My dog's nose nose got really dry and cracked recently, and now pices of it are falling off. What's going on?

Question

My dog is a 10 year old hound mix from the poud. She has some allergies, but our vet said that this was not allergies. Chuncks of her nose cells are falling off, and it's really hurting her. Can anyone shed some light on this situation?

She's never been seriously sick, and apart from a little bit of mange on her belly and side (which developed AFTER her nose started to get bad) Penny isn't currently ill.

Answer 1

The Truth About the Cold, Wet Nose

It's true that a cold, wet nose can be a sign of good health in a dog, but it's not a completely reliable barometer. It is a good idea to keep your pup's nose in check. If you notice any of the following, you'll want to consult your vet right away: discharges that last more than 24 hours, swelling, odor & difficulty breathing. These things can be symptomatic of the presence of a foreign object, tumors, or sinus/respiratory infections.

Poisonous Plants



Be on the look out for dangerous plants. It's not unusual for animals to chew on greenery of all sorts and they do this for many reasons: It's a way of keeping their digestive system clean; it's a symptom of teething; they could have a hair ball they're trying to expel by inducing vomiting; they could have a nutritional deficiency; or they could be bored.

Once you bring an animal into your household, you'll need to be aware of the plants you own, cultivate, or that simply grow wild--many of them are poisonous to the animal.

Symptoms of poisoning include the following: vomiting (beyond the normal little upchuck that often accompanies eating grass), diarrhea, dizziness, sleepiness, contracted pupils (pin pointed), trembling, twitching, staggering, convulsions, difficulty breathing, excessive thirst or salivation, weakness in rear legs, or paralysis. If you suspect your pet has been poisoned (plant or other substance), rush him or her to a vet immediately and, if possible, try to identify the substance.

The following is a list of plants that may be poisonous to your pet:

Aconite; Anemone (Windflower); Autumn Crocus; Black Locust; Buttercup; Caladium; Castor Oil Plants (Castor Bean, Palma, Christi, Koli); Cherry trees; Christmas Pepper; Christmas Rose (Hellebore); Clematis (Virgins' Bower); Cycads; Daffodil (Narcissus); Daphne; Delphinium (Larkspur, Staggerweed); Dicerna (Bleeding Heart, Dutchman's Breeches, Squirrel Corn, Turkey Corn); Dieffembachia; Elderberry; Euphorbia (Annual Poinsettia, Mexican fire Plant, Fire-on-the Mountain); Four O'Clocks; Foxglove (Digitalis--pets can be poisoned from drinking vase water of the flower); Garland Flower; Blory Lily; Golden Chain; Holly; Hydrangea; Iris; Indian Spurge Tree; Jack-in-the-Pulpit; Jerusalem Cherry; Jassemine; Lantana Camara (Red Sage); Laurels; Lilac; Lily of the Valley; Marsh Marigold (Cowslip); Matrimoney Vine; Mayapple; Meadow; Saffron; Mistletoe; Monkshood; Mountain Laurel; Mushrooms; Nightshade; Oaks; Oleander; Oxala; Philodendron; Phytolacca; Pine; Poincian (Bird of Paradise); Poison Hemlock; Pothos; Privet; Pyracantha (Firethorn); Rhododendron; Rhubarb; Rosary Pea; Snowdrop; Spring Adonis; Star-of-Bethlehem; Strelitzia; Sweet Pea; Trumpet Flower (Chalice Vine); Water Hemlock; Wisteria; Yellow Oleander; Yew.

To obtain a more complete list of plants, toxic and non-toxic, including their scientific names and associated problems/hazards, write the NAPCC, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801. Enclose a check for $10, payable to NAPCC. When you believe that plant poisoning of your animal has occurred, it is essential that the substance be accurately identified. Local floral shop and plant nursery personnel are valuable sources of information in assisting with plant identification.

Moldy walnut poisoning occurs after a rain and walnuts become infected with mold that produces toxins. If ingested by your pup, the animal can become very ill and possibly die. Signs that should alert you to walnut poisoning are vomiting (you may see walnuts in the vomitus), trembling, drooling, lack of coordination & seizures. Get medical help immediately--walnut poisoning if left untreated can be fatal. With proper & expedient treatment the chances of recovery are excellent. Prevention is the preferable: Keep walnuts picked up and do what ever is necessary to keep your dog(s) from chewing on them.

Man-made substances that are highly lethal to animals:

Antifreeze is very sweet tasting and dogs and cats will readily drink it. Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol (which quickly causes kidney failure) and it is DEADLY! The lethal dose for a cat is 2 tablespoons and for a for a twenty pound dog only a quarter of a cup will kill.


