What does a dry nose mean in a dog? Pet health: why does a dog have a dry nose? The dog has a hot nose and paws

Owners of four-legged friends often ask why their dog has a warm nose and what it could mean. This is because they are worried about the health of their pets, not wanting to miss the time when a simple malaise turns into a serious illness.

Features of the structure of the nose in dogs

It has long been noted that a dog’s nose should be moist and cool. The moisture in the nose is ensured by the constant secretion of special mucus, which is evenly distributed throughout the animal's nasal mucosa. The main purpose of this lubricant is to form a special filter, invented by nature, with the help of which the dog distinguishes odors much better.

If the nose dries out, the ability to better distinguish odors is lost. In wild living conditions, this can have dire consequences: it did not recognize the prey, did not eat on time, fell ill, or died. Fortunately, most dogs on planet Earth do not face such a fate, since people themselves find food for their younger brothers, completely ensuring their survival.

Science claims that a dog's wet nose increases the ability to distinguish odors several times, to accurately recognize where they came from, and to separate the overall smell into its constituent components. The nose, like the tongue, is a thermostat, one of the organs for maintaining constant balance in the animal’s body.

Causes of a warm nose in a dog

It’s worth noting right away that a dog’s dry nose does not necessarily indicate the presence of health problems. Experienced dog breeders say that if a dog has a dry and warm nose, this may indicate:

Temporary dehydration of the body. This problem is easily solved. The owner should place a bowl of clean water within reach. Considering that dogs often eat bones, water is vital for them, as it is actively used to create digestive juices for digesting heavy food.

Temperature extremes (high, low). The animal does not have time to adapt to weather conditions, which leads to temporary drying of the mucous surface of the dog’s nose. As soon as the weather returns to normal, the natural state of the dog’s nose will also return to normal;

Natural state of a dog. If from a very young age the dog had a tendency to have a dry, warm nose, this does not mean that it was sick. This is especially true for small individuals;

The beautiful creature has just woken up. Veterinarians say that during sleep, the dog’s body heats up intensely, which leads to drying of the nasal mucosa not only on visible surfaces, but also inside. After the pet gets up, runs a little, drinks some water, scratches itself, the nose will quickly return to normal. To summarize, we can say that if you notice that your pet’s nose has dried up, but his behavior is still characterized by the same cheerfulness and ease, then there is no reason to worry.

When should you worry about your dog's nose?

So, we have already looked at some of the reasons why a dog has a warm and dry nose. If the desiccation of an organ is accompanied by lethargy, apathy, and loss of appetite, you should start to worry, as this may indicate an imbalance in the animal’s body. It can be:

Just like in humans, allergies in dogs are quite common. The dog reacts very sharply to incorrectly selected food, a sudden change in the usual diet, the use of cheap plastic plates that contaminate food with toxins, poor-quality bedding, the presence of strong aromatic substances in the air, and pollen.

For obvious reasons, you should not immediately put your pet on antihistamines, which will bring little benefit. It is better to systematically and purposefully look for the cause of acute reactions that indicate trouble. Dog handlers advise not to use plastic bowls, especially for water, to construct bedding from natural fabrics with minimal use of dyes, and to observe how the dog reacts to this or that food.

Injuries

The inflammatory process due to injury can also dry out the dog's nose. In this case, there will be a reluctance to move, a tendency to rest frequently, drowsiness, lameness and other symptoms. In this case, you need to provide your pet with quality rest for a while, allowing him to regain his strength.

Infections

If your dog has a warm, moist nose, this may indicate the presence of an infectious disease. Measuring your temperature can confirm your guess, especially if it is above 39 degrees.
If it is clear that the dog has contracted an unpleasant disease, you need to look for the cause that caused it, go to the veterinarian, who can choose the right treatment, improve the diet, making it natural and as varied as possible. When poor health is accompanied by signs of diarrhea and vomiting, the nose will become not only dry, but also very hot due to lack of fluid in the body.

Cold

Some people don’t even realize that dogs can catch a cold, especially if they have to sleep in a room where there are constant drafts and no basic heating. In this case, the nose will be dry and cold. In this case, phenomena such as periodic sneezing, coughing, wheezing during breathing, snoring during sleep (due to nasal congestion), muscle tremors (increased body temperature) will be observed. In such cases, it is worth reducing the calorie intake, ensuring easy access to water, keeping the pet in a warm, dry room, and temporarily limiting walks in cold air.

Pemphigus

Sometimes your pet's nose becomes dry and covered with crusts that fall off. Small blisters constantly form, which open on their own, and new ones appear in their place. This unpleasant symptom indicates that the dog is developing a disease associated with a violation of the proper functioning of the immune system - pemphigus. It is unlikely that you will be able to cope with it on your own without professional help; you should go to the veterinarian.

