The nose is a very important organ for dogs, and each dog’s nose is unique (each dog’s nose pattern is different).
In daily life, they use their noses to feel the world all the time.
Anyone who has ever raised a dog knows that a healthy dog has a wet and cold nose. And I’ve heard that a dog’s nose can tell if a dog is sick.
But is this true?
It turns out that some conditions can indeed be used as a basis for judging a dog’s illness.
We all know that when dogs are sick, they are often accompanied by complications such as lethargy, vomiting and diarrhea. At the same time, the dog’s nose can also become warm and dry.
At this point, we can judge whether the dog is sick based on the nose.
But it is worth noting that the symptoms of complications are enough to become the basis for the dog to be sick. In fact, there is no need to judge whether the dog is sick or not through the dog’s nose.
Because the symptoms of illness are already obvious.
However, there are times when a dog’s nose becomes warm, dry, and has no other unusual symptoms, which does not mean it is sick.
A dog’s nose can become warm and dry under these conditions: just waking up, excessive exercise, prolonged exposure to heat or cold, and older dogs.
Why it fades
Having too many dogs or watching dogs too often Video viewers will notice such a phenomenon. Dogs of different breeds or of the same breed have different nose colors.
In fact, there are many reasons for the different colors of dog noses, mainly related to pigmentation, genetics and seasonal changes.
In these cases, there is no problem and nothing to worry about. In some cases, extra attention is required, such as those caused by allergies, infections, and autoimmune diseases.
Next we will discuss in detail the reasons for the discoloration of the dog’s nose:
Age Growth
Generally, some dogs have a flesh-colored (pink) nose when they are young. As the dog grows and the body continues to develop, the color of the dog’s nose will gradually become darker.
A dog’s nose color remains the same for several years after reaching adulthood. As dogs age, the color of their noses will also lighten.
The main reason for this is that the amount of tyrosinase in the body varies as the dog ages.
In old age, the dog’s body function declines, its metabolism slows down, and the melanin pigmentation in the body decreases, which in turn leads to fading of the nose.
Sickness and heat
Some dogs are sick or in heat The color of the nose becomes lighter. Once the illness has recovered or the heat is over, the color will naturally return.
Changes in seasons
The changes in the seasons lead to Discoloration, often referred to as snow nose or winter nose, occurs primarily in winter.
As the weather warms up, the color of the nose will return. The main reason is that the tyrosinase in the body is more sensitive to temperature, the temperature is lower, the activity is reduced, and the color of the nose becomes lighter.
Common dogs with seasonally discolored noses include: Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Bernese Mountain Dog, etc.
Wounds and abrasions
After a dog’s nose is scratched or worn, The wound is usually pink as it heals and may turn black until the scab falls off.
Nutrition Absorption
The dog lacks nutrients, trace elements in the body Insufficient, resulting in insufficient melanin synthesis, resulting in lighter nose color.
Genetics and Dudley noses
Some dog pink noses are Congenital, mainly inherited from parents.
There is also a case of Dudley nose, a puppy from birth, the nose color gradually fades from black to light brown, pink.
Unlike snow nose, this discoloration is irreversible and is a permanent pigment loss. There is no effective treatment. But this discoloration has no effect on the dog’s health.
Allergies
This allergy is mostly contact Dermatitis, when a dog’s nose comes into contact with an object or environment to which it is allergic (antibiotics, metal, plastic, rubber, etc.), the tip of the nose becomes lighter in color.
An effective solution is to reduce the use of plastic products and use glass or stainless steel food and water bowl
s.
Bacterial infection
Infection by bacteria The resulting lightening of the nose. At the same time, symptoms such as nose swelling and crusting can also be observed. This requires a timely visit to the veterinary hospital for treatment.
Immune disease
Vitiligo (Vitiligo) is an immune disease that It turns pink and there are white patches on other parts of the body.
Mainly, the cells responsible for the color of the nose are destroyed by themselves, resulting in color loss. This immune disease does not affect dog health.
The common breeds that cause nose discoloration by vitiligo include: Doberman pinscher, German shepherd, Rottweiler, etc.
About the owner, what we can do
Check the dog’s nose regularly and find the dog’s nose in time The problem. If your dog’s nose turns pink, they also need to be protected from the sun, especially on hot summer days.
At the same time, appropriate supplementation of vitamin B, vitamin C and seaweed powder can relieve nose fading. Most dog nose discolorations are harmless.
But it should be noted that when the dog’s nose has bloody, foul-smelling snot, accompanied by weakness or loss of appetite, it is necessary to go to the veterinary hospital for examination.
