The puppy has a dry nose and no appetite. What does a dry and warm nose mean in a dog (what is the nose of a healthy dog ​​like)

A dog's wet nose is caused by physiological characteristics animal, formed in the process of evolution and natural selection. The vast majority of people are convinced that wet nose in a dog it is always a sign good health pet. If, on the contrary, the dog’s nose becomes dry and hot, then this is a sign that the animal is not feeling well, especially if its nose is hot and dry for more than 24 hours.

Speculation and theory

Above this, it would seem very a simple question Scientists have been fighting for years, but there is still no clear answer. But really, why should dogs have wet nose? The main version of why a healthy animal has a cold and wet nose is that it is one of the main instruments of heat exchange besides the tongue, which dogs stick out when they are hot.

It would seem that this is a rather primitive way of thermoregulation of the body, but it triggers a deep and imperceptible process - a change in electrolyte and salt balance blood from a dog. This happens due to the fact that the body rapidly loses fluid and salts, thereby slowing down the metabolism. The breakdown of carbohydrates, which affects the dog’s body temperature, depends on the animal’s metabolic rate.

It is also necessary to take into account the factor that sweat glands dogs are very poorly developed. They are located in only two places: on the nose and paw pads. Therefore, these glands take an active part in thermoregulation. When a dog breathes deeply and frequently, the liquid secretion sweat glands evaporates, which is how the dog cools down. A wet nose plays the same role.

This is interesting! Scientists also have an additional theory as to why healthy dogs should have a wet nose. The mucus secreted by special glands helps improve the sense of smell, as it attracts odors like a magnet.

If the dog is experiencing positive emotions, then her nose becomes even more moist, this is due to the fact that other glands associated with the emotional center are responsible for this.

In general, all versions are correct and valid, but which of them is the main one is a mystery.

The main causes of a wet nose

It has long been accepted that the nose healthy dog should be wet and cool, this is a sign that the dog is feeling well, but this is only partly true. There are several reasons that explain why a dog has a wet nose. Let's look at them in more detail.

Reason one

Everyone knows that dogs have a sense of smell several thousand times stronger than humans.. Thin layer The mucus produced by special glands covering the dog's nose helps to capture odors, acting as a kind of magnet for substance molecules, and this in turn significantly increases the sense of smell and sensitivity to odors. The ancestors of domestic pets are wolves and wild dogs with the help of a strong sense of smell they could quickly find prey and survive in harsh conditions.

Reason two

Most obvious reason The only reason your dog has a wet nose is because he is constantly licking it. This is done for hygienic purposes. After all, it is absolutely clear that after eating or walking, the nose constantly gets dirty and clogged with dirt, which can impair the sense of smell, which is the dog’s main tool for orientation in space. Dogs also lick their nose in order to clear it of traces of old mucus, which has accumulated traces of “old” odors.

Reason three

Many dog ​​owners know that dogs regulate their body temperature by breathing. open mouth and sticking out their tongue, since they cannot sweat, but this is not entirely true. Dogs sweat on their paw pads and nose, causing it to become wet. Thus, a wet nose is an excellent heat exchange tool that nature itself created.

It helps the dog cool down when he is hot. When, on the contrary, it is cold, the nose becomes almost dry. Thus, the health status of the animal has nothing to do with it. Some scientists suggest that it is through the nose, and not through the mouth, as previously thought, that the thermoregulation of the animal’s body is carried out.

Reason four

Dogs often involuntarily wet their nose when they drink water or eat. You probably noticed when you were walking with your pet that he sniffs damp grass and this causes additional moisture to fall on his nose. This also makes your nose wet. But this reason is certainly not the main one, but only an additional one.

Reason five

This is interesting! Some dog breeds have a colder, wetter nose due to their structure. respiratory system and other properties characteristic of a given breed of animal.

For example, at service dogs In search breeds, the nose is especially strongly and abundantly moistened. This is due to the fact that service breeds were formed on the principle of selecting animals with the strongest and most subtle sense of smell.

In representatives of other breeds, whose sense of smell is not so strong important role the nose is less moist, for example, in dogs of fighting or decorative breeds.

