Dry Nose In Dogs: When Should You Start To Worry?

The dry nose in the dog should not be cause for concern, in most cases.

However, if it is associated with other signs, it may be indicating pathologies with different levels of severity and that will require a more or less urgent consultation with the veterinarian.

Dry and wet noses

Although the truffles of these animals are famous for their humidity, it is normal for them to dry out at certain times of the day and in specific situations. It can occur when puppies:

• They are exposed to the wind or cold.
• They sunbathe for too long.
• They stay in heated and poorly ventilated places.

In these cases, it will be enough to keep your dog’s nose hydrated with a specific cream indicated by the veterinarian and ensure that your pet drinks enough water to prevent dehydration.

Dry nose in dogs: warning signs

There are times when a dry nose is accompanied by more worrisome signs that can lead to acute and serious illnesses.

If your dog has diarrhea or vomiting, the reason for his dry truffle is dehydration. The consultation with the veterinarian must be urgent, since he may be developing life-threatening diseases such as parvovirus or distemper.

For this reason, it is extremely important that you comply with your pet’s vaccination schedule in a timely manner.

Also, distemper can manifest itself in different ways. One of them is cutaneous. In this case, the animal presents dermatitis, with thickening of the skin of the nose and pads.

Dermatological diseases

Among the skin pathologies, there are many that can cause a dry nose in the dog , accompanied by cracks and even sores. For instance:

Discoid lupus erythematosus (LED)

It is a chronic skin disorder of an autoimmune nature, relatively benign and that does not cause systemic involvement. The first clinical signs are concentrated in the nose and are:

• Depigmentation
• Erythema (redness of the skin due to increased blood in capillaries)
• Peeling
• Loss of normal architecture

Pemphigus foliaceus

It is the most common autoimmune disease in dogs and cats. It causes pustular lesions, scabs and ulcers, around the eyes, on the bridge of the nose, ears, foot pads and inguinal region.

Treatment is for life, with immunosuppressive drugs.

Dry nose and opportunistic diseases

A weakened immune system usually favors the appearance of opportunistic diseases that can have your pet’s nose as their epicenter.

This is the case of aspergillosis, a fungal infection caused by a species of fungus that is very common throughout the environment.

There are two types of infection by this fungus: nasal and diffuse.

Nasal aspergillosis

The infection is located in the nose, nasal passages and frontal sinuses.

The animal will also present:

• Sneezing
• Nasal pain
• Bleeding from the nose
• Loss of appetite
• Visibly swollen nose
• Mucus that may contain pus and blood

• Depigmentation

Keep in mind that, in the event of opportunistic diseases, in addition to specific treatment, your dog’s defenses must be strengthened with a suitable diet and a vitamin supplement that the veterinarian should indicate.

Other causes including dry nose as a sign

Pay attention to the following data:

• A dry, flaky nose can be caused by prolonged exposure to the sun, as we already mentioned. But sometimes  sunburn occurs, especially if the animal has a pale or pink nose.

In this case, the dog could develop skin cancer, so it is recommended that you protect it from solar radiation.

• If a runny nose, cough, sneezing and difficulty in breathing are added to the dry nose, the animal is probably experiencing a respiratory problem.

• L also allergies as can cause dryness in the nose of your pet. For example, certain ingredients found in animal feed, such as wheat, or chemicals used in plastic bowls.

In these cases, a change in diet and stainless steel feeders and drinkers is imposed.

Beyond obvious signs that indicate an urgent visit to the vet, consult the professional if you have any questions about your dog’s nose.