A dog’s Nose is one of the most interesting parts of their body.

Not only do dog’s have a well known amazing capacity to smell through their nose (because they are made of thousands of smell receptors), but it can change from wet, to dry, to warmer, to colder – all under different conditions.

Dog noses can also look smooth, or more crusty, dry and cracked.

In this guide we look to discuss most things dog owner’s want to know about dog noses, including what’s listed above, and how you might weigh up whether your dog’s nose is in a healthy condition.

Let’s get to it!

(NOTE: this is a general informational and educational guide only. It is not professional advice. See a vet or qualified expert for professional advice).

What You Should Know About A Dog’s Nose: Facts, Health & Care

What Is A Dog’s Nose Made Of?

A dog’s nose is made mainly of skin cells and scent receptors.

To put into perspective what makes a dog’s sense of smell so good – they can have up to 300 million scent receptors in their nose, compared to a humans’s 6 million.

Additionally, the part of their brain that interprets smells can be up to 40 times bigger than ours.

A dog’s sense of smell is roughly 100,000 times better than a humans, with hound dogs, and working dogs like German Shepherds and Labradors being among the best in regards to sense of smell ability.

What Do Dogs Use Their Noses For?

Dogs use their noses mainly to smell, and to breathe.

What Does A Normal or Healthy Dog Nose Look and Feel Like?

A normal dog’s nose will usually be slightly damp and slightly cold. But, a dryer or warmer dog’s nose does not necessarily mean your dog is unhealthy or the nose is in bad health.

There are a number of factors that can influence what a dog’s nose looks and feels like on a daily basis – with genetics and environment being the biggest two influences.

Let’s talk about that…

What Does It Mean When A Dog’s Nose Is Wet?

A dog’s nose might be wet because:

• Dogs secrete a thin layer of mucus from their nose when they are trying to smell scents – this mucus helps them pick up scents
• Dogs lick their noses a lot to get them clean (from food, dirt etc.), and to interpret that mucus they were using for smelling
• Dogs release sweat from two places on their body – their paws and their nose. If a dog is hot, they may sweat from their nose to cool down
• The nose picks up moisture from the environment – like wet grass fro example
• Dogs genetically have wet and colder noses as mentioned above

What Does It Mean When A Dog’s Nose Is Dry?

A dog’s nose might be dry because:

• Genetics – some dogs naturally have dryer noses than others
• A dog is sleeping. Dog’s usually lick their noses during the day, and when they are sleeping, they can’t
• Lying in the sun – lying in the sun may cause a wet nose to dry up
• Warm air or warm temperatures – warm air and low humidity temperatures can dry out a nose
• An allergy or medical condition – allergies and medical conditions can change the reactions going on in a normally damp nose
• Dehydration – a dog not drinking enough water might not have as wet of a nose as normal
• Sunburn – after sunburn has set in, the skin may dry out, flake and peel
• A reaction to plastic – some dogs have adverse reactions to plastic which can result in the nose drying

What Does It Mean When A Dog’s Nose Is Warm?

A warm nose can be a result of:

• Being out in hot sun and the sun heating up the nose
• Sunburn – skin can go pink, red, irritated and be warm
• Exercise – increase in blood flow and skin temperatures
• A disease that causes a fever
• Warm temperatures and conditions in general

What Does It Mean When A Dog’s Nose Is Cold?

A cold dog nose might be a result of:

• the nose naturally being cold due to the fact it is exposed skin with no fur, and the body usually regulates it that way
• the dog is cooling down after being hot and is sweating through the nose
• cold temperatures, and snowy or icy conditions
• being close to an air conditioner

What Does It Mean If A Dog’s Nose Is Crusty or Cracked?

Crusty or cracked dog noses might be the result of:

• A health condition, disease or illness
• A skin condition like keratosis, dermatitis or something else
• Sunburn
• An allergy
• Poor diet or nutrition
• Not drinking enough

How Do I Know When My Dog Has An Unhealthy Nose?

Temperature and moisture aren’t a great way to gauge whether your dog has an unhealthy nose.

Your vet is the best person to inspect and treat your dog’s nose, but you might look out for some of the following signs:

• Inflammation
• An overly red nose, or lots of sneezing 
• Discharge
• Bleeding
• Scabs, ulcers and sores
• A nose that stays dry and cracked and never regains it’s moisture

Additionally, if your dog is vomitting and has diarrhea, this could be a sign something is wrong somewhere else in the body and is crossing over to affect the nose.

Diseases, health conditions, allergies and skin disorders can all be a cause.

See a vet immediately if you suspect something is wrong. 

What Can I Do For A Dry, Cracked and Crusty Nose?

If it’s serious, always see a vet.

But, for minor dryness and cracking, some owners choose to use moisturising or protecting nose products like waxes, balms, creams, moisturisers, lotions and nose butters.

Natural/organic products that are non toxic are best, and should have your vet’s approval before use.

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