medication.
We often forget that most furry animals, such as our four-legged companions, have skin. Especially the dog breeds that tend to have thin, light coats and pink or pale noses, paw pads, eyelids, and ears, are more susceptible to sunburn.
If your pooch gets sunburn, it’ll cause his nose to dry out and possibly crack, depending on the severity. If you own one of these thin-skinned breeds, be sure to invest in dog-safe sunscreen for those long outdoor play days.
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.
History has told us that a dog’s nose should be wet at all times. And, because we never want to second guess our choices when it comes to our pets, we often ask ourselves, “Does my dog’s dry nose mean they are sick?”
Now that you know more about your dog’s snout, if they are showing symptoms beyond just a dry nose, contact our emergency care team at our Union location as soon as possible. Our experienced veterinarians and support staff are available from 7am – 11pm every day to help pets in need.
Most often the answer is no. The temperature of your dog’s nose will fluctuate throughout the day based on the activity and location of your pup. In fact, some dog breeds are known for having dryer noses than others.
Dogs’ noses are moist to help enhance their sense of smell and to regulate their body temperature. So, depending on how hot your dog’s body is at the moment, may determine how wet their nose is until they cool down.
It is never recommended to focus only on one health symptom when your furry friend appears ill. Many times, if your dog is in need of veterinary help, there will be multiple symptoms present. It is very important to monitor a variety of health indicators such as appetite, water intake, sleep pattern, energy, and behaving differently around the home.
Dog Dry Nose: What Does It Mean?
Summary: What does it mean if a dogs nose is dry? Well, in this blog we learn all about why some dogs noses are dry and some are wet! Learn what the reasons are behind a dogs dry nose and a dogs wet nose, and how to help keep it healthy too…
Have you ever been greeted by your pooch in the morning, to find that their nose isn’t as moist as usual? Have you panicked, thinking that your dog’s dry nose is a sign that something might be wrong? Well, it’s easy to worry about your pups nose, but before you do, there could be a few surprising reasons why its so dry! Chances are, your dog is absolutely fine… But, they do say that a wet nose means a healthy dog. So, what can it mean when its not?
Your dog’s nose will change from wet to dry and cold to warm all throughout the day, so noticing a change in their nose isn’t too strange, but there are some cases where you should be concerned.
You only need to worry if you notice your dog’s nose start to bleed, crack or leak, other than that, your pooch’s dry nose is normally nothing to worry about.
Lots of dogs will wake up with a dry nose. Either from a nap or from a deep sleep, your dog’s nose will be dry when they wake. While your pooch is sleeping, they won’t lick their nose, which in turn will decrease the moisture on the surface of the nasal area. This will happen to pretty much every dog, so if that’s when you notice their dry nose, don’t worry about it at all. Give it 10 minutes after they have woken up, and your pups nose should be back to normal. If it doesnt, try to encourage your dog to drink some water, as they might be dehydrated from their slumber!
The changes of the season can be quite unkind to your dog. From cold winters to scorching summers, both kinds of weather can cause your pup’s nose to become a bit warm and dry. A lot of exposure to the sun can cause some real problems for the sensitive skin around your dog’s nose, including sunburn! Certain breeds, particularly ones with thin coats or pink skin on their nose, are a lot more prone to getting a little burnt in the sunshine. Although, that doesn’t rule out all other dogs, too! Be mindful and make sure your dog’s nose doesn’t get burnt in the summer months.
During the winter months, you’ll no doubt turn your heating vents up higher. Your dog will most probably snuggle up by the hot air for warmth, which will warm and dry out their nose. Just like when your dog wakes from a nap, give them 10 minutes away from the stream of hot air and their nose will be back to normal.
The older your pooch gets, the drier their nose will become, it’s just a fact of life. Senior dogs produce less mucus, which can then dry out their nasal passages.