home Audience 12 Is a kitten’s dry nose normal or abnormal? In what cases does a kitten’s dry nose mean illness, what to do if the nose is hot. Why does a cat have a hot nose? What to do if your cat has a warm nose

Is a kitten’s dry nose normal or abnormal? In what cases does a kitten’s dry nose mean illness, what to do if the nose is hot. Why does a cat have a hot nose? What to do if your cat has a warm nose

Very often the cause of concern for cat owners is pet's hot dry nose . It is believed that dryness of the organ of smell certainly indicates the presence of a pet disease. However, is this so?

A slightly damp nose is an indicator of a cat's healthy well-being.

In a normal healthy state, a cat’s nose should be slightly moist and cold due to the fact that a certain secretion of its mucous membrane constantly appears on the surface of the olfactory organ, and also because the animal often licks it.

What does a hot and dry nose mean (reasons)?

A cat's body temperature is different from a human's body temperature. a couple of degrees higher . This fact can mislead the owner and touching the cat’s nose and ears can cause a false alarm.

Household

Often, a cat's nose becomes dry during or immediately after sleep.

However, false dryness and increased temperature may be present for several other reasons, and if you discover them, you should not panic:

the animal is sleeping;
cat only after sleep;
lying in the sun for a long time or near a stove or fireplace;
excessive heat in the house.

Such reasons are called domestic. As a rule, they are not associated with pathologies, and there is no need to worry. You should give your pet time to recover from sleep, place it in a cooler place, and check again after some time.

Pathological

Overeating is a common cause of dry nose in cats.

Pathological causes of dry and hot nose and ears can be due to overeating, leading a sedentary lifestyle, the presence of inflammatory processes, etc.

Signs of diseases and treatment

Examination of a cat's nose.

The most alarming symptom in the presence of a dry and hot nose along with hot ears is the animal's lethargy, apathy, constant drowsiness, fatigue, and loss of appetite.

Should listen pet's pulse. If there are diseases, it will be more frequent. In this case, deep breathing is observed, possibly.

Dilation of a pet's pupils along with an increase in body temperature is an alarming signal of a cat's illness.

Depending on the disease that affects you, the following may appear:

If there are alarming signs, you should try to examine the mucous membrane of the animal.

Should be investigated bladder fullness to exclude pathologies of the genitourinary system. Take a close look at the animal's excrement for uncharacteristic consistency, impurities, and worms. And also examine the urine for blood, mucus, changes in color and odor.

Establishing diagnosis

When starting treatment for your pet, you should make sure that the diagnosis is correct.

The most common pathologies associated with increased temperature are inflammatory in nature. When stomatitis is diagnosed, treatment should begin immediately. It is recommended to treat the affected oral cavity with disinfectants. To do this, it is permissible to use a solution of baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, a weak solution of potassium permanganate, furatsilin.

You can moisturize with syringes. Wounds and ulcers are lubricated Lugol's solution with glycerin, methylene blue. In case of multiple lesions, the use of antibiotics is indicated - oxytetracycline, erythromycin. For general support and acceleration of healing - vitamins.

Nasal discharge

If a concomitant symptom is nasal discharge and a diagnosis of rhinitis is established, the first aid will be rinsing with warm water and removing dried crusts. Drug treatment is prescribed by a veterinarian.

Treatment of diseases of the digestive system

If diseases of the digestive tract occur in a cat, the veterinarian will also be able to create an effective treatment regimen.

Treatment for diseases of the digestive system will depend on the specific pathology identified. The general purpose will be to use a course of antibiotics to avoid complications in the form of other infections, anti-inflammatory drugs.

Treatment aimed at eliminating symptoms: antiemetics, antispasmodics, painkillers,. Mandatory use of a gentle or starvation diet, depending on the illness.

The presence of accompanying symptoms in the form of difficulty urinating indicates the development of pathologies in the pet’s genitourinary system.

Every owner should have No-shpa in their first aid kit in case of emergency.

If the urinary tract is blocked, therapy will consist of the following components:

antispasmodics – no-spa, atropine sulfate, papaverine;
sedatives – rovatin, sodium bromide;
analgesics – analgin, aspirin, paracetamol;
disinfectants for the genitourinary system - biseptol, bearberry decoction;
diet.

In severe cases - catheterization.

Urocystitis

Schematic representation of urocystitis.

