The puppy has a cold and wet nose. Why does a dog's nose become dry and hot?

For many dog owners, this is one of the most satisfying things - you walk into a room and your pet immediately rushes to you, buries his muzzle and sniffs you with his cold, wet nose. In theory it should be unpleasant, but in fact it feels very good wet nose beloved dog.
Have you ever wondered why dogs have wet noses? Your dry nose does its job perfectly, so why do dogs need wet noses? It turns out that there are a number of reasons for this, as well as erroneous opinion regarding dry and wet noses.

5 reasons for a wet nose

Why is a dog's nose wet? Let's count the reasons.

1. Mucus secretion

Do not rush to express your disgust in this regard, it does not mean quite what it might seem. When a dog tries to catch a certain smell, its nose emits a very thin layer mucus, which helps to collect the aroma of the substance, and therefore improves the sense of smell.

2. Licking your nose

This is one of the most obvious reasons, but what causes a pet to lick itself? There are two main arguments.
Firstly, the elongated muzzle and nose easily get dirty, especially if the animal eats its lunch by both cheeks. Licking clears the nose. In addition, the dog licks the substance secreted by the nose. For what? She can actually taste the aromas absorbed by the olfactory glands located at the top of her mouth.

3. Cooling effect

Many owners know that dogs cool themselves by breathing. open mouth, because it cannot sweat, but this is not entirely true. Dogs produce sweat through their paws and nose. A very wet nose can be a way to cool down a bit and get rid of excess heat.

4. Collects moisture

If you've watched your pet sniffing everything outside, you've probably noticed that its nose buries itself in grass, leaves, dirt, etc. In the process, moisture from environment, cooling and moisturizing it.

5. Nature intended it this way

Certain dogs and breeds have colder, wetter noses due to genetics and other factors.

A dry nose does not mean illness

It's time to destroy the myth. Most likely, you have heard that the nose becomes hot and dry if the animal is sick. It is possible that you even went to the vet because of this misleading information. In fact, this is another fiction.
Ask a veterinarian, and he will tell you that a dog's illness is unlikely to manifest itself in a dry nose. Some pets have less moist noses than others, so a dry nose may be normal.
In addition, the temperature and humidity of the olfactory organ changes slightly during the day - wet in the morning, dry in the afternoon and wet again in the evening. It should be remembered that a dog can get sick if its nose is wet and cold.
Instead of worrying about the level of humidity, pay attention to the nasal discharge. If your nose becomes crusty or very wet, it may indicate something is not very good.

So much different dogs– hunting, guarding, herding, friendly, working, what is yours?

Josh Weiss-Rossler

Why are dogs’ noses wet?

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Pets are unable to communicate when they feel unwell. But caring owner can always notice it himself different signs. One of the main indicators of a dog’s well-being is the condition of the nasal mucosa.

The mucous membrane can be dry or moist, hot, warm or cool, clean, with ulcers or wounds. All violations indicate that the functions of this organ are not fully performed, and the reason may lie in both pathology and external conditions.

In dogs, unlike humans, the mucous membrane is located not only inside the nostrils, but also on the surface olfactory organ. It contains a large number of small glands that constantly secrete a mucous secretion. This lubricant performs important function: it contributes to the perception and enhancement of all odors that surround the animal. As you know, for a dog, smell plays the role of the most important sense with which the pet navigates the surrounding world, so the loss of this ability is reflected in general behavior.

In order for the humidity to be maintained at the desired level, the nose should be moderately cool. When its temperature rises, the mucous membrane dries out faster than a new secretion can be produced.

Exceptions to the rules

Despite the fact that a moist and cool nose is considered normal, there are cases when temporary dryness does not indicate a possible serious illness.