Other serious diseases

A warm nose may also indicate the development of distemper and even rabies. But you shouldn’t make such diagnoses right away. These diseases have very clear symptoms, when the dog refuses food, staggers, falls on its side from weakness, and pus is discharged from the nose and eyes. And with rabies, the pet will look for a secluded place for complete privacy, and will react sharply to light and the presence of people.

So, every dog owner should understand that if the dog’s nose is dry and hot, you should not immediately run to the veterinarian. You just need to carefully observe the behavior of your ward. If the behavior does not change, the animal is active and mobile, eats with appetite, then there is nothing to worry about.
If deviations in the condition of the nose are accompanied by a pronounced change in the physiological balance of the animal, then it is worth looking for the reason that caused it, calling on the professional experience of a veterinarian to help. He will help make the correct diagnosis and prescribe the correct treatment.

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There are always times when a pet is not feeling well. Usually the owner notices this and immediately feels the animal’s nose. If it is cold and damp, the dog is healthy, but if it is dry and warm, perhaps there are some problems with the animal’s health. However, a dry nose does not always indicate the presence of a disease. There can be a lot of reasons for this. But how do you understand when a dry nose is the norm and when it is a pathology? In what cases can you calm down, and in what cases should you start sounding the alarm and contact a veterinarian? Within the framework of this article, various options for dry nose in dogs will be considered.

Dry and warm nose is not always dangerous

Since ancient times, there has been an unchanging tradition of determining the condition of a dog by feeling the nose. The thing is that previously there were no thermometers or other devices to determine the health status of a pet, so this method was the most popular. And veterinary hospitals did not yet exist. First, let's talk about why a wet and cold nose is considered normal.

The surface of a dog's nose is covered with a mucous membrane that produces moisturizing secretions. A dog needs a nose not only to detect smell, but also to respond to the slightest temperature changes. When a dog is in a dream, this organ is responsible for the possible approach of an enemy and controls all the processes occurring nearby. The animal's olfactory organ is able to control body temperature, infectious diseases and weakened immunity.

In what cases is it normal for a dog to have a dry and warm nose?

Features of the animal's body and age. Often similar manifestations occur in puppies. This is due to the growth and restructuring of the body. If no accompanying symptoms are observed, then there is no need to worry. The baby will just grow up and everything will pass. Some pets, due to the structural characteristics of their bodies and breeds, have a slow metabolism. In such cases, constant dryness of the nose is a manifestation of a normal life process.
The dog just woke up. If a pet is kept in comfortable conditions, then over time it loses its ability to be in a constant state of anxiety and alertness. Thanks to this, the animal’s life expectancy increases significantly, but the nose “dries out” more often. In cases where an animal rests in a specially equipped sleeping house or under a blanket, its body heats up and its nose “dries out.” After waking up, your pet just needs to drink water and everything will be fine.
Experiences and stress. If an animal has experienced some kind of emotional shock and is very worried, calm it down, give it something tasty, provide it with care and affection, and place it in a calm and quiet place. The main thing is that the animal’s nervous system returns to normal, and with it the functioning of all organs returns to normal.
Fatigue. After long and heavy physical exertion, the animal may feel a loss of strength. Do not worry. This can be easily restored. The main thing is to provide the dog with complete rest and adequate nutrition. After rest, the animal will regain strength and return to its usual rhythm of life. It happens that during long trips or when moving to a new place of residence, the animal completely refuses to eat and behaves quite strangely. The most important thing here is to monitor the dog’s condition. If there are no additional signs, then it will be enough to simply play with the pet, provide it with attention, affection and care. Very soon he will return to normal and get rid of his worries.

A dog’s very cold nose and ears are a clear indicator of hypothermia in the pet’s body. Here you need to change the temperature, but if your pet’s eyes are dull and drooping, and the gums have a pale tint, we immediately go to the veterinarian. Sometimes it is very difficult to distinguish between ordinary fatigue and pathologies of various organs.

Animal nose:

smooth surface;
the surface of the nose is covered with cracks, itches and flakes.

Pet's body temperature:

temperature high/low;
Temperature readings are normal: from 37.5 to 39 degrees.

Animal's well-being:

The dog is cheerful, active, has a good appetite and willingly plays with its owner.
The dog is looking for a quiet and dark place, does not want to eat or drink, constantly scratches its skin, and behaves aggressively.

Pet fur:

has a healthy shine, pleasant to the touch and cool;
hair becomes tangled, tangled, and looks unhealthy.