An equally dangerous disease may be urocystitis. First aid is warmth and peace. At elevated temperatures, it is strictly forbidden to warm the cat’s groin and belly.

The next step in treatment is a diet in the form of vegetables, cereals, broths, and free access to drink.

Drugs used for urocystitis: antibiotics, sulfa drugs, analgesics, antispasmodics. In severe cases, rinse the bladder through catheterization.

Cat cold

Dry nose is often explained away, but one should not discount the danger of such a disease.

A lethargic animal is a sponge that absorbs various side infections, so a cold must be treated.

You should immediately provide the cat with a calm, dry and warm place.
Give him a warm drink, maybe heated milk.
Warm compresses and heating pads only in the absence of fever.
To improve blood flow in the superficial skin vessels, you can apply a light massage of the animal’s entire body.
Treatment is symptomatic. If lacrimation is observed, it is permissible to use antiseptics; to wash the eyes - potassium permanganate or furatsilin.

A solution of novocaine with adrenaline, ethacridine, tannin, boric acid solution, zinc sulfate. Nasal drops are prescribed in the form of a solution of methanol with fish oil. In parallel, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and vitamins are used.

The cat's nose is moistened by the secretion secreted by the mucous membrane, in addition, the cat itself licks it.

However, if you notice that your cat has a dry nose, do not rush to worry - this happens after active play or severe stress, if the pet is sleeping or has just woken up, if it is in a poorly ventilated area or simply lies next to the radiator. Dry noses also occur in cats that lead a sedentary lifestyle. During the day, a cat's nose can change its state from dry to wet and back several times - and this is quite normal.

In addition, it should be taken into account that the normal temperature in cats is 2°C higher than in humans, so the cat’s nose often seems hot to the touch to the owner.

However, it is worth observing your cat more closely and checking its nose more often. And if you notice that it remains dry for too long, and the cat herself, usually active and playful, has become apathetic, lethargic and has lost her appetite, it’s time to take action. First of all, measure the temperature in the traditional way at home, because in the veterinary clinic the pet will become nervous and its temperature will “jump” because of this. A cat's fever can also be indicated by reddened ears, which also feel hot to the touch.

Warning signs

The cause of a dry nose in a sick cat may be due to elevated temperature, as well as dehydration of the body, due to which the secretion is not produced in sufficient quantities.

A cause for concern is cracks, crusts or on the cat's nose - this is a sign of a skin disease. In this case, the pet definitely needs to be taken to the veterinarian.

A cat's nose can signal ill health in more ways than just dryness. If there is nasal discharge, it should be clear. But yellow, green, even foamy or dense ones indicate that the cat needs to be taken to a doctor for examination.

A too cold nose is also an unkind sign; it can indicate hypothermia, poisoning or shock.
However, it is noteworthy that in cats of some breeds the shade of the nose changes depending on the season, and pigmentation on the nose does not indicate illness, but old age. Owners should learn about these subtleties from specialists so as not to worry unnecessarily.

So nasal temperature is a relative phenomenon and not a very reliable indicator. It is better to assess the cat’s well-being by its overall behavior; if there are alarm bells, measure the temperature yourself and, if necessary, take the pet to a specialist. And, of course, make sure that the cat’s nose is clean and not clogged with dirt or secretions.

Cat owners have already become accustomed to determining the health/illness of their beloved mustachioed pet by the condition of its nasal planum. This is partly true. But a dry nose in a cat is not always an indicator of poor health. When should we start sounding the alarm, and when is it enough to just wait a while, and everything will become damp and cold again without outside intervention? Why does a cat have a dry nose?

If the cat is healthy

In healthy baleen predators, the condition of the nose varies depending on many factors. A cat’s nose becomes dry or wet depending on the physiological state of the animal - this organ is never constantly wet and cold. Those. A cat's nose is dry and warm even in a normal physiological state. The only question remains is the environmental conditions and the period of time when it becomes wet again.

A cat's wet and moist nose allows it to determine the direction of the wind in order to hide its own scent from those it plans to hunt. A dried out organ can no longer perform such functions.

When a warm, dry nose is considered normal:

the cat is sleeping or has just woken up (must moisturize within half an hour after sleep);
period of increased physical activity - running, jumping, pampering with the owner;
dry air in the home or the cat was near warm heating appliances for a long time;
sudden fear, stress;
prolonged exposure to the open sun (literally dries out);
the nasal planum is dirty (the ability to secrete nasal secretions is lost).

