If you have a flat-faced dog, you probably know how dry their nose can get. They are far more susceptible to dry noses than dogs with snouts of a regular length. Their dry, cracked nose can peel, bleed, and be extremely painful for your poor pooch.
A moist nose is also necessary for your dog to properly process all the fascinating smells around them. If you’ve already been to your vet to rule out any serious health issues that could cause a dry nose, you may be running out of ideas for how to safely moisturize your dog’s nose. Luckily, there are a few things you can try that will help to protect and soothe your flat-faced dog’s sensitive nose.
#1 – Make sure your dog has access to plenty of fresh water
Dehydration is a leading cause of dry noses in dogs, so making sure your dog always has access to plenty of fresh water may be key to moisturizing his nose. It may be worth trying different bowls or even fountains to see if your dog will drink more water. Many dogs don’t like plastic, so even switching to a steel bowl may encourage your dog to drink more. Chronic low-level dehydration can lead to a whole host of other health problems apart from a dry nose, so investing in a fountain could really benefit your dog in the long term if it encourages him to drink more water.
#2 – Use a humidifier
If your dog’s nose gets dryer in the winter when the furnace is sucking all the moisture out of the air, using a humidifier in your dog’s favorite room (or every room in the house) can help their skin (and yours!) retain more moisture.
#3 – Use sunblock
Sunburn is another common cause of dry noses for dogs. Buy a dog-safe sunblock and apply it to your dog’s nose before he goes outside. Preventing sunburn in the first place will help prevent your dog’s nose from drying out.
#4 – Check for allergies
Dogs can be allergic to a wide variety of things, just like people. They may have environmental, food, or even plastic allergies, and any of those could cause a dry nose. Talk to your vet about how to discover any allergies your dog may have.
#5 – Apply a balm
There are a variety of things you can apply to your dog’s nose to help reduce the dryness and cracking. Extra virgin coconut oil, petroleum jelly, and shea butter are all safe to apply to your dog’s nose in small amounts. Just be sure only to put it on the outside of your dog’s nose and don’t get any inside his nostrils.
Project Paws® Nature’s Butter™ Snout Balm
We recommend Project Paws® Nature’s Butter™ Snout Balm our all-natural snout soother, which can be used on sensitive sniffers when they need a moisture boost. It’s handcrafted with only the good stuff, including shea butter, beeswax, and nourishing oils to help heal irritated noses and bring back a healthy smooth, dam surface. Even better, each tin purchased provides 5 meals to hungry shelter dogs waiting for their forever homes!
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional.
(H/T: AKC, The Happy Puppy Site, The Daily Shep)
via Whisker Therapy