Here are the main reasons why a dog's nose should always be wet and cool if the dog is healthy. However, in rare cases, the nose may become temporarily dry, but this is not always a cause for concern.

What if your dog's nose is dry?

Don't immediately run to the vet if your dog's nose becomes dry and a little hot.. It may dry out various reasons and this is not always associated with serious diseases. So the nose may be dry after a long and deep sleep, especially if your dog slept in a warm place. During sleep, the dog does not see or hear, all processes slow down, so mucus does not secrete from the nose and the tip of the nose temporarily dries out. But after the dog wakes up, the nose will again begin to function as usual, mucus will be actively produced and it will become wet again.

It often happens that the dog lies with its muzzle buried in its paws, which also causes the nose to temporarily dry out, since all the moisture is absorbed by the fur. Another reason could be that your pet is extremely thirsty and dehydrated, which is what causes them to become temporarily dry. Some dog breeds react this way to changes in weather: severe frost, if it's winter, or in the heat of summer.

Now about the less pleasant causes of a dry nose in a dog. Most often, the cause of a dry nose in a dog can be allergic reactions, both food and non-food. Here you can’t do without a visit to a specialist. Once the cause is determined, action should be taken immediately. You need to change the diet, the bed or rug where your pet sleeps, maybe even the bowl from which the dog eats or drinks. Very rarely, dogs may be allergic even to pollen; in this case, walks near actively flowering plants should be avoided.

Important! An alarming sign is a crust on the dog's nose - this is a sign that he is seriously ill, it could be a cold or more serious illness. In any case, you cannot do without a visit to the veterinarian.

A dry nose can be a manifestation of diseases such as bronchitis or pneumonia, while the nose is not only dry, but also very cold, such a sign should be noted Special attention, after all similar diseases In dogs they are much more severe than in humans. They are treated individually, after tests and a serious examination. If a dry nose is accompanied by vomiting, then this is very dangerous symptoms– you need to urgently run to the veterinarian, this could be a sign of distemper.

To prevent a dry nose in a dog, it is necessary to take measures. First of all, all utensils must be clean and the food must be of high quality, so as not to cause allergies and poisoning. During sharp drop temperatures can be used special cream. This will help protect this thin instrument from adverse external influences.

Of course, you need to avoid nasal injuries and hypothermia of the animal, do not forget to vaccinate your dog in a timely manner, this will reliably protect your pet from dangerous common diseases. As you can see, there are quite a few reasons that cause dry nose and not all of them are harmless. If nasal dryness continues long time, contact a veterinarian immediately.

It is generally accepted that a dog's cold, wet nose is a sign of his wellness And healthy condition. And if your pet suddenly has a dry nose, then you need to urgently contact veterinary clinic. This is partly true, but there are many moments when a dog’s dry nose indicates the normal functioning of the body.

Let's figure out why a dog has a dry nose and what to do in this case.

Causes of a dry nose in a puppy

During sleep, the animal’s body becomes very hot and the nose is no exception. Only 20-25 minutes after waking up, the dog’s entire body begins to cool down, and then the nose becomes wet.

A common cause of a warm, dry nose in a dog is an allergic reaction to one or another component. This could be pollen, plastic, chemical substances or any food ingredient.

Changes in the environment and other stresses immediately affect the animal’s body. Experienced emotions also cause dry nose in your pet.

If your dog has a cold, dry nose, this may indicate a cold. But at the same time, other symptoms of the disease must also be present - sneezing, coughing, or hoarseness.

If your pet doesn't drink enough fluids, she will become dehydrated. This will cause dry nose. In this case, it is necessary to control the presence of water in the bowl and organize unhindered access to it for the dog.

In extreme weather conditions The dog's nose becomes dry and hot. On very hot or, conversely, frosty days, with strong winds and dry air, a dog’s nose tends to be dry.

Dry nose also appears in an injured animal. In this case, puffiness, ulcers or swelling may be found on the body.

How to help a dog if it has a dry nose?

Our advice is to pay attention to your dog's behavior, not his nose. It's the habits the best way signal that the animal is unwell.