How does a dog breathe?

breathing occurs without difficulty using the nose;
the dog has difficulty breathing through his nose, there is congestion, sneezing, and inflammation.

Digestion of food:

the animal behaves naturally;
There is diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, and the inability to go to the toilet if desired.

If all the answers from this plan have a positive connotation, then rest assured that the animal is up to something and most likely there are problems on a psychological background. Perhaps the dog lacks attention, care or affection. But, in order not to overthink anything unnecessary, seek help from a veterinarian for the sake of prevention. This will be beneficial for your pet and your nervous system. If the plan contains more negative answers, then it is recommended to immediately take your pet to a veterinary hospital, especially if you have just recently gotten an animal and this is your first experience.

In what cases does a hot nose indicate an animal’s illness?

Allergic reactions are the most common problem. Associated signs: the pet constantly scratches its skin, covers its muzzle with its paws and becomes very nervous. Constant body twitching, dandruff and flaking of the skin appear. It is very difficult to independently determine the allergen and it is hardly possible to do without the help of a specialist. Of course, you can try replacing all the animal’s dishes with stainless or ceramic ones, and removing all synthetic items and carpets. The diet will also have to be radically changed: only porridge and broth will be left. Carry out wet cleaning of premises more often, refusing to use household chemicals. You should note in a notebook every item that is removed from your dog's use. Walk your animal away from flowers that can cause allergic reactions. As soon as you notice an improvement in your animal, immediately go to the doctor for further therapy. Sometimes tests can identify the type of allergen, but if this doesn’t work the first time, continue to keep a diary and write down all the items that you remove from your pet’s household. Only with such small steps can one cope with this disease and detect the allergen.
Pemphigus is a completely immune disease. The main symptoms of the disease are the appearance of blisters on the nose or body of the animal. The bubbles burst, leaving a crust in its place. It can only be detected with the help of tests that confirm one or another type of pathogen.
Cold. It can occur in the form of a common runny nose, or it can develop into a more severe form - pneumonia. It is worth remembering that this complication is much more severe in dogs than in people and ends in death much more easily. Therefore, it is very important to show your pet to a veterinarian in a timely manner. The specialist will examine the dog's chest, listen to it and decide what to do next.
Plague. A very acute disease that quickly becomes severe. Signs: apathy, formation of pus on mucous surfaces. Diarrhea and vomiting mixed with blood, convulsions.
Rabies. This disease poses a serious threat to both animals and people. In animals, unfortunately, it is incurable. Signs: photophobia, aggressiveness, lack of appetite, but the dog is very thirsty. If a dog gets rabies, it is euthanized.

If you notice certain symptoms in an animal, you should not worry about guessing, but immediately visit a veterinarian, because sometimes an extra minute will help save your pet’s life.

Video: how to understand that a dog is sick

The nose is free of any infections that have affected her. For example, an animal that has just woken up has a dry nose, and this does not indicate any pathology. After 15-20 minutes of wakefulness, everything returns to normal. You can also have a dry nose.

In situations where the animal is nervous, the nose may dry out and feel warm to the touch. In this situation, there is no need to take the dog to the veterinarian. It is enough to remove the source of stress and stay for a while, wait until she calms down, caress the animal, give it a treat.

If your pet spends a lot of time outside in the summer, his nose may simply get burned. There's no need to panic, but next time be vigilant and apply a little sunscreen. A similar situation can occur in severe frosts. Just like the skin on the hands of people who don't wear gloves, the skin on a dog's nose can dry out and begin to crack.

What diseases are a sign of a dry nose?

The most common cause of dry nose in dogs is allergies. Often its source can be regular contact with plastic. If your pet's bowls are made of this material, replace them with glass, metal or ceramic ones. However, as in the case of humans, anything can act as an allergen, including any food product, pollen or dust.

If you have a cold, your dog's nose may also be dry. In addition to this, there will be other symptoms: runny nose, sneezing, coughing, hoarse barking. Observe your pet's behavior. A sick dog becomes lethargic, does not want to play with its owner or go outside, and may refuse to eat and hide in a secluded place. To make sure your assumption is correct, the animal needs to measure its temperature, and if it is above 39 degrees, contact a veterinarian.

A dog's dry, warm nose can also signal injury. In this case, you may also find swelling, scabs, ulcers, and swelling. In this situation, it is also better to take the animal to a veterinary clinic to avoid infection.

Dogs have an autoimmune disease called pemphigus, which causes their sense of smell to become dry and warm. After this, blisters appear on its skin, which burst and form a crust, preventing the animal from breathing. The pet must be shown to a specialist who will give advice on treatment.

