Written by: Sheraton Luxuries

 Dogs And The Mystery Of Wet Noses

   If you spend a lot of time in the company of dogs, you probably have noticed that they typically have wet noses. There are a handful of explanations, so Why are dogs noses wet? The answer could involve everything from cooling to saliva.

 

Are Wet Doggy Noses Coated in Mucous?

 The ASPCA indicates that dogs give off light amounts of mucous that come from the glands that are within their noses. This substance picks up on odors and makes it even easier for dogs to smell their surroundings. Dogs are smelling powerhouses.

Are Wet Noses Related to Cooling Off?

 Dogs are different from people in that they're devoid of sweat glands in locations all over their bodies. They manage that by panting any time they need to cool down. Although dogs do not have sweat glands everywhere, they do have them in their noses and in their paws, fascinatingly enough.

Noses that are wet enable them to hold on to their typical temperatures. That's how damp noses keep major medical concerns at bay in times of significant temperatures. Doggy feet are similar. They perspire as a means of stopping hazardous overheating from taking place. This perspiration also stops paw pads from drying out.

 

Is Saliva Responsible for My Dog's Wet Nose?

 People who are familiar with dogs know that they tend to slobber a lot. It's not unusual to see a dog placing his or her tongue on top of his nose or his mouth area. That's why it's no shocker that nose wetness can often be traced back to basic saliva, nothing more and nothing less. Dogs put their tongues on their noses and mouths for a couple of reasons. They sometimes test out odor particles that are lingering on their noses. They sometimes like to groom themselves and stay clean and fresh as well.

 Dog noses are prone to soiling. They tend to take on all kinds of behaviors that seem pretty yucky or messy to humans. They dig around in gardens. They eat their meals and treats pretty rapidly and carelessly, too. If your dog's nose is excessively wet, it may mean that he or she simply wants to get rid of bits of meat and sauce that may be collecting there.

It may seem bizarre to people that scent particles hang out on top of doggy noses at times. When dogs check for various odors that are around them, their noses collect scent chemicals. Dogs use their tongues to do away with these chemicals after a while. This is to enable their olfactory glands to assess them. This is critical because it actually strengthens canine-smelling talents considerably.

 

Can Sniffing Make a Dog's Nose Wet?

Photo by Ron Lach

 People are keenly aware of the fact that dogs have habits that are sometimes bizarre to them. If you pay any attention to a dog during her outdoor play sessions, you may see her enthusiastically sniffing everything in sight. The items she sniffs may frequently be pretty damp as well. If a dog's nose comes into direct contact with grass after an intense rainfall session, then you can expect it to stay pretty wet for a while.

 

Is My Dog's Nose Naturally Wet?

Dogs are all one-of-a-kind creatures. Some canine breeds have noses that are particularly damp and cold. This may be the effect of heredity and different components. Beyond that, there are dogs from various breeds that are especially capable in the nose licking realm. This understandably can lead to noses that are consistently a lot wetter.

 Note, too, that it goes the other way. You can find dogs that innately possess noses that are especially dry.

 

Dogs and Dry Noses

Since dogs usually have noticeably wet noses, some people are concerned any time they notice dryness. Again, some breeds are predisposed to noses that are on the dryer side. There are other components that can contribute to nose dryness in the dog world as well. Dogs sometimes just aren't in the mood to be as curious. They may not feel like sniffing and evaluating their environments as much. If your dog hasn't been on the lookout for food or prey animals, then it may explain why the nose feels comparatively dry.

 Think about the weather, too. Dogs sometimes have dry noses in times of excessive, persistent heat. If your dog's nose seems oddly dry in the middle of a scorching hot July day, the weather could be to blame.

 Although dry noses can indeed be 100 percent normal in dogs, it can help pet owners to be on the lookout for anything unusual.

If your pooch's typically wet nose out of nowhere feels dry, then it could point to malaise. Perhaps your dog feels under the weather for some reason. If you suspect anything out of the ordinary, you should schedule an appointment with the veterinarian as soon as possible.

Think about the other end of the spectrum as well. Is your dog's nose typically rather dry? If a usually dry canine nose starts leaking moisture, then that could denote allergies. It could denote sickness in general as well. If your dog is behaving in his typical manner despite a dry nose, you should supervise him for a little while, according to Sandra C. Mitchell, DVM. It may be beneficial to provide him with fresh and clean water for drinking.

It may be helpful to bring your pet to a space that has significant humidity. Hang out in the bathroom with your four-legged friend after you turn the shower on and let it go for a while. Assess your dog and ask yourself if he's displaying any indications of sickness overall. If anything seems out of sorts, seek veterinarian attention without any delay.

So why are dogs' noses wet, anyway?

There are a number of potential responses to that question. Think about everything from the weather to digging activities.

 Below is a Pinterest friendly photo…. so you can pin it to your Dog Board!