The most important determination of a dog's health is its nose. If a dog has a wet and cold nose, then the dog is completely healthy. But if it is dry and hot, then this is the first sign of a dog’s illness, and in this case you need to contact a veterinarian.

Basically all mammals have it wet. And only humans and a couple of primates do not have this property.

In dogs, it is covered with mucus, which is produced by the glands lining the nose. Her mucus is a kind of gas-liquid chromatograph. Only thanks to this mucus, the dog detects the slightest movement of air. And that is why they identify different odors.

But not all veterinarians agree that with these symptoms the dog is sick; they often say that it is hot and dry. maybe from various reasons . For example, a dog has just woken up and is dry, then this is completely normal. It can also be dry and hot after physical activity, in the heat or in extreme cold. If the dog’s nose does not become wet during the period of its calm, then you need to pay diligent attention to this; this may be a signal of the onset of some disease.

Changes in the environment and other stresses immediately affect the entire body of the animal. All the emotions experienced also cause dryness.

Why does my dog ​​have a dry and hot nose?

Very often, the cause of a dry and hot nose is an allergy. In this case, it manifests itself on plastic - this is usually the dishes from which the dog is fed. Also Allergy may occur to dust, plant pollen, for chemical and detergents, as well as for some products.

The dog can react to the weather - to cold, strong wind or, conversely, to heat. When it's cold, her nose becomes hot, because the immune system is in action and begins to fight with health threatening consequences of the weather. At this time, your beloved pet should be fed with multivitamins, which are sold at any pharmacy.

If the dog has a cold nose and not a hot one, then this is Can mean colds and then she will have completely different symptoms. For example:

  1. Sneezing.
  2. Cough.
  3. Hoarseness.

A dog's dry nose is the first sign of illness

If your dog has been dry and hot for a long time, the cause may be:

Allergy. Maybe for anything from the bowl from which the dog eats food to the bird cherry blossom. There may be an allergy if consumed certain products. It is best to keep a diary where you need to mark the foods you feed her. And we need to do this to eliminate all allergens from her life.

Cold. If she has signs of infection, then in addition to a dry nose, she should have other symptoms - coughing, sneezing, etc. In this case, you need to contact a veterinarian, he will prescribe treatment. And as soon as the dog is healthy, it will have a cold nose again.

Nose injury. It can be detected on your own; if the injury is severe, you should immediately take the dog to a veterinary clinic.

Pemphigus. This disease is manifested by the formation of blisters on the nose, which then burst and a crust forms on the nose. It should be taken into account that bubbles can be located throughout the body. It is necessary to do histology and only then will it be possible to confirm the disease.

What to do if your dog has a dry nose?

It is imperative to ensure that your pet has always been fresh water . The bowl should be washed every day, and it is better to pour fresh water after meals. Because your beloved pet always drinks a lot of water after eating and becomes too dirty. If he drinks little water, he may become dehydrated. In this case, the first sign will immediately be dryness.

Dry nose occurs in animals when they are injured. In these cases, swelling, ulcers, or some kind of swelling can be found on the animal’s body.

The most important thing is that you need pay attention to behavior his pupil, and not on his nose, because by his behavior he will tell his master about his illness. This can be determined very simply: a sick dog stops playing, becomes less mobile, and does not respond when called. And it is her habits that immediately signal her condition.

Now you can know exactly how to help your pet at the first signs of illness.

Normally, a dog's nose is cold and wet. It is believed that if her nose becomes hot and dry, then this is certainly a sign of illness. Is it really? Let's figure it out.

Why does a dog have a hot nose?

In fact, the belief that hot nose in a pet - this is a symptom of a disease and is a misconception. The nose can be like this for many reasons:

  • from fatigue and overwork after serious physical exertion;
  • with dry and warm air in the apartment during the heating season;
  • during sleep or immediately after waking up;
  • at nervous excitement or fright;
  • during the period of teeth change in puppies;
  • as a reaction to hot or, conversely, very cold weather.

In these cases, a warm nose in a dog is normal. If the animal is awake and has not previously been affected by any of the above factors, and the nose is hot and dry, then this may be a symptom of the disease.