The dog's nose is the main sense organ, which is capable of distinguishing about two million odors. In a healthy dog, it is usually cold and wet. This is due to the secretion of liquid secretion by the lateral and vestibular nasal glands. In addition, the nose is involved in the thermoregulation of the dog’s body: when exhaling through the nose, liquid secretion evaporates, which contributes to the overall cooling of the body. Thanks to the moist surface of the nose, the dog understands odors better and is able to detect the slightest vibrations in the air.

Causes of dryness and fever in a dog's nose

There are a number of physiological reasons for a pet's dry and warm nose that the dog breeder should not worry about.

A dog's nose can be dry and warm during sleep and for 10 minutes after it, in case of fatigue after physical exertion, in extreme heat and in severe frost. Such a reaction of the body may be the result of stress or fear.

At the birth of puppies A nursing bitch often has a dry nose.

When dehydration, the dog may experience a dry nose. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly monitor the presence of fresh water in your pet’s bowl, and also regularly change the water after meals.

The pink nose is susceptible to sunburn. So if the nose is cracked, red, and the skin on it begins to peel, you can use sunscreen and limit exposure of the animal to direct sunlight.

Some dogs have a special nose structure and a slow metabolism, so throughout their lives they are characterized by a dry and warm nose. To make your pet feel better, you can periodically lubricate your nose with calendula.

However, if your four-legged friend’s nose remains warm and dry for a long time, there are several reasons for this.

Injury

Dryness of the nose can occur due to trauma to the nose, a strong blow, or a burn. In such cases, it is necessary to seek the help of a veterinarian.

Allergy

With food allergies, skin itching, redness on the skin, gastrointestinal upset, ear inflammation, and lacrimation are observed. Skin allergies can occur to flowers, household chemicals, hygiene products, synthetic fabrics, pollen, and insect bites. In this case, itching in certain areas of the skin does not go away after using antibiotics.

To prevent allergies, it is best to use natural products when washing your dog's bowl. When choosing dishes for eating food, it is better to choose glass or metal rather than plastic. If the allergy is caused by blooms, you should reconsider the dog's walking area.

Lack of vitamins

The nose becomes dry and slightly cracked when there is insufficient amount of vitamins A and D in the dog’s diet. Retinol (vitamin A) is found in egg yolks, fish oil, dark orange and dark green vegetables and fruits, chicken and beef liver. Sources of calciferol (vitamin D) are dairy products, cottage cheese, beef, egg yolks, fish oil.

Autoimmune disease (pemphigus)

The cause of a dry and warm nose can be an autoimmune disease such as pemphigus, in which blisters with liquid appear on the skin, including the nose. The diagnosis of this disease is made based on the results of a skin biopsy.

Colds

If a dog has developed a cold, that is, an acute respiratory disease (ARI), or an acute respiratory viral infection (ARVI), then in addition to a dry and hot nose, other symptoms will be present. Just like a person, a dog loses its appetite, develops a cough and runny nose, and has an elevated body temperature. For small breeds, the normal body temperature is 38.6 - 39.3 degrees. Large breeds of dogs typically have a temperature of 37.4 – 38.3 degrees. At the same time, the norm in puppies is a temperature slightly higher than in adult animals.

You can measure your dog's temperature with a mercury or electronic thermometer. This procedure is performed rectally. It is better to measure the temperature when the dog is in a calm state, in order to exclude the possibility of frightening the animal and, as a result, damaging the thermometer.

Helminths

Worms can lead to intoxication of the dog's body. In this case, in addition to a dry nose, symptoms such as unstable stools, difficulty swallowing food, vomiting and itching in the anal area will appear. The general condition of the dog will be lethargic, because helminthiasis weakens the animal’s body. Therefore, for prevention purposes, it is recommended to periodically give the dog anthelmintic drugs.

Plague

If a pet is infected with distemper, the primary symptoms include: dry hot nose, pale mucous membrane, loss of appetite, diarrhea and vomiting with foam (blood), fainting, and convulsions. This disease progresses quickly, so if you have the above symptoms, you should urgently seek help from a veterinary clinic. To avoid illness, it is recommended to vaccinate the animal in a timely manner.

Rabies

Such a dangerous and incurable disease as rabies is contracted by dogs that do not have the appropriate vaccination. In addition to a dry and hot nose, there is a lack of appetite, apathy, and photophobia.

Every breeder must know the symptoms of diseases such as distemper and rabies, so that if the animal becomes infected, contact a veterinarian in time.

To summarize, we can note the following: in the absence of symptoms of the disease and the dog is in a cheerful mood, a dry and wet nose is a temporary phenomenon associated with physiological reasons, so there is no need to panic.