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The puppy has a dry nose and sleeps constantly. The dog has a dry nose: we understand the causes and additional symptoms. Warm nasal planum, semi-consciousness and heavy breathing

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 a hot nose in a pet is a symptom of a disease 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;
  • with nervous excitement or fear;
  • 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 most often lead to a serious change in a dog’s body temperature. The temperature can also rise due to allergies, heat stroke, after vaccination, or severe damage to the skin.

The alarm should be sounded if the dog's nose is hot and dry for several hours. Experts call the most common cause of this condition of the nose in dogs an allergic reaction. It can occur on plant pollen, dust, especially construction dust during repairs, plastic food or drink bowls, 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 the general condition and mood of the animal, 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. Normally, the rectal temperature of four-legged friends 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 in case of 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.

In this article I will talk about the causes of dry or elevated nose temperature in a dog. I will describe possible diseases and why it is hot or warm, and what to do. I’ll tell you what your nose should be like, when dry is normal, dangerous or not.

A wet and cold nose in an adult dog or puppy indicates that the pet is feeling well.

Causes of dryness:

  • Allergy.
  • Stress.
  • Cold.
  • Dehydration.
  • Sudden change in weather.
  • Injury.

It occurs not only on certain foods in the diet, but also on dust, pollen, chemicals, materials (plastics). An allergic reaction manifests itself in a rash on the skin, lethargy of the pet, runny eyes, sneezing, and loss of appetite. A walk in the spring among flowering plants can cause an allergic reaction, even if everything was fine a year ago. Bowls and toys made from low-quality plastic should be checked first.

A dog's stress can be caused by a change of owners, moving, change of environment, or punishment. The depressed state of the dog provokes a lack of attention from the owner. Daily walks, games and contact with your pet will help avoid attention deficit and support him even in the most difficult moments of life.

A pet with a cold coughs and sneezes. A cold can be identified by a lethargic state, refusal to play or eat, and elevated temperature.

Dehydration is expressed in a depressed state of the dog, he tries to move less, and in this case the body pressure is increased.


Dogs react to changes in weather; dryness can appear due to strong winds, snowfall, frost or abnormal heat.

An injured pet experiences pain and the nostrils become dry. In this case, you need to examine the dog for damage, and if there are wounds, you need to treat them and take the pet to a veterinary clinic. A fight with wild animals is dangerous; the dog’s opponent may be a carrier of the rabies virus, in which case unvaccinated pets become infected, and the chance of survival is reduced to zero.

Causes of a hot or warm nose

An increase in the temperature of the nose and its dryness indicate that the pet is sick. To all the causes of dryness are added increased temperature and pressure.

Hot indicates that the animal has a fever; by measuring it, you can understand what exactly is happening to the dog. Dogs' temperature changes rectally. You need to lubricate the end of the thermometer with Vaseline and insert it into the anus. The procedure will be unpleasant for the dog, so the presence of the owner is important for him. It is recommended to speak affectionately to your pet, calling it by name, or stroking it.

An increase in temperature of 1 degree during estrus is normal.

If the temperature rises higher, the bitch should be checked for diseases of the reproductive system or sexually transmitted infections.

The symptom may warn of high or low blood pressure in the dog. Blood pressure is measured with a veterinary tonometer. Normal blood pressure in medium and large breed dogs is 150 x 90 mm. For small breeds, the norm is different - 170 by 90 mm.


When a dry nose is normal

Dryness and increased temperature of the nose are normal immediately after the animal awakens.

During sleep, your body temperature rises and your nostrils dry out. In hot and dry weather, the dog’s organ dries out, in such conditions the dog is at risk of dehydration, so it is necessary to provide the dog with clean water in large quantities and in constant access. If an animal sleeps near the stove and fireplace, it dries out from exposure to outside temperature.

When to contact a veterinarian

You should seek professional help or advice if ulcers, rashes, or sores appear on your animal’s skin. Diarrhea, frequent belching, vomiting, cough and shortness of breath are symptoms that appear due to gastrointestinal upset, poisoning or infection in the blood. In all these cases, a trip to the veterinarian cannot be postponed.

