Probably every dog owner touches their pet’s nose from time to time. And it may well happen that instead of the usual damp and cold skin, he will feel dry and hot. A hot nose in a dog is an alarming sign. What to do in such a situation? And is it necessary to do anything at all? These questions are definitely worth addressing.
A hot nose is an alarming symptom
Features of the structure of the nose in dogs
It’s worth saying right away that dogs need their nose not only to breathe and follow a scent. This is also the main way to cool down. Yes, unlike humans, dogs do not have sweat glands through which moisture could be released, thus cooling from its evaporation.
That’s why dogs often lick their nose—moisture evaporating from the surface promotes cooling. And in hot weather, animals also stick out their tongues, thus increasing the cooling area.
There is another version. When the nose is wet, it improves your dog's sense of smell. That is, most of the time, when the dog is not sleeping, it deliberately licks its nose, moistening it and better perceiving the world around it thanks to its sense of smell.
Fact ! Just as a person perceives most information through vision, dogs learn about the world through their sense of smell - it is the main sense organ for them.
What should a healthy dog's nose look like?
If we summarize all of the above, it is easy to draw a certain conclusion. During the day, the dog should have a wet and cold nose. If it is wet, then the dog feels normal - it enjoys exploring the world around it, like its wild ancestors, watching everything that happens.
Well, it should be cool simply due to the fact that saliva, evaporating from the leather surface, cools it perfectly. And any other condition, although not always, can be a deviation from the norm. This means that the owner, having noticed that the dog has a hot and wet nose, should monitor it more closely so that, if necessary, immediately seek help from specialists. Still, it is better to prevent any disease than to treat it in an advanced form.
Paw diseases in large breed dogs
First of all, obvious symptoms appear that clearly indicate that the paw is not in order. This:
- lameness;
- the desire to move less and lie more;
- clumsy walking, the pet whines, stepping on the damaged paw;
- the dog's attempts to strain the sore paw as little as possible.
Then other symptoms appear, which depend on the characteristics of the disease. For example, the owner notices that the dog begins to chew its paw. This may be caused by:
- poor hygiene and condition of nails;
- joint pain;
- numbness of fingers;
- allergies, itching or tick bites;
- fungal diseases.
The desire to move less and lie more is one of the signs of an unhealthy dog
The list of possible reasons is extensive. Paw diseases can be caused by:
- deep wounds, severe bruises;
- mechanical injuries of closed or open type, dislocations and sprains;
- viruses, bacterial infections, the appearance of parasites;
- pathologies of the musculoskeletal system identified at birth;
- problems with the development of the puppy or age-related changes in the joints;
- reduced immunity;
- obesity;
- problematic metabolism, hypovitaminosis or vitamin deficiency.
Treatment must be prescribed by a veterinarian
Treatment is carried out by a veterinarian. In the most complicated cases, surgery cannot be avoided.
Children often experience hip dysplasia, a disease that is inherited. It is diagnosed in dogs during the period of intensive growth - from 4 to 10 months. It becomes difficult for puppies to get up after sleep; they limp for a long time. If left untreated, the symptoms intensify, and the four-legged animal faces complete immobilization.
Visual representation of hip dysplasia
What are the reasons why dogs have a hot nose?
In fact, the reasons why a dog has a hot and dry nose can be different. It is worth citing the main ones:
- If the room is too hot and dry, for example, during the heating season.
- After significant physical exertion, when the dog experiences lethargy simply due to overwork and fatigue.
- After waking up or when the dog is sleeping.
- If the dog is experiencing fear or excessive nervous excitement.
- In case of sudden changes in weather - in the heat or, on the contrary, on especially frosty days.
So, if your pet has a warm and dry nose, this does not mean that he has health problems. And if so, then why drag her to the veterinarian, distracting the specialist from important matters and, in addition, exposing the pet to unnecessary stress.
This is why an experienced dog owner should know exactly when there is cause for concern and when everything is fine. This will allow you to make the right decision and, in a difficult situation, do exactly what is needed to save the animal’s life.