Dry, hot noses in kittens throughout the day are much more common than in adults. This is explained by an imperfect thermoregulation system and should not alarm owners if the kittens are outwardly healthy, active and have a good appetite. This is a kind of self-defense against possible hypothermia of mustachioed babies.

When a dry nose should alert you

If the nasal planum has dried out, and this symptom is accompanied by other manifestations, then you need to pay special attention to these symptom complexes. A hot nose in a cat should alert you if this fact has been observed for a long time (for example, it is constantly dry throughout the day).

The following accompanying symptoms should attract attention:

the cat/cat is lethargic, apathetic, practically does not eat anything, does not want to play;
Thirst may occur (due to dehydration, secretion ceases to be produced, which makes the nose wet);
sleep a lot and for a long time (it seems that the animal sleeps around the clock);
along with a hot nose, the cat has noticeably hot ears (usually this is a sign of elevated temperature);
rapid shallow breathing (normal is from 16 (18) to 33 respiratory movements per minute) or accelerated heartbeat (normal pulse is 100-120 beats/min in adults, up to 140 beats/min in kittens);
on the contrary, slow and deep breathing;
nasal discharge of any kind and sneezing;
any changes in color (blue, yellowish, intense red or white, almost discolored).

If a warm and dry nose is accompanied by the following signs, then this is already a reason for a mandatory visit to the veterinarian (especially if the signs are pronounced):

there are changes in the frequency of visiting the toilet, and it does not matter whether it is more frequent or, conversely, less frequent (on average 1-2 (3) times a day defecation, 2-3 times a day urination);
change in the condition of feces - usually towards diarrhea (especially if with bloody impurities);
nausea (the cat begins to lick itself frequently, because at the moment of nausea the secretion of saliva increases) or obvious vomiting is observed;
the fluid secreted from the nostrils is opaque, with an unpleasant odor;
body temperature rose to 40C.

Why does my nose feel dry and hot?

If the physiological causes of drying and warming of the nose are discarded and the time period during which this fact is observed begins to be alarming, then the cat is definitely sick. The exact cause and diagnosis can only be made by a veterinary specialist after an in-person examination and passing the necessary tests on the animal (if necessary).

Possible causes of a dry and hot nose:

internal infections (viral or bacterial);
inflammatory process of any localization;
fur in the stomach or intestines;
dehydration due to diseases or unfavorable conditions in which the cat is kept;
urolithiasis and any kidney pathologies;
cat colds;
nasal injuries;
poisoning or digestive disorders.

How can I help my pet?

What to do if your cat has a dry nose? Of all the possible reasons for which the olfactory organ is hot and dry, owners of mustachioed pets can only try to normalize the body temperature, because... with this symptom it is most often increased. It is better not to engage in self-diagnosis and self-medication, because... There are many different reasons for this condition; it is almost impossible for a non-specialist to determine the exact cause! Measuring the temperature is the first and most important thing that a pet owner should do when they notice a long-term warm and dry nose.

It is strongly recommended not to treat fever in cats (up to 40C) with medications. Three main points for reducing body temperature without medication: give the cat cool (not cold!) water, wet the fur, and apply something cold to the groin and armpits. Any other assistance should already be provided by a veterinarian after an accurate diagnosis has been established.

Question and answer: if the nose...

very cold but pale

Typically, this condition is accompanied by a lack of appetite due to poisoning, and can also be a sign of hypothermia or internal chronic pathologies, including problems with the heart. Stress and shock also cause a cat's nose to turn pale (but do not dry it out).

warm and white

The problem clearly lies in dysfunction of the hematopoietic and circulatory systems. A visit to the veterinarian is required.

hot and intense pink/red

Perhaps there has been a bruise of the nasal planum, infectious diseases are present, or there is rhinitis (both infectious and allergic in origin).

hot and very humid

When there is a transition from a dry state to a wet and cold state, the nose first becomes wet and then cools down. If this state does not last long, it means that everything is going as it should - the owners just got to the moment when it still had time to cool down. But if the condition is prolonged and the nose remains hot but wet, you need to measure your body temperature, perhaps it has increased.

blue or blue-violet plus hot

This is the first sign of oxygen starvation and/or heart failure, when an acute lack of oxygen in the tissues of the body is detected. Inflammatory processes in the lungs can also contribute to a blue nose in a cat.

dry and lethargic

Any sign that complements a dry and warm nose indicates that the pet is unhealthy. The task of the owner of a mustachioed pet is to determine the body temperature and seek the advice of a veterinarian to find out for sure what happened to the animal.

hot ears and dry nose

A classic manifestation of increased body temperature. If the ears become noticeably hot and dryness of the nasal planum is noticed, be sure to measure the temperature (rectally)!

the cat does not eat and the nose is dry

It is also a clear sign that the animal is unhealthy. The reasons range from poisoning to serious infections. A veterinarian will help you better understand the cause.

