Picture this. You are back home after a weary Monday and you see your little bundle of fur bounding towards you, ready to smother you with licks and kisses. Bliss!
But then you notice something unusual. Your pet’s nose looks dry. A lot drier than normal.
Wait! It’s flaky and peeling too. Yikes!
Dry and chapped canine noses are enough to send pet parents down the panic spiral, and for good reason too. Generational wisdom tells us that wet noses equal good health for canines. Dry noses on the other hand? The exact opposite.
So, I wouldn’t blame you for getting the jitters seeing that chapped ‘truffle’. But before you make the beeline for your vet, you’d want to run it past my ‘dry nose checklist’, as I like to call it. As a dog mom for the past 8-years, I have come across this situation more times that you can imagine.
This checklist may help you diagnose the problem and make an informed decision about the remedial action to be taken. But before we get to that, let’s address some of the common reasons for chapped noses in dogs, shall we?
What causes chapped noses in dogs?
Doggie noses have a thin lining that’s covered with glands that produce mucus, which keeps it moist and wet at all times. In addition to this, dogs lick their noses frequently to keep it moist too. Doesn’t that look cute though? You might be wondering, why’s it chapped then?
There can be numerous reasons. Some are worrisome and others not so much. Here’s the checklist that I mentioned earlier.
Top 5 reasons why your pooch’s nose may be chapped
Here are some of the common reasons that your dog’s nose looks chapped and flaky at times.
1. Your dog took a prolonged nap: When your dog is napping, they are not licking their noses anymore. So, dogs commonly wake up with warm and dry noses. A little bit of activity around the house should restore the former wet glory though.
2. Your dog may be mildly dehydrated: Dogs love their outdoor time, don’t they? Some are at their boisterous best in warm and sunny weather. This can cause mild dehydration, which leads to dry and chapped noses. Unless your dog is displaying serious signs of dehydration, and has access to water to cool off in some time, this shouldn’t be a huge concern.
3. Allergies: Imagine having 300 million olfactory receptors in your nose. You’d be constantly surrounded by a bouquet of smells that intrigue and attract you. Its no wonder that dogs love to spend their time sniffing around. Unfortunately, the curiosity can sometimes lead your pooch to potential allergens, like pollen or chemicals for instance. This can trigger dry nose bouts repeatedly and must be addressed.
4. The Weather: Just like it can do to us, extreme weather can dry out your pet’s nose. If its too cold outside or if they’ve been out in the sun too long, then there’s a possibility that your dog’s nose may look chapped.
5. Age: Older dogs tend to develop dry noses more frequently than younger ones. That’s primarily because their mucus production is depleted. But it may also indicate that they are more prone to infections because of a weakened immune system.
When are chapped noses a matter for concern then?
As you may know, I have an older dog with Nasal keratitis which is also allergic to everything under the sun. So I regularly use my organic paw and nose balm which keeps her nose looking and functioning at its best.
But there are occasions when I am unsure whether its just some extra playtime in the sun, or something else that’s causing the dryness. In such situations using differential diagnosis has worked best for me.
- Rule out severe dehydration first – Check the gums. Are they dry or looking pale? Is your dog panting more than usual? Is your dog vomiting or having diarrhea? It could be a sign of dehydration and might warrant a visit to the vet.
- Rule out fever or general illness – Look for other symptoms of malaise, like lethargy, lack of appetite and/or panting. If my dog is sleeping more than usual and refuse to come bolting to the door for a walk, I know that something’s amiss. You’ve got to watch out for signs that are individual for your pet.
- Nasal Hyperkeratosis – Hyperkeratosis is a condition in which the skin produces excessive keratin, a protein that makes up the outer layer of the nose. As a result, the skin surface becomes brittle, crusted and hard. Some dog breeds are genetically predisposed to hyperkeratosis and are more likely to have both, nasal and footpad hyperkeratosis. But it can also be caused due to an underlying illness such as canine distemper, Leishmaniasis and certain autoimmune conditions.
What to put on canine chapped nose – Home Remedies
Coming to the topic at hand, what do you apply on your pet’s nose to minimize the chapping or to treat it completely?
I have tried everything in the doggie health gospel folks. From Vitamin capsules to salmon oil to fancy products that I bought off the internet.
Here are my top choices.
1. Olive oil: Works really well for weather-related dryness. Just a drop or two dabbed around the nose (not the nostrils) should get the job done.
2. Organic Coconut Oil: Coconut oil is one of the best natural moisturizers that you can get for both humans and canines. My pooch loves it. But it may not work for severe conditions like hyperkeratosis. Also, applying this on the paws leaves a sticky trail all over the house.
3. Shea Butter Nose and Paw Balm: My go-to choice for general use, as well as for my dog’s hyperkeratosis is this organic Shea Butter Nose and Paw balm. It is non-sticky, made from unrefined fair trade shea butter which is crammed with goodness. Not only does it moisturize the paws, but actually protects it during inclement weather. For example, my dog used to have severe chapping on his paws during summer. Not anymore.
Some dog parents use Petroleum Jelly too and they claim that it works well. But I don’t and personally prefer only organic and natural stuff for my dog. So, I have never tried that. What about you? What’s your favorite home remedy for chapped snouts and paws of your lovelies?
ORDER NOW