If dryness appears for the first time, it is important to pay attention to the following factors:

After long sleep the lobe is often warmer and drier than usual. It goes away within a few minutes of waking up.
Allergy. Most common cause Feeders made of plastic or other materials may cause allergic reactions in domestic dogs. The best option– a stainless steel bowl that almost never causes allergies.
On the hottest days, the air becomes too dry, which affects both the mucous membranes of dogs and people. Unpleasant feeling will go away quickly after treating the earlobe with water or a weak solution of calendula.
Insufficient hydration sometimes appears due to injury. It does not necessarily manifest itself externally, but if a dog hits its nose, the functioning of the glands may be disrupted for a short time, after which it will recover on its own.
After a strong physical fatigue the condition of the mucous membrane may worsen, but as soon as the animal rests, all indicators will return to normal.
Moral worries and stress affect dogs no less than their owners. The cause of a dry nose is often fear, separation from someone in the household, or other dog troubles. When moving a puppy to new house This picture is considered typical. Everything will be restored as soon as the adaptation period ends and the pet gets used to its new place of residence.

In all of the above cases, healthy dog the condition of the nose becomes normal in a short time after the irritating factor has been eliminated.

Cold nose

Too much cold surface lobes can be a sign of a significant decrease in the animal’s body temperature. The rest of the body is covered with fur, so it is the nose that gives an idea of the coolness of the skin.

There are several reasons for this phenomenon:

hypothermia;
colds or viruses;
serious malfunctions in the functioning of internal organs.

IN in this case The main signals indicating that the dog urgently needs to be shown to a specialist are:

dull or watery eyes;
bloodless gums;
cold surface of the ears;
wheezing.

Hot and dry

Too much heat nasal mucosa is almost always combined with dryness. This symptom always indicates a disease that causes fever. The reasons for this are infectious pathology or significant injury, and inflammatory process. First of all, it is important to make sure that the dog is not experiencing heatstroke.

Immediate contact with a veterinarian is necessary in cases where a hot and dry nose is combined with the following symptoms:

weakness, lethargy and sleeping longer than usual;
constant desire drink;
loss of appetite;
increased irritability and aggression;
the dog tries to hide in a secluded place where no one will disturb him;
explicit intestinal disorders(diarrhea, vomiting);
swelling of the nose;
blisters and peeling on the mucous membrane;
frequent sneezing and paroxysmal cough, runny nose;
hoarse voice.

It's good if the dog can measure the temperature. The meaning of this parameter is different for dogs of different ages and size, and also change in pregnant or lactating bitches.

First aid

If a hot and dry nose is detected in an animal, it is necessary to identify the underlying cause. This can be done professionally at a veterinary clinic. It is possible that, in addition to visual inspection you will have to get tested.

But until the dog is taken to the clinic, its condition can be alleviated using basic techniques. To do this you need to follow these tips:

provide your pet with constant access to water;
in case of allergies, remove all flowering plants from the apartment;
in winter, lubricate the nasal mucosa with cotton wool soaked in water or weak saline solution;
treat the earlobe with an ointment based on calendula extract or fresh juice aloe.

The owner must remember that it is impossible to give the animal any medications before examination by a specialist: this may interfere with big picture disease or affect the tests that will be ordered to find the cause.

The condition of the nose is the main parameter by which it is easy to monitor changes occurring in the dog, so it needs to be monitored periodically, comparing it with the norm in a healthy dog. By monitoring it, you can quickly detect the onset of pathological processes and provide your pet with first aid in a timely manner.

Since childhood, everyone remembers that a sign of a healthy dog is a cold and wet nose, and therefore they are often scared if the pet’s nose turns out to be warm and dry. Is this always a cause for concern? Let's try to figure this out.

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Dry cracked nose

Why is my nose dry?

What to do if your dog has a dry nose?

Your pet cannot tell you how it is feeling, so the owner has to guess about the dog’s health based on other signs. What does it mean if a dog has a dry nose? Is this always a cause for concern?

The nose may become dry or wet due to completely harmless, natural causes. Therefore, you need to carefully observe your pet and understand whether there are other signs of a painful state of the body:

loss of appetite - in healthy dog he is always excellent;
if your usually playful dog suddenly loses interest in entertainment, becomes lethargic, prefers to lie down and does not respond to his favorite toys - this is also a cause for concern;
the desire to hide so that no one will bother you;
sometimes dogs behave aggressively during illness, showing irritation at the slightest provocation, just like people;
elevated or low temperature body (normal temperature, depending on the size and age of the dog, is 37.5 - 39 ° C);
peeling of the nose, blisters, rash;
unsatisfactory condition of the coat - if it looks overdried, disheveled and is very tangled;
vomiting, diarrhea, cough, hoarseness are clear indicators that you should immediately go to the doctor.

