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Dogs have noses just like us. But, there are some differences between dog’s noses and human’s noses. For example, dogs can smell things much better than humans can! Also, when a dog smells something it doesn’t smell the same way that we do! Dogs noses can sometimes be dry, sometimes be wet, sometimes be hot and sometimes be cold. Today’s article is all about warm noses on dogs. What do warm noses on dogs actually mean?
Introducing the Canine Nose
Dog noses are also much more moist than our noses are. The moisture in their nose provides a better environment for scent (you might also want to read this article on why do dogs have wet noses?).
Scientists estimate that a dog’s sense of smell is somewhere between 10,000 to 100,000 times stronger than a humans!
So, when a dog smells something it’s using both it’s mouth and nose together! The dog sucks up the smell into his mouth through his nostrils. Then, the dog’s saliva mixes with the smell and he can pick up the scent even more!
Warm Noses on Dogs – what do they mean?
So, what does it mean when a dog’s nose is warm? Well, basically, a warm nose on a dog means that they are really hot. Humans can get pretty hot and sweaty while dogs pant to control their temperature. They cannot sweat due to their skin being covered in fur.
The temperature of a dog’s nose varies depending on how hot it is outside and the breed of the dog. Dogs with longer noses such as greyhounds and Jack Russells generally have cooler noses than shorter nosed dogs such as pugs or bulldogs.
You may find that your dogs nose is warmer after he has just come in from running around outside. He may have heated his body during exercise. It’s a way of telling you that the dog needs to cool down.
Is a Warm Nosed Dog Sick?
A warm nose also might mean something else, though! When a dog is sick his temperature will go up and his nose may be warmer. If your pet doesn’t feel well it might have a fever.
However, it’s a bit of a myth that a dog with a cold wet nose is a healthy dog and a dog with a warm dry nose is sick. You may have a very healthy dog with a dry and warm nose, or your dog may be sick despite having a cold wet one. So it’s always important to take veterinary advice.
Take a trip to the vet if you suspect something is off
The vet can tell if there’s something wrong with your dog or not. If you suspect that something is off with your dog then a trip to the vet is advised. Signs to look out for in a sick dog are lethargy (tired all of the time), lack of appetite, change in routine (such as not wanting to go for walkies) or appearing to be in pain (yelping or not letting you touch him or her). The temperature of your dogs nose is not the best indication to go by.
Warm noses on dogs – Try some Dry Nose Balm!
If your dog is healthy and well but does suffer from a dry nose then you can try some dog dry nose balm. A dry nose balm can help your dog to feel more comfortable and relieve symptoms of dry or cracked skin on your dog. It can also be used on a dogs paw pads too!
You might also like to read about hypoallergenic dogs.