my doggie nose?

Question

wat does it signify when a dog's nose is moist or dry? is it bad if it's dry? since the majority of dog's noses are moist. and why is dat some dogs drool more dan others? wats da purpose of dat?

Answer 1

Hi xfold03!
A dog's nose is usually cool and moist. It can be black, pink or the same color as the coat, depending on the breed. Nasal discharge should be clear, never yellowish, thick, bubbly, or foul smelling. A cool, wet nose does not necessarily mean the dog is healthy. Likewise, a dry, warm nose doesn't necessarily mean he's sick. Taking his temperature is a better indication of illness.

There are numerous causes for a dry, crusty nose. This is definitely a problem that a veterinarian should address for you. Some potential causes include endocrine or hormonal disorders, disorders of the immune system, infectious agents, inflammatory diseases, underlying metabolic disorders, and cancer. Some older dogs just get a dry nose as part of the aging process.

Fluid from the lateral glands in a dog's nose lubricates the outsides of his nostrils and makes them moist and shiny. But mostly, the nose stays wet because your dog is always licking it (along with other parts). So, a moist nose has generally been considered as a healthy nose, but this isn't always true. For example, if a dog falls asleep in a hot place, his nose may be dry when he first wakes up. Once he cools down and gets rehydrated, his nose will soon look wet again.

Many dogs are droolers due to the structure of their mouth. The loose skin around their jaw line causes drool leakage. Also, dogs are droolers could simply be genetically inclined, be hungry or be sick. If your dog is not a natural drooler, check that with your veterinarian for the Mouth problems, Poisoning or disease...
Jason Homan

Answer 2

The canine nose is normally cool and moist, but not always wet. It has no sweat glands; the moisture is caused by the mucus lining. Incidentally, do not believe the folklore that the wetness of a dog's nose is an indication of the dog's health. A dog's nose can be wet, moist or dry at any given time. If there is any indication that the dog is sick (such as a mucus discharge) you should take the animal to see a veterinarian.

In the case of drooling.....


Some drooling is normal for most dogs. They may drool while waiting for a meal, when they are fearful, or when they are nauseous from a car ride. And some breeds of dogs drool more than others. However, excessive drooling from a canine that normally doesn't do so can also a symptom of a health problem such as bloat or a gum infection. If you feel that your dog may have be suffering from a medical condition, always contact your veterinarian for a proper diagnosis.

Answer 3

Just to expound on the drooling bit...Some breeds are more prone to drool. I have a boxer (I did have two. One died last week from cancer.) The one who just died was a major drooler all of her life. My baby boxer (10 months old) is not a major drooler but she does slobber some.

The best way to insure good health is regular check ups from the vet. I was guilty in the past of only seeing the vet for shots and if there was a problem. I would urge you, if you love your pet, to schedule regular annual check ups aside from shot appointments and emergency visits. Had I done this, we could have caught my oldest dog's cancer sooner and treated it more aggressively.