Why is a dry nose in a dog considered a sign of illness?

Let's figure out first why wet and cold nose- this is the norm. The fact is that a dog’s nose is lined both inside and outside with mucous membrane, which secretes moisturizing substances. It is sensitive not only to odors: moisturized skin senses the slightest air movements. Wild dogs this feature helps to remain “on guard” even during sleep and sense the approach of an enemy by the movement of air.

Nature dictates that dogs need to keep their noses constantly moist to survive. This provides better susceptibility to odors, protection against bacteria and viruses that can enter the body through the respiratory tract. Therefore, violation of the norm laid down by nature is considered an indicator of an increase in body temperature, and therefore illness. However, there is not always reason to panic when your pet's nose is warm and dry.

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

It is always necessary to look at the totality of signs, at the dog’s behavior, whether it differs from the usual. Perhaps there are natural physiological reasons such a condition of the mucous membranes:

age and personal characteristics: structural features are often found in puppies and in some breeds respiratory tract and the mucous membrane, in which it is passive, which gives a similar effect throughout life;
when the dog is sleeping, or has recently woken up: in modern conditions dogs have lost some abilities and characteristics of their wild ancestors, including the function of their nose to “guard” even in their sleep;
stress: when the dog is nervous or scared, a similar effect can be observed for a short time, but you can wait a little, calm the dog, pet it, give it a treat - and soon everything will get better;
for pregnant and lactating bitches this is also the norm;
overwork: the dog actively walked for a long time, ran, fetched a stick, or traveled with you and was just as exhausted - you just need to give him a rest, and everything will be fine;
weather conditions - when it is very hot or, conversely, there is severe frost outside, the four-legged pet’s nose dries out, sometimes even cracks;
too dry air in the house - heating and air conditioning systems dry out the air in our homes, and if it is not humidified, then not only your pet will suffer from dry skin.

That is, if your pet looks active and behaves normally, most likely nothing bad is happening, and there is no need to run to the veterinary clinic. But if the nose is not just warm, but hot, then, for sure, we are dealing with a disease.

What does it mean if a dog has a dry nose and lethargy?

If the dog is weak and has no appetite, it is lethargic and does not behave as usual - this is alarming symptoms, and they definitely need to see a doctor. And the sooner the better, because lethargy is common symptom many diseases.

One of these diseases is worms. Nowadays, domestic dogs are annually “drive away worms” with tablets, and worms are rare in them. Symptoms: lethargy, bloating of the abdomen, problems with recovery, increased or decreased temperature.

Distemper is an acute, rapidly progressing disease. Symptoms: hot dry nose, lethargy, pale mucous membranes, purulent discharge from the nose and eyes, diarrhea or vomiting with foam and blood, refusal of food and water, fainting, convulsions. If such signs appear, consult a doctor immediately!

Rabies - fatal disease. It is transmitted through saliva, and both unvaccinated animals and people can become infected. Main symptoms: hot dry nose, no appetite, but does not refuse water, lethargy, apathy and - especially important! - photophobia. Unfortunately, dogs cannot be cured of rabies - only euthanized. In this situation, the main thing is to keep people safe.

A dog has a dry, cracked nose - what diseases can be suspected?

The most common cause of such problems is allergies. Very often the dog itches, covers its face with its paws, and scratches. The pet's nose cracks and peels, and most often it is dry and cold, rough to the touch.

It is quite difficult to independently diagnose an allergy and find out what exactly it manifested itself to. An exception is if you can clearly link the time between the introduction of new food, the appearance of new household cleaning chemicals in the house, the purchase of new dog dishes - and the manifestation of symptoms. Perhaps these unpleasant symptoms appear more outdoors, then you can suspect an allergy to plants that are currently blooming. However, it is better to undergo an examination to exclude other, more serious illnesses. Moreover, peeling skin is also a symptom of lupus.