Diseases such as distemper, piroplasmosis, enteritis, and helminthic infestation. The temperature can also rise with allergies, with heatstroke, after vaccination or with severe damage to the skin.

The alarm should be sounded if the dog's nose is hot and dry for several hours. Most common cause Experts call this condition of the nose in dogs an allergic reaction. It can occur on plant pollen, dust, especially construction dust during repairs, plastic bowls for food or drink, household chemicals and even food.

A hot nose can become due to the fact that the dog, for some reason, does not drink enough. Also, the dog can simply catch a cold. The nose may become hot and dry after an injury.

What to do if your dog has a hot nose?

If your pet's nose becomes hot, do not panic. First of all, you need to pay attention to general state and the animal’s mood, as well as whether it has an appetite, whether there is diarrhea or vomiting, and whether breathing is normal.

Before taking your dog to the veterinary clinic, you can take its temperature. For a dog, it is better to choose an electric thermometer, especially if the animal is not accustomed to this procedure. The tip of the thermometer should be lubricated with Vaseline or baby cream and inserted into the rectum 1.5-2.5 centimeters. Fine rectal temperature for four-legged friends it does not exceed 39 degrees.

The normal temperature differs somewhat depending on the breed (size) and age of the animal, so it is better to check the norm on the Internet specifically for a dog of your breed and age. If the temperature is elevated, the animal should be shown to a veterinarian as soon as possible.

If possible, it is better to call a doctor at home and not expose the dog to additional stress. If you decide to take your dog to the veterinary clinic, then low temperature(below 36.5 degrees), the animal should be wrapped in a blanket or blanket and a heating pad with warm water should be applied to the body.

One of the signs that may indicate a dry and warm nose. What to do if your dog’s nose is hot, and what might this indicate?

Does a hot nose always indicate illness?

It is not always so. Sometimes a hot nose is associated with a dog's behavior this moment. The nostrils may be warm if the pet is sleeping or has recently woken up, sometimes as a result of very vigorous physical activity. The nose may be hot due to the air temperature, in extreme cold or heat. If he becomes dry, regardless of these signs, this is really a reason to think about and analyze the state of your pet’s health.

Causes of dry nose in dogs

There are many reasons elevated temperature and dry nose.

  1. Allergy. It is one of the most common reasons. It is possible that nasal dryness is caused by poor nutrition causing an allergic reaction in the animal. It can also occur due to dust, pollen, drugs, chemicals, etc. Therefore, if your dog has a dry nose, you should first check for allergic reactions to certain substances.
  2. A dog's nose may indicate that the temperature is too hot or cold. It can become hot due to extreme thirst, so if you notice a hot nose on your pet, you need to make sure that the animal does not need water.
  3. A dry and hot nose may be a sign of... various diseases. As a rule, it indicates an increased body temperature of the pet.
  4. Cold. The nose may be dry if the animal has a cold. Then, in addition to the elevated temperature, there will be other symptoms (for example, cough, nasal discharge similar to a runny nose, hoarseness or sneezing).
  5. Injury. After an injury, the dog's nose may also have an elevated temperature.
  6. Pemphigus. Pemphigus - autoimmune disease. Its main symptom is the appearance of blisters on the pet's nose. Over time, they burst, but a kind of crust forms on the animal’s nostrils, which prevents the dog from breathing freely.

What to do?

If your pet has a hot nose, you need to remember that this often always indicates discomfort. Therefore, it is worth taking some measures to help understand why your pet’s nose has an elevated temperature.

  1. Protect your pet from allergies. You should only walk in places where there is no a large number of dust or pollen. You can also have an allergy test done by your veterinarian.
  2. Check if your pet is thirsty and give him required amount water.
  3. Make sure your pet is comfortable in environment. If he is hot or cold, take him to a comfortable place. It is possible that your nose will become wetter and colder.
  4. If you suspect a cold or other illness, it is best to consult a veterinarian. If this is not done on time, a number of complications can occur.

It is necessary to monitor the pet's condition and ensure complete comfort. If the dog does not experience discomfort, her nose will be cold and wet!