An eating disorder appears even when eating foods that are completely familiar to the dog. If symptoms appear, you need to review your pet’s diet with your veterinarian and, if necessary, create a new one.

If your nose is extremely dry in hot or cold weather, it is recommended to lubricate your nose with a drop of hypoallergenic ointment based on calendula.


What a healthy nose should be like

The pet's nostrils may dry out and become wet several times a day; this only indicates good heat exchange and reaction to the environment.

A dry and hot nose is not a disease itself, but rather one of its symptoms.

At room temperature, a healthy dog ​​will feel damp and cold when awake.

If your pet has noticed dryness and increased temperature of the nose, you need to observe the pet and find out more about its condition, and if other symptoms appear, contact a veterinarian.

Everyone is accustomed to the fact that a dog’s dry nose indicates illness. In a sense, this is true, although it is not an absolute truth.

However, it is important to take this symptom into account when diagnosing various diseases.

Causes of a dry nose in a puppy

One of the most common causes of a dry, hot nose in a puppy. It can often occur on low-quality plastic, for example, from which a small pet’s toys or its food and water bowls are made.

An allergic reaction can also occur to pollen, dust, and chemicals (for example, detergents). Also, some breeds (usually decorative) have an allergic reaction to certain foods. A dry nose can also signal... And then she may experience other symptoms, such as:

  • runny nose,
  • sneezing,
  • hoarseness,
  • cough.

In addition, the nose can dry out when it is injured. Then you can notice swelling, swelling, scabs or ulcers on it. A dog can also develop an autoimmune skin disease called pemphigus.

It's normal for a dog to have a dry nose in some cases.

Before you panic about your pet's dry nose, it's worth finding out in what situations this is completely normal. For example, a dog’s nose becomes dry and hot during sleep, from overwork (for example, after running for a walk), during nervous excitement or stress.

For example, a puppy may be frightened by an encounter with an aggressive adult dog. The weather also affects the condition of the nose and it becomes dry both in very hot climates and in extreme cold. During hot weather, the dog should be given enough to drink, and his nose should be lubricated with aloe juice after a walk. After a walk in cold weather, the dog's nose is wiped with warm water.

It is generally accepted that a dog’s cold, wet nose is a sign of its well-being and health. And if your pet suddenly has a dry nose, then you need to urgently contact a 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, chemicals 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, your 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 is the habits that best signal an animal’s illness.

The nose is free of any infections that have affected her. For example, an animal that has just woken up has a dry nose, and this does not indicate any pathology. After 15-20 minutes of wakefulness, everything returns to normal. You can also have a dry nose.

In situations where the animal is nervous, the nose may dry out and feel warm to the touch. In this situation, there is no need to take the dog to the veterinarian. It is enough to remove the source of stress and stay for a while, wait until she calms down, caress the animal, give it a treat.

If your pet spends a lot of time outside in the summer, his nose may simply get burned. There's no need to panic, but next time be vigilant and apply a little sunscreen. A similar situation can occur in severe frosts. Just like the skin on the hands of people who don't wear gloves, the skin on a dog's nose can dry out and begin to crack.

What diseases are a sign of a dry nose?

The most common cause of dry nose in dogs is allergies. Often its source can be regular contact with plastic. If your pet's bowls are made of this material, replace them with glass, metal or ceramic ones. However, as in the case of humans, anything can act as an allergen, including any food product, pollen or dust.

If you have a cold, your dog's nose may also be dry. In addition to this, there will be other symptoms: runny nose, sneezing, coughing, hoarse barking. Observe your pet's behavior. A sick dog becomes lethargic, does not want to play with its owner or go outside, and may refuse to eat and hide in a secluded place. To make sure your assumption is correct, the animal needs to measure its temperature, and if it is above 39 degrees, contact a veterinarian.

A dog's dry, warm nose can also signal injury. In this case, you may also find swelling, scabs, ulcers, and swelling. In this situation, it is also better to take the animal to a veterinary clinic to avoid infection.

Dogs have an autoimmune disease called pemphigus, which causes their sense of smell to become dry and warm. After this, blisters appear on its skin, which burst and form a crust, preventing the animal from breathing. The pet must be shown to a specialist who will give advice on treatment.