By licking its nose, a dog regulates its body temperature
Bruises and wounds of paw pads in dogs
Typical for hunting and service dogs. Occurs due to a long run over rough terrain, frozen ground, icy snow, or a road with coarse sand. Symptoms include the dog’s refusal to move; when walking, the animal does not want to lean on a limb. Abrasions, wounds and scratches are noticeable on the pads; burns are possible due to contact with lime, boiling water, acid or alkali. Severe cases are characterized by skin sloughing and non-healing ulcers.
Treatment
The dog needs complete rest. Before treatment, the paw is examined for the presence of foreign bodies - large splinters, pieces of glass or wire. Foreign bodies are removed, and the wound is surgically cleaned of infection. Then an antiseptic bandage is applied.
If the cause of the disease is abrasions, treatment with antiseptic aerosols - Chronicilin and Kubatol - is prescribed. Treatment with Streptocide or Xeroform under a protective bandage is possible. In cases of severe pain, a cold compress is applied to the paw.
Abrasions on a dog's paw
When should you pay special attention to your dog's health?
An alarming sign is when a dog has a hot nose combined with shortness of breath or simply rapid breathing.
Of course, this does not apply to those cases when breathing has become faster simply due to significant stress, for example, when running in the yard. After all, a person, after running several hundred meters, feels that he has become hot, and he begins to sweat, and it becomes difficult to breathe. For a dog, this is exactly the same situation, which means there is no need to panic again.
Attention! It is worth thinking about your pet's health if the nose remains hot for several hours.
Well, of course, it’s a bad sign if a pet refuses to eat, preferring to sleep a lot and avoid playing with its beloved owners. You definitely shouldn’t hesitate here - the sooner you visit the veterinarian, the better it will be for the dog.
When not to worry
However, as mentioned above, a warm and dry nose is not always an alarming indicator. When can you ignore it?
As already mentioned, if the dog spent the whole day on its paws, ran a lot and now breathes frequently, actively licks its nose, and the latter still remains wet and hot. The dog simply cools down - after a few hours or even minutes everything returns to normal.
In addition, if the pet has recently woken up or is still sleeping, then the nose should be dry. After all, in a dream, the dog practically does not lick his nose. This habit was inherited from ancient ancestors. If a dog sleeps at night, it obviously isn't hunting. Therefore, he does not need a heightened sense of smell. And if so, then there is no reason to worry. When your pet wakes up and stretches, the first thing he will do is lick his nose, and it will become the usual cool and moist feeling.
But to make sure that your pet doesn’t have any health problems, it’s a good idea to take his temperature. This indicator will tell you much more about your well-being than just a dry and warm nose.
On a note ! Dogs with short muzzles (French bulldogs, boxers, pugs) may have problems licking their nose. Because of this, a crust and even cracks can form on the skin.
Bulldogs may have problems with nose licking.
Dog diseases
We turn to doctors most often in cases where the disease has gained momentum or is in an advanced state. This also applies to our pets. This is partly due to financial problems, when we cannot afford to take the dog to the veterinary clinic once again, or out of pity for our pets, because they have a very difficult time, psychologically, withstanding such visits. To prevent serious health problems for your pet, take a few minutes each day to perform a basic checkup. The fact is that when a dog is sick, this most often affects its behavior, but this does not always happen.
Start your inspection from your pet's face. It is believed that a healthy dog's nose should be cold and wet. However, some breeds are the exception to the rule and have dry and warm noses. The only and unshakable thing is that there should be no crusts or discharge on the nose. Don't rush to panic if your dog has a warm and dry nose, check and compare several symptoms, which will be discussed below.
Clean and clear eyes indicate the health of the dog. If you find redness, inflammation and discharge, this indicates eye diseases, but it can also be a manifestation of other dangerous diseases. Cloudy eyes are most often a warning sign of glaucoma. When there is pain in the eyes, the dog squints.
Healthy white teeth are not only an indicator of oral health, but also the overall health of the pet. Often, diseases of the teeth and oral cavity indicate diseases of the internal organs. A bad odor from a dog's mouth can indicate diseases of the teeth and gums, gastrointestinal tract or kidneys. While brushing your teeth, pay attention to the color of the gums and tongue, which should be pink, sometimes with black pigment spots; a pale or vice versa red color, as well as yellowing or blueness indicates the beginning of the development of the disease.
