Dog noses – a true miracle of nature

Did you know that your four-legged friend detects smells about 10,000 times better than you ? Whether your dog's nose is wet or dry: his nose is crucial for your pet's survival and is a real high-performance organ. With up to 300 million olfactory cells, it ensures that some dogs can even find lost people, detect drugs or smell illnesses using chemically modified smells.
Your dog sniffs here, sniffs there - sometimes it's impossible to move forward.
Before you pull on the leash again in a slightly annoyed manner, remember: dogs “see” with their noses.
Even though we as male dog owners know how time-consuming sniffing can sometimes be: sometimes take it with a little more patience, because the "trunk", which is longer or shorter depending on the breed, is your four-legged friend's number 1 sensory organ!

Why are dogs' noses usually moist?

A healthy dog's nose is covered with a thin layer of mucus. The moist environment means that odor particles adhere better. Does your four-legged friend often lick his nose? He has two main good reasons for this:

1. When you sniff, dust, pollen and dirt collect on your nose. The tongue removes this and the dog's nose is 100% usable again.
2. By licking your nose, the interesting smells that stick to the mucous layer of the nose migrate into the mouth. In this way, the dog also experiences the smell through a second sensory organ - great cinema!

What is a dry dog ​​nose?

Does your dog often have a very dry nose? That must be a symptom of an illness, because dogs should always have wet snouts! Or not?
We can reassure you , there are also some harmless reasons for this.

• Your dog is exposed to strong environmental influences. Many dog ​​owners are out and about with their pets in all weathers. Good this way!
  But: Wind, cold or strong sunlight can dry out the dog's nose - sunburn or cracked skin can result.
  In the same way, heating or a fireplace can dry out the nasal mucosa in the cold season - just like in humans.
  
  
• Your dog took a nap. While sleeping, dogs usually do not lick their noses and moisten them. This can also lead to a dry dog ​​nose. So no need to worry!

• Dehydration due to physical exertion. Running, playing, sprinting – heavy physical exertion can remove a lot of fluid from your four-legged friend's body. You should therefore always make sure that you have enough to drink with you - regardless of the weather.
  A little tip: With the practical, portable dog drinking bottle from Petkit you are perfectly prepared for this. Drinking bowl and water container in one compact bottle - you don't have to take separate bowls or bottles with you!

• Allergies. Dogs can suffer from allergies just like us. These usually only appear in old age, but can also annoy our four-legged friends at a young age.
  Your dog's nose absorbs most of the environmental stimuli and is exposed to a lot. Parts of the body that are heavily used are more prone to problems. Does your dog sneeze and scratch his nose several times a day? Fluid running out of your nose? These could be signs of an allergy.
  
  Allergies can often be identified through a process of elimination.
  Have you recently given your dog a new toy, different food, or new food bowls? Do you use new cleaning products for your floor or laundry? Have you been using fabric freshener recently? Any products that contain fragrances or the like can also irritate your dog's nose and sensitive olfactory cells.

• Breed-specific problems. In technical language, the flat and short-nosed dogs are referred to as “brachycepahl” breeds.
  These include, for example, the pug, the French bulldog, the Boston terrier and the English bulldog. For anatomical reasons, they have difficulty moistening their nose. This means that dog noses become cracked and brittle more often.

Please note : A dry, hot nose can still indicate a fever. If you notice them along with vomiting, sluggishness, diarrhea, or loss of appetite, you should contact your veterinarian immediately.

These tips & products help against (harmless) dry dog ​​noses:

• Dogs can have or develop an allergy to plastic. Try to avoid plastic, switch to stainless steel or ceramic.
  At Pawsome dog accessories you will find a selection of feeding bowls or feeding stations made of stainless steel and natural ceramic.
  You can find rustic feeding bowls with high-quality wooden elements here and here .
  You can order robust ceramic bowls in beautiful, elegant colors here.
• Unfortunately, dog toys can often be contaminated with pollutants and other chemicals. Your dog absorbs these by nibbling and biting with his mouth - these then enter his system. To avoid this and eliminate potential allergy triggers, you will find a large selection of non-toxic, sustainable and robust dog toys here.
• You can order animal-friendly cleaning products without fragrances or parabens and made from 100% natural, gentle ingredients here. Of course, without animal testing - yet strong against dirt and grime!
• To give your pet a quick remedy for a brittle, cracked nose, you can find high-quality care products in our online shop. The paw cream from the Viennese company Sevie is a true all-rounder. It helps irritated paws and noses as well as dry calluses regain their moisture.
  Purely natural, nourishing oils and fats such as olive oil, shea butter and evening primrose oil are completely safe and even edible for your dog.
  Here you will find other care products to make dry noses and sensitive skin supple again - your hands will thank you too!

Our conclusion : The reasons for dry noses are varied, ranging from harmless to serious. If your four-legged friend has a frequent dry and sometimes cracked nose (especially after the changes described above) and then decide how to deal with it.
You know your darling best! So you can enjoy a relaxed, carefree life together.