It’s your friendly wake-up call in the morning, the first thing that greets you at the door when you get home, and the ever-lurking presence when you’re eating dinner. But have you ever wondered why do dogs have wet noses?

No Offence, But Your Buddy Smells a Lot Better Than You…

Recent research suggests that humans can actually pick up a scent and follow it - if we put our mind to it. And we’re apparently up there with the best when it comes to sniffing out certain smells (bananas, urine and human blood... lucky us!)

But when was the last time your nose picked up on a trillionth of a gram of TNT?  Dogs have an amazing sense of smell compared to their two-legged friends, but they also smell differently. Their noses function in a different way to ours, which partly explains why their noses always seem so wet.

It used to be thought that all of the hard work of “sniffing out particular stuff” is done inside the nose - at the dog’s olfactory receptors. Scientists from Pennsylvania State University showed that there’s more to it than that. They found that odour molecules undergo a kind of “pre-sorting stage” before they even hit those receptors. 

Before getting to the scent receptors, the odours go through a layer of secreted mucus. Some molecules (scent particles) get absorbed quicker than others, helping the dog identify and pre-sort them; focusing on the ones that are important and getting rid of the ones that aren’t.

So partly at least, this layer of mucus around the nose contributes to the overall wetness. Dogs will also lick their noses to keep them moist.

Keeping it Cool…

At the same time, bear in mind that dogs don’t sweat much.

The main way they keep cool is through panting; something that lets them push the warm air out and bring cooler air into the body. A lot of that moisture evaporates from that big lolling tongue. But some also comes up as vapour from the nose, because of the presence of lots of blood vessels close to the surface.

So, when it’s hot outside or when your buddy’s been doing a lot of running, this is when their nose is likely to be especially wet. If he’s completely chilled with you on the sofa, then there’s still going to be a layer of moisture there, but nowhere near as moist.

Try giving your buddy’s nose a little rub in different conditions to see if you can tell the difference!

Is a Dog's Wet Nose a Sign of Good Health?

No. “Wetness” or “dryness” aren’t usually thought of as useful clinical indicators in themselves. Dog breeds with shorter noses, like Pugs, French bulldogs and Shih Tzus are more likely to have a moist nose due to the shape of their nose. Despite their noses being more wet than usual, this doesn't mean they aren't a healthy dog.

That said, if your doggy’s feeling paw-ly, analysing their noses can sometimes reveal if it's a health issue or signs of an illness.

A small amount of thin, clear discharge is normal, but excessive nasal discharge that is clear or cloudy can be a sign of a nasal or sinus infection, especially when it’s accompanied by lots of sneezing. If there’s coughing or difficulty breathing, it could also be the sign of a chest or respiratory infection. Blood-tinged discharge can be a sign of an infectious disease, inflammation or even something more serious, like cancer.

In fact, if anything seems amiss around your buddy’s nose - redness, a bad smell or bleeding around the nostrils for instance - it’s best to get it checked over by the vet!

Why is My Dog’s Nose Wet?

Now that we’ve looked at why are dogs' noses wet, let's take a deeper look at what could be causing your dog’s runny nose. A watery nose in dogs can also be a sign of one of the following health problems:

Allergies: dogs can have allergies to fleas, a particular food or allergens in the environments. Seasonal allergies are common during spring and autumn due to increased pollens, mould and yeasts during this time of year. Most allergies will resolve themselves as the season passes, but you can also get medication from your vet to help manage the symptoms to make your dog more comfortable.

Congenital: puppy nasal discharge could be caused by a cleft palate, which is when there is an opening down the middle of the roof of the mouth. It can be a serious medical problem, so seek veterinary advice if you suspect this is why your puppies' nose is wet.

Foreign body or trauma: dogs love to sniff! This sometimes results in them inhaling things like seeds, grass and other small objects that can get stuck in their nasal passage. Or they may bump into things and injure their nose. If they have a foreign body stuck in their nose, it may need to be removed by a vet.

Dental problems: tooth abscess and oronasal fistulas can sometimes explain your canine's runny nose. Oronasal fistulas are an abnormal passage between the roof of the mouth and the nasal cavity. They’re caused by a diseased upper tooth. All dental problems will need to be treated by a vet.

Infectious: fungal infections, parasites (nasal mites) and canine infectious respiratory disease (kennel cough) can all be linked to a dog’s wet nose. These all require treatment from a vet.

It can be difficult to work out the cause of your dog’s wet nose and whether it needs veterinary attention. Speak to you vet if your dog’s snotty nose is accompanied by other symptoms like facial pawing or rubbing, breathing difficulty, sneezing, coughing or reduce appetite. Or if you have any other concerns.

Dogs and Dry Noses…

A dog’s cold wet nose is likely to get your attention, but a warm dry nose can also be an indication that something isn’t right. Some dogs have naturally drier noses than others, and it’s also common for a dog’s nose to be dry after a nap or after a windy walk or a snooze in the sun. Age can also affect how wet or dry a nose is.

A canine’s dry nose shouldn’t be ignored as it may be caused by dehydration, allergies, sunburn or blocked tear ducts. A dry nose on a puppy can be of concern because they deteriorate quicker from dehydration than an adult dog, so make sure your pup is drinking plenty. Contact your vet if your dog’s dry nose is accompanied by loss of appetite, lethargy, or their nose is cracked or has developed sores.

There are also some health conditions that cause a dry nose, like hyperkeratosis and pemphigus. If there is an underlying cause to a dry nose, there’ll be other symptoms too. Keep an eye out for loss of appetite, cracking on the nose, redness of the nose or eyes, crusting mucus around the eyes, and facial rubbing. These conditions will affect other areas of the body too, so check for limping or lameness, hair loss, frequent licking of areas, itchiness, depression and fever.

Should a Dog’s Nose be Wet or Dry?

Every dog's nose is different and there are many factors that’ll affect the wetness of their nose. Next time your dog has a runny nose, or it seems drier than normal, don’t panic. Look for other symptoms that could indicate an underlying cause. If your dog seems off, it’s best to get them checked over by a vet.

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Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Canis – www.vetlexicon.com/canis

Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.