Another disease that modifies the surface of the skin is pemphigus. This immune disease is expressed by blisters appearing all over the dog’s body. Over time, they burst and crusts remain on the skin. Pemphigus can only be confirmed by tests. The doctor selects treatment strictly on an individual basis.

Sometimes owners are worried that the dog's nose is covered with a white coating. This usually happens when the dog is sleeping or after waking up. Sometimes this happens on a long road. This white coating- evidence of dehydration. You need to let the dog drink and, if he is hot, make sure he drinks enough water.

It is worth paying attention if pigmentation changes: these can be either breed characteristics that appear seasonally or with age, or signs of serious immune diseases.

Nasal injuries also occur. In our four-legged friends, this organ is much more sensitive than in people, and injury for a pet is a huge stress. Moreover, wounds and scratches should not be lubricated with alcohol, iodine, brilliant green - these products can burn the mucous membrane and cause new suffering to the pet. If, as a result of the injury, it happened profuse bleeding, or you suspect damage to your nasal cartilage, seek qualified help immediately.

Why does a dog have a dry nose while sleeping - is this always the norm?

When your pet sleeps, his body warms up, including his nose. It will remain like this for some time, and only after at least half an hour can you touch it again: everything should be in order. So, when your dog is sleeping and his nose is warm, there is no reason to worry.

From our wild ancestors four-legged pets the nose remained moist and cool during sleep. This helped even in a dream to feel movements around, to know that an enemy was approaching by the vibrations of the air, to which the wet surface was extremely sensitive. However, nowadays in comfortable conditions dogs have largely lost this ability.

As we can see, even the common belief that a healthy dog’s nose should always be cold and wet is not necessarily true. So if your pet’s nose doesn’t feel the same to the touch, this is not yet a reason to panic, but a good reason to take a closer look at your pet.

Having a dog in the house is a huge responsibility for the owner. There are situations when an animal’s nose becomes dry and hot. How to react to this indicator of canine health; is a visit to the veterinarian required in all cases? It must be remembered that in addition to a dry nose, a dog may have any additional symptoms, so you shouldn’t make hasty conclusions; you need to take a closer look at your pet. What to do?

Dry and warm nose should alert the dog owner. There may be several reasons:

The most common reason that causes a dry nose and its warming may be a cold. A loving owner should not only be able to feel the pet’s nose, but also measure its temperature. If the reading on the thermometer exceeds 39, other signs of the disease are visible (sour eyes, lethargy of the dog), it is necessary to begin treating the cold.
Often the cause of a warm nose is allergic reaction. Allergens surround us everywhere. Plastic dishes, household chemicals, food. Dogs, just like people, can react to allergens. If the dog reacts to the allergen, then there will be no other visible manifestations of the disease. You should contact your veterinarian to determine the cause of the allergic reaction.
Dry nose can occur in nursing bitches. This is considered normal, so you should not panic and call a veterinarian at home.
IN summer time A dog exposed to the sun for a long time can get a skin burn. The skin on the nose is not protected by hair, so it is possible sunburn. If you notice a warm and dry nose on your pet, inspect the area where it was located. Dog house It must be installed in a cool place so that the animal has the opportunity to rest in the shade. In addition, you should monitor the presence of cool containers in the pet’s access area. drinking water. In the summer heat, the dog may overheat, which will also result in a dry nose.
During winter, when the weather is cold and windy, the skin on a dog's nose may be exposed to natural factors. Winter cold can lead to dry nasal skin, and in more serious cases it can cause painful cracks.
During walks, or just in the yard, a dog can accidentally get injured. Sometimes an injury leads to symptoms such as a dry nose and a warm nose. If you notice that your dog has a warm nose, you should examine it for injuries or damage to the skin. If your pet refuses to give his paw, he most likely damaged it. It is necessary to determine the severity of the injury and seek help from veterinary clinic, or deal with the problem yourself.
Stressful situations have a negative impact on the dog's body. Having become nervous, the dog may become a little sick, which causes a symptom such as a warm and dry nose.
A dry nose, complete with blisters that appear on it, indicates a disease such as pemphigus. It is classified as a disease immune system. Characteristic signs diseases: blisters with fluid on skin. After the bubble matures, it bursts, then dried crusts appear, which prevent the dog from breathing. The type of pathogen can be determined only after testing.
If, in addition to a warm nose, your dog is lethargic and does not want to play, you should check it for helminthiasis. Worms in large quantities, accumulated in the peritoneum, can cause severe intoxication of the animal. at the same time it can either increase or decrease.
A warm nose can be combined with other signs of distemper. The condition of a dog with this disease is as follows: hot, dry nose, lethargy, purulent discharge from the eyes and nasal passages, refusal to eat, indigestion. The animal may have a staggering gait and may drag hind legs and fall to the side. IN severe cases possible fainting or...