It is not unusual for antifreeze to leak from radiators and pool on driveways or street surfaces & gutters. If you suspect that your pet has been exposed to antifreeze do not wait for symptoms to appear, by then it may be too late. Get help immediately. Signs that should alert you to the possibility of antifreeze poisoning are delirium, stupor, breathing problems, drooling, mouth sores, vomiting, convulsions, comas, and death. Treatment includes pumping the stomach, intravenous injections of alcohol and fluids to help save the kidneys, and an extended period of hospitalization.

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Snail Bait is a commonly used garden product. The active ingredients, metadehyde, is highly toxic to all mammals, as well as snail. This product, like antifreeze, is very tasty and, therefore, attractive to animals. The signs of snail bait poisoning are lack of coordination and muscle tremors, salivation & anxiety, generalized seizures. If your pet shows symptoms such as these, call your vet or an emergency animal hospital immediately. If none are available call your local Animal Care & Control facility. Stay calm and minimize noise and stimuli, to reduce anxiety in the animal, while transporting it immediately to the vet. Chances of recovery are good with prompt medical treatment.

Medications--Store medications for all family members and pets in high cabinets, out of reach. With their curiosity and strong teeth, dogs can crack open a pill bottle and swallow the entire contents in a very short time. Even if a medicine prescribed for your pet, too large a dose could cause problems.

Medications that come in tubes may also pose a large risk. Most pets have sharp teeth and can chew into a tube within seconds. Creams and ointments that may be quite safe when applied to the skin can cause serious problems when eaten.



OH YES, CHOCOLATE IS POISONOUS TO YOUR DOG!!

Don't give the pooch that piece of milky way...she may love it but her body won't. One of the most common toxicities in animals seen by veterinarians is chocolate toxicity. Chocolate contains the chemical theobromine which is in the same chemical family as caffeine. Chocolate poisoning can occur with as little as a quarter ounce of baking chocolate ingested per pound of body weight. Baking chocolate contains higher amounts of theobromine than other forms of chocolate, but toxicity can occur with any form of chocolate or cocoa.

Signs of theobromine toxicity include vomiting, diarrhea, increased urination, hyperactivity (though some dogs can become lethargic), and rapid heart rate. Progressively, the signs include muscle tremors, seizures, coma, and death. Get your dog to the vet right away upon first occurrence of any of these symptoms to increase; survival is possible with immediate treatment which is aimed at eliminating the Chocolate from the gastro-intestinal tract, supporting the animal on intravenous fluids and with drugs to treat heart arrhythmias.

Answer 2

Honestly, I didn't see anything wrong with your nose, it fits your face just fine. Just know that nose jobs can change a persons face dramatically sometimes. And if anything, the only reason why you might think you have a larger nose than normal is because it only appears that way because your chin is a little small. But don't add that as another problem.

Answer 3

i have no idea but couldnt your vet give her something for it? I have heard that if it gets dry then they are probably sick, but i have never heard of pieces of it falling off. Let me get back to you so i can see if i can find any information. Godd luck with your dog!!

I found some info,but im not so sure it can help. I dont know what your dog has been around, but here a URL address for some things that may cause your dog to be sick. Im sorry i couldnt find anything else. Keep in touch with me about your dog.

Answer 4

my lab has this. It's called keratosis. He's had it since he was about 1 1/2 yrs old. It's just flaky skin. It doesn't hurt them. My lab is now 8 & we've never had any problems, just looks funny sometimes. When he was younger, I used to put bag balm on it to make it softer like you would dry, cracked skin.

Answer 5

You really should have it looked at because it could be something as simple as a sunburn to something as bad as cancer. In the mean time buy some nivea cream and apply it every 6 hours. Keep the dog occupied for a while after you apply it so she won't lick it off. This is good for the calluses on her elbows as well. But please have it looked at as soon as possible.

I agree with prty girl. Using bag balm is a good idea too.

Answer 6

Is she drinking enough? Dogs' noses should be wet all the time, except maybe when they are sleeping. If she is not drinking, she will not be able to keep it moist.

If you vet has seen it, call him back and ask him what to do! Poor old dog, I imagine it would be hurting a lot...

Answer 7

I would take him to the vet just in case but when my dog's nose starts to get dried up like that I use vaseline. It works quick. He might need more of a medication though, which only the vet can perscribe.

Answer 8

it sounds to me that being the age your dog is she is showing cases a skin cancer, yes even dogs get cancer as well. try getting a antibiotic for her, if this doesn't work your vet needs to do some skinn graphing. good luck!

Answer 9

Pices are falling off her nose nose????

Answer 10

ahhhhh the atack of dry noses!! ahhhhh