There are many reasons why the nasal planum gets warm and dries out. Not all of them are associated with any diseases. If, with such a symptom, the cat feels great, and nothing in its behavior alarms the owner, it makes sense to simply wait a while until the nose becomes wet and cold on its own. However, any of the accompanying signs of abnormal health is a clear reason to visit a veterinarian!

What should a cat's nose be like normally? This question, one way or another, is faced by everyone who has sheltered a mustachioed miracle in their home. If a cat has not only a warm, but also a dry nose, does this mean that she is unwell? Or is this not a status indicator at all? Here it is important to take into account the fact that the dry organ of a cat’s sense of smell by itself does not yet indicate a 100% disease, although in combination with a number of certain signs such an assumption can be made. So there is no need to panic, but you will have to understand the intricacies - the first and important rule, by the way.

A slightly cold and slightly slippery nose is a normal condition for a healthy pet. He often licks it, and the nose itself is covered with a specific secretion that protects it from environmental influences. For the cat family, the nose is a compass and barometer. With its help, they catch odors, determine the direction of the air, the position of things, and simply navigate in space. And constant humidity is required for its normal functioning and sensitivity.

A cat has a warm nose - a normal variant

There are a number of reasons why the nose is dry and at the same time hot, but the animal is healthy and feels great. So why does a cat have a warm nose? And when is it a variant of the norm?

If a cat has been sleeping for a long time and has just woken up, his nose will be quite warm. Many breeders have encountered this more than once. The reason for this phenomenon is quite simple: in a dream, an animal cannot constantly lick its lips. After a certain time, everything will return to normal, you just have to wait. This means there is no need to worry. If the cat ran around tirelessly, like crazy, jumped, ran, played, or spent a lot of time in the sun in the summer or near a heat source, such as a radiator, in the winter, the nose could also become dry. We'll have to wait until we're at rest and only then draw conclusions. When the room, on the contrary, is quite cold, the cat is also not eager to lick itself. And her nose will remain dry, but not warm. This is also normal and should not be a cause for concern. Variants of the norm that provoke dryness of the nasal organ include dry air in the room, a state of stress or nervous tension. Then the pet’s condition requires observation. If after some time the balance is not restored, take the necessary measures.

How to measure temperature

But if a cat has hot ears and a warm and dry nose, then it is urgent to measure its body temperature. It's not at all difficult to do this. My cat's nose is warm - what should I do? .
In adult animals, normal values range from 38 to 39 degrees, in kittens – a degree and a half higher. In hairless breeds and pregnant individuals, you can add another half a degree to the norm. Everything above requires immediate adjustment.

There are three ways to measure temperature: ear, rectal and non-contact. Thermometers are used both mercury and electronic. The rectal method requires special skills from the person measuring. If only because the animal will have to be securely fixed, and then a thermometer lubricated with Vaseline will be inserted into the anus. It takes time to get results. Not every cat will allow such manipulations to be carried out on itself. Although, as practice shows, only healthy individuals fight. The sick animal seems to understand that they are trying to help him, and therefore tries not to disturb the owner.

An ear thermometer is applied to the inside of the ear while also holding the pet. But with a contactless device everything is much simpler. It is enough just to bring it to the animal and hold it close to the body for several minutes. Of course, with this method, a small error is likely, but you can turn a blind eye to it, given the simplicity and ease of measurement.

When a dry nose becomes a sign of illness

If, along with the temperature, accompanying signs of illness appear, such as swelling or redness of the eyes, rapid heartbeat, unsteady gait, unnaturally long sleep, apathy, difficulty breathing, skin rashes, inactivity, refusal to contact, diarrhea or foaming at the mouth, or no appetite are signs that directly indicate the onset of the disease. In this case, you should immediately contact a veterinarian and not self-medicate.

It is possible that your pet:

How to help your beloved pet?