What to do if your dog has a warm nose

In each specific case, it is necessary to soberly assess the situation, your strengths and the condition of the animal. Only then make a decision: show the animal to a veterinarian or help it yourself. Let's consider the main situations in which an animal may find itself.

The dog has a cold

If you suspect a cold, if the dog's condition is not critical, you can get by with home treatment, but if possible, take the animal to the veterinarian so as not to miss it. The first measures that the owner should take when colds pet, the following:

Provide a calm environment, give warm drink And delicious food, which your pet definitely won’t refuse. To maintain strength, it is necessary for the dog to eat at least a little.
There should be no drafts in the place where the sick dog is resting. The room should not be too hot or too cold. It is advisable to provide normal temperature in the room.
It is necessary to go outside, because the dog needs to fulfill its physiological needs. Walking time can be limited to a quarter of an hour.
If the dog is freezing, you can cover it with something warm or even warm it with a heating pad.
You can brush your dog periodically with a brush. This massage activates protective forces the body, helps to disperse the blood and warm up.

On initial stage diseases when the dog does not refuse food and drink, treatment can be carried out with the following medications: Gamavit, Amoxiclav, Cycloferon. To reduce temperature use intramuscular injections Analgin with Diphenhydramine, which is carried out 2 times a day. If treatment does not help and your dog feels worse, call your veterinarian for an examination. It is possible that the animal develops pneumonia. This condition is quite serious and cannot be dealt with without the advice of a specialist. In order to diagnose an inflammatory process in the lungs, the veterinarian must listen to the dog.

If the dog has a cough, wheezing, and there is no way to show it to the veterinarian, treatment begins wide range actions. In order not to disturb the intestinal microflora, you should additionally purchase a drug to normalize the microflora.

If your pet has a high fever, you should not give paracetamol-based medications, they are harmful to the animal. If you don’t know how to give injections, give an Analgin tablet, hiding it in a piece of treat.

Allergies in a pet

This condition can be caused by flowering plants, household items, woolen items, household chemicals, food products. It is quite difficult to determine the source on your own, but you can try. Try to clean the room where the dog is located without chemicals.

Do wet cleaning more often warm water. Dishes must be washed daily without using chemicals for dish washing. If wool, replace it with cotton. When walking your animal, avoid places where grasses and shrubs bloom. If the source of the allergy has been discovered in this way, protect your pet from it.

Climatic features

If the cause of your dry nose is natural phenomena(heat, wind, scorching sun rays), you must use cosmetics and try to protect the animal from the vicissitudes of the weather. For example, in the summer, move the booth to the shade of trees.

Injury

In this case, it is necessary to provide first aid to the pet (stop the bleeding, bandage the wound), then visit a veterinarian. If your nose is injured, you should not use alcohol, brilliant green, or iodine - this can lead to a burn to the nasal mucosa.

Worm infestations

When purchasing an animal for home, you should remember that walking your pet on the street can result in the appearance of. Therefore, all dog owners are recommended to carry out preventive cleaning with special anthelmintic drugs.

If your dog has worms, he may suffer from. Worms can be found in excrement certain types. It is advisable to get tested and begin anthelmintic treatment recommended by a specialist. Among the drugs used to treat helminthic infestations, can be called: Pyrantel, Fenbendazole, Espirantel, Praxiquantel, Febantel.

Plague

Treatment should be aimed at maintaining the animal's internal strength. It is advisable to contact a veterinary clinic, as the disease is quite serious and can result in the death of your pet.

