A dog’s nose is a wonderful thing. 300 million smell receptors (we have 6 million), and their nostrils separate air into breathing and for sniffing via the little fold. Each nostril works independently as they enable the dog to see the world in 3D. A dog’s nose print is equivalent to our fingerprint and the average dog produces a pint of mucus every day – wow! Impressive – that’s why it’s important for us to get to know our dog’s nose.
My dog has a wet nose
You’ll hear lots of guardians say ‘my dog is ok her nose is wet and cold’ – does this imply a dry and hot nose means they are not OK? Well……..we need to take it in context. What is their normal for a start? This week’s top tip – get to know your dog’s nose.
- Generally, a dog’s nose is dry when they have been inactive and moist when active – if you notice anything different to this check for any signs of illness showing in your dog’s body. Have they just run a marathon? Is it hot outside? Are they dehydrated? Vomiting / Diarrhoea? Context!
- Check for any changes between the 2 sides – size/decolourisation (loss of pigmentation) /breathing more from one nostril or other.
- Check for foreign bodies, are they sneezing a lot?
- Are they dry and cracked on 1 side only? Are there any sores or bumps? Sunburn?
- Is there an unusual /coloured/smelly discharge? Do they have a runny nose?
- Dogs should not have nose bleeds – take your dog straight to your vet.
As you can see it’s invaluable to get to know your dog’s nose so you can be aware of any changes but if in doubt always consult your vet.
Thank you for reading today’s article.
Louise James, Momentum Clinical Canine Massage
