If you’ve ever gotten close to a canine (which we’re pretty sure you have), then you’ll know they often possess a wet nose. Did you know that this moisture can help them detect scents more efficiently, or that it aids their body’s cooling process?
Discover the reasons why your dog has a wet nose and how it manages to maintain this moisture even through hot summer days. In addition, find out the real causes of a dry nose and what it means for your pet’s health.
Wet Noses Help Dogs Track Scents
Most canine owners agree that a moist nose is a sign of good health in our pets. Still, what is it that makes a dog’s nose wet, and is it always a sign of good health?
While humans primarily rely on our sense of sight to experience and understand the world around them, a dog relies far more heavily on its senses of smell and hearing. So, your dog’s brain is designed to focus more energy on the scents it receives rather than the sights, which is why your dog has a wet nose.
Wet noses work much better when identifying smells than dry noses do because scent particles have an easier time attaching themselves to a damp surface than a dry one.
While humans possess around six million olfactory receptors, dogs can have up to 300 million. In addition, the area of the brain that processes smell is approximately 40 times more efficient in a dog than in a human. Scientists estimate that a dog’s sense of smell could be between 1,000 and 10,000 times better than a human’s.
And a wet nose carries another advantage for your canine; it helps to keep them cool in hot weather. Dogs generally get rid of excess heat through panting and paw pads, but a wet nose can also be an excellent cooling mechanism.
While humans sweat by releasing moisture through the skin, dogs use other methods to cool down. Evaporating the fluid from their noses can act as a cooling mechanism to aid their body’s overall process of maintaining a stable temperature.
How Does a Dog’s Nose Get Wet?
We now know why your dog has a wet nose, but how does it get wet and retain its moisture all day, every day? There are several ways.
First, your dog’s nose contains a unique set of mucus glands that enable it to maintain a moist nasal canal. This thin mucus layer aids in the absorption of scent particles, while a similar watery fluid enhances your dog’s ability to keep cool.
You may notice that your dog often licks its nose, and this is another way that they ensure it stays constantly moist. Dogs smell everything which means that their noses get dirty quickly. Licking this dirt from their nose helps keep your canine clean while maintaining an optimum moisture level on this vital sensory organ.
In addition, licking its nose can help a dog to facilitate the function of the vomeronasal organ, which further enhances your dog’s ability to identify scents in the world around them.
And when we say your dog sniffs everything, we mean everything, including wet surfaces such as puddles or damp grass. So, this is another way that your canine’s nose retains its moisture levels.
Why Is My Dog’s Nose Dry?
Just as people associate wet noses with good health, they can associate dry noses with illness, but this is not necessarily the case. Some dogs possess a naturally wet nose, while others have dryer noses – and there’s nothing wrong with that.
The amount of moisture on your dog’s nose is not a good indicator of health. Instead, look at the status of their nose in combination with several other factors to determine overall health.
A common reason your dog might have a dry nose is that they have just enjoyed a warm nap or are experiencing dehydration following the exertion of a physical workout. If you think it could be the latter, ensure your dog drinks plenty of water to rehydrate themselves.
If a dry nose accompanies other symptoms of illness, such as a loss of appetite or restlessness, then it’s a good idea to consult your vet. Also, check with a professional if the skin around your dog’s nose starts to crack or develop sores.
Can A Dog’s Nose Be Too Wet?
It’s an old wife’s tale that a wet nose represents good health, while a dry nose represents sickness. Still, your dog should maintain a balanced level of nose moisture if it is in good health.
Think about when humans develop infections, we can often experience mucus build-ups and blocked nasal passages, and the same is true for your dog.
Too much moisture (or, more specifically, mucus) can indicate something wrong with your dog. Excessive nasal discharge can indicate a respiratory infection or a foreign body present in your dog’s nose, so check with your vet if you notice this symptom.