Examine your pet's ears; ideally, they should be pinkish in color, elastic, clean, without any discharge; when you touch them, the dog should not feel any pain. In other cases, you should consult a veterinarian for advice.
Obesity is the source of many diseases affecting both the gastrointestinal tract and the heart. Therefore, do not allow your pet to gain excess weight. Carefully feel the dog's ribs; they should be palpable, but not protruding. If you cannot feel the ribs, it means that the animal has developed a layer of subcutaneous fat. Inspect your pet visually from above; if the dog is of normal weight, the waistline will be clearly visible, whereas in an obese dog it will not. Regulate the daily feeding rate, limit the amount of food, increase the dog’s physical activity. Excessive protrusion of the ribs is also considered a bad sign, which indicates that the pet is malnourished or has a disease.
The belly of a healthy dog should be smooth and clean, without damage. An alarming symptom and a reason for a visit to the veterinarian is a bulging abdomen, especially for thin dogs, with the exception of pregnant bitches.
Another clear indicator of good health is a shiny and beautiful coat. If bald spots appear that are practically not overgrown with hair, it means that the pet may have a skin disease or an internal one associated with poor nutrition, vitamin deficiency, or hormonal imbalance. Proper balanced nutrition and taking vitamins for dogs will help restore the skin and coat.
When a dog has problems with its paws, it is usually immediately visible in its gait, and lameness appears almost immediately. But from time to time you should inspect the paws yourself, without obvious signs of disease, check the pads and each toe, examine the condition of the claws, perhaps they should be cut off with special tweezers.
When a pet lives near you for a long enough time, it develops certain behaviors that you remember on a subconscious level. If you notice any deviations in usual behavior and it continues for more than a day, take your pet to the veterinarian; these may be signs of malaise or an incipient disease.
The main alarming symptoms that you should pay attention to and take your pet to the doctor: persistent loss of appetite, increased body temperature, inactivity, lethargy, frequent vomiting (more than three times a day) or vomiting blood, diarrhea (more than a day), sneezing and cough (more than a day), severe thirst (more than a day).
In severe cases of illness or serious injury, dogs may lose consciousness, usually with their pupils dilated and unresponsive to light. Breathing becomes almost unnoticeable, either rare or, on the contrary, frequent. By looking at the gums, you can determine the state of blood circulation; when it is impaired, the gums become pale and take on a bluish tint.
Large breed dogs sometimes experience bloating. Typically the dog will experience shortness of breath and gagging without vomiting. If you do not consult a veterinarian in time, it can be fatal. In such cases, surgery may be necessary.
If you find that your pet is having problems urinating, you should contact your veterinarian immediately. This concerns slowing down, difficulty urinating, and the presence of blood in the urine.
Kidney failure and diabetes in dogs manifest themselves in increased thirst, as well as frequent and unexpected urination when the dog is just at home, and not during a walk.
If a dog has a seizure or convulsions, this can be either the result of epilepsy or signs of poisoning or brain injury. In any case, a visit to the veterinarian is simply necessary.
Take care of your pet and take a few minutes to examine it. As the saying goes: “Forewarned is forearmed.” May your pet be healthy and delight you with its love and pranks.
When to contact a veterinarian
To avoid unnecessary confusion and the reader can always understand what to do, it is worth once again listing those cases when it is better not to hesitate and take your pet to an expert or invite the latter to your home:
- The nose remains dry for several hours, although the dog is no longer sleeping.
- If a hot and dry nose is accompanied by a general decrease in activity (this does not apply to sedentary dogs who do not like to run at all).
- If, in addition to this alarming symptom, the dog refuses to eat, but drinks a lot and avoids contact with others, even snaps at attempts to play with him.
Often this symptom is associated with an allergic reaction. The reasons are very different. For example, if some flower has bloomed in the apartment, the pollen of which irritates the pet’s mucous membrane.
Or a dog bowl made of low-quality plastic - this is why many experienced dog handlers recommend using metal cups for feeding, as they are safer.