When not to worry

A dry and warm nose is not always an indicator of a canine disease. If the dog is behaving as usual, cheerful and playful, there is most likely no cause for concern. Observe the animal, give it food and water.

A warm nose is not the main indicator, so you cannot react sharply to this symptom alone. Maybe the dog was tired and nervous, which caused the nose to become warm and dry. Warm noses occur in puppies, nursing animals, and pets who have just woken up. If there are no other, more serious symptoms of disease, then there is also no reason to worry. I hope we answered the question: “Why does a dog have a dry nose?”

Most mammals have a natural feature - a wet, cold nose.

Scientists have found that nature decided this for several reasons:

Dogs don't sweat, they just don't have sweat glands. This means that the olfactory organ is a regulator of body temperature.
The nose is covered with mucus. When molecules of various odors reach the mucous membrane, they stop their movement with at different speeds. Thus, animals are better able to understand the odors that come from them.

Nose - main body dog's feelings. If cats perfectly distinguish odors and at the same time have sharp vision, then dogs navigate in space thanks to their nose.

What a healthy dog should look like

Any owner prefers to understand the signs of health or illness of their pet. Let's start with health.

A healthy dog wakes up cheerful and playful and sleeps without snoring. He has a wonderful appetite and is ready to frolic all day. The pet's eyes are moist, but they should not water.

Attention! The dog's body temperature should be kept between 38-39°C. Normal pulse puppies - 115 beats per minute, adults - 16-18 beats.

In addition, pets must have shiny wool, which does not fall out during periods between molts.

Sometimes your dog's nose may be warm, and that's normal.

The main sign of canine health is liveliness, activity, healthy long sleep, sparkling eyes and a great mood.

Situations in which a warm nose is normal

Absolutely normal condition healthy pet– moist (wet) and cool tip of the nose. It is an indicator of the condition of the animal. This information is known to almost all dog owners. However, not everyone knows that the opposite signs are not always symptoms of the disease.

A dry, warm nose is normal if:

the dog is sleeping or has just woken up;
the pet is physically tired. He would run down the street or work out;
the dog is stressed. It happens in puppies when the situation changes.
the weather outside is extreme. Stifling heat or bitter cold;
The apartment has dry air due to intense heating.

As soon as the causes pass, the animal’s body quickly restores the moisture in the nose and lowers its temperature.

A warm, dry nose is a warning sign

If the unusual condition of a dog's nose lasts for a long time and does not change after the pet has rested, then this may be a worrying sign the following diseases:

allergy. Possible reactions to various allergens. For food or a component contained in dry food. For the flowering of dandelions, bird cherry and ragweed. On the plastic from which the water drinking bowl is made. In case of allergies, you need to keep a food diary and carefully observe the behavior and reactions of the animal;
injury. Perhaps you think that your pet is sick, but he hit himself. In this case, there may be damage to the skin or a crust on the lobe;
pemphigus. Autoimmune disease, due to which numerous blisters appear and burst throughout the body. They are easier to spot on the nose;
cold. An increase in respiratory temperature most likely indicates the onset of a cold. Especially if there is a runny nose.

It is not always possible to cope with the above diseases on your own. Your pet will recover faster if you consult a veterinarian.

How does a sick dog behave?

If a puppy or an adult dog most sleeps during the day, has become lethargic and phlegmatic - this is a reason to watch him carefully.

Advice. If, in addition to a dry nose, other, more serious symptoms appear, then you need to urgently contact a veterinary clinic! Diseases develop especially quickly in children. The puppy may die within 1-2 hours.

Main signs of the disease:

there is no desire to take solid food, the animal only drinks water;
eyes lose shine and water;
the fur loses its shine and falls out;
the animal is crammed into a booth or secluded corner;
diarrhea or vomiting appears;
lethargy and unsteady gait.

A healthy dog's nose should be wet and cold. Sometimes, in the above cases - warm. If other alarming symptoms appear, it means your pet is seriously ill.

The puppy has a cold and wet nose. Why does a dog's nose become dry and hot?

Exceptions to the rules

Cold nose

Hot and dry