How to alleviate the condition of the animal at home? Firstly, under no circumstances should it be treated with human methods: regular paracetamol or any pharmaceutical antipyretic from the nearest pharmacy is contraindicated for tailed animals. Because they are not adapted for animals and can lead to the most unpredictable consequences, even death. You should not try to lubricate your nose with ointments or simply wet it. It is important to give the cat slightly cool water, spray it with a spray bottle from time to time, or wipe it with a damp cloth. To temporarily reduce fever, you can apply an ice pack to your stomach. Only a veterinarian can determine the cause of the fever. Accordingly, only he can prescribe the necessary medications and treatment. So there is no need to put off going to the veterinary clinic.

Now many people understand: a cat’s nose is warm and dry - this does not mean that she has a fever. Otherwise, the problem must be resolved immediately.

Many of us cannot imagine life without our little brothers. At one point, our pets turn from just cats, cats and dogs into full-fledged family members. And if suddenly they get sick, the whole world becomes not nice to us, we worry, we think what to do to ease the suffering of our pet. Let's talk today about the nose of our household, as an indicator of the disease.

The nose is the organ through which a cat breathes and perceives smells. If we consider the anatomical structure of the nose in a simplified form, then it consists of two nasal entrances - these are, in a way, nostrils, like we have in humans. They are separated from each other by thin cartilage.

If we continue our educational journey deeper into the animal's nose, we find ourselves in a winding labyrinth. Here the cat starts the mechanism of selection and further processing of the aroma that interests it.

If the smell is not interesting to the animal, it will no longer enter the organ. All this is very reminiscent of the work of a filter, after passing through which, odor molecules begin to affect certain cells, the function of which is to transmit information directly to the olfactory center of the brain. This is where final scent recognition takes place.

You've probably heard more than once that a cat's sense of smell is several times better than the human sense of smell, all this is explained by the presence of a large number of receptors in the animal's small nose.

What a healthy nose it is

A healthy nose is, first of all, a cold and slightly moist nose; perhaps it may even seem slightly slippery to you.

It is also worth considering that after certain activities, for example, active games or sweet sleep, the cat’s nose may be hot. Don't be alarmed, this is also a normal manifestation of a healthy nose.

Sore nose

But if your pet has the following signs, it is best to immediately contact a specialist:

general malaise;
pale nose;
very cold nose;
the color of the olfactory organ has changed (white, blue, red, yellowish);
hot and dry nose.

A pale and very cold nose are signs indicating possible diseases such as:

systemic diseases;
hypothermia;
decrease in body temperature;
lack of appetite and as a result the cat does not eat.

A white nose indicates the presence of disturbances in the functioning of the animal’s circulatory system.

A blue nose signals:

possible heart disease;
oxygen starvation.

A reddish and inflamed nose indicates the possible presence of:

all kinds of infections;
mechanical irritation.

How to treat dry nose

If your pet has a dry and hot nose, first of all, you need to measure the animal's temperature. This is done using a mercury or electronic thermometer placed in the anus of the animal. Normally, the temperature of cats varies from 38-39 degrees.

Do not self-medicate; it is best to contact specialists who will accurately diagnose and teach you how to properly treat the animal.

A dry nose is not necessarily an indicator of a fever. For example, during hot weather, a kitten’s nose is dry and warm, so if you watch the animal, you will see how it constantly licks its nose, thereby moistening it.

Why do cats clean their noses so thoroughly?

The presence of dirt on a cat's nose contributes to a sharp decrease in the cat's sense of smell.

Just imagine, if a person closes both nostrils, what will happen? Likewise, a cat’s nose is a multifunctional organ that provides a full life for the animal. That is why we often observe how our pet cleanses his olfactory apparatus with special diligence.

The cat's nose color has changed

If you notice such a change in your pet, think about your cat's age. For example, in an old cat or male, a change in the color of the nose is normal.

Darkening of the nose in color-point cats is also considered normal; for them, such a change is typical when it gets cold outside. Cats have light-colored noses that turn pale when the temperature changes.

If your cat is in its prime and the color of its nose has changed, it is best to consult a doctor.

Precautionary measures

Once again I would like to remind you that cats’ sense of smell is fifteen times better than that of humans.

Therefore, be extremely careful when using strong chemicals, as well as when applying perfume, for example, to yourself. Do this away from our smaller brothers.

Remember, the health of cats is in our hands.