Why Are Dogs' Noses Cold and Wet? 

If it is the first approach with a pet, it could happen that you wonder why dogs have a cold and wet, or rather clammy, nose. A legitimate question, especially when you intend to create a positive relationship with your dogs.

The area around the nostrils is called the nose in many mammals. The same goes for dogs, even though it is commonly called a nose. In any case, whatever way we decide to call it, for many one of the frequently asked questions about this particular part of the dog's body is related to its characteristics. In fact, it is not unusual to wonder why dogs' noses are cold and damp. In this regard, therefore, it is good to specify that it has nothing to do with a seasonal ailment or flu, but it is a specific and necessary characteristic of this species.

Healthy and Cold Dogs' Nose

A cold nose, in fact, indicates that the dog is in good health, on the contrary a warm nose could be synonymous with some malaise. Even if the tip of the dog's nose is very small and does not contribute significantly to general thermal regulation, when it is cold it indicates that dogs have reached the right body temperature. According to an international research team, which measured the nose temperature of various animals, a cooler tip of the nose is generally an advantage in nature.

Second, the same team of scientists also refuted that a heat-sniffing nose activates the somatosensory cortex that encompasses several sensations such as vision, heat, and body position. This could, therefore, mean that dogs use the heat of the nose as a kind of radar. However, it should be noted that a cold nose is more sensitive to radiated heat, therefore more ready to smell something living (for example, in hunting, ). Additionally, dogs' noses contain 300 million olfactory receptors, making them highly accurate.

Alarming Cases

To this is added the humidity of the dog. In fact, with a dry nose, the ability to smell practically anything can be significantly weakened. However, dryness is not inevitably and always synonymous with discomfort. A hot nose, on the other hand, could also indicate a feverish state in dogs, but it also depends on other factors such as the external temperature and the perception of heat. For example, in the presence of high-temperature radiators, which dry the air by reducing humidity, the dog's mucous membranes could also dry out.

For this reason, especially near the kennel, it would be advisable to use humidifiers. Even in summer, dogs' noses could dry out, if not even crack or burn. Even if dryness is not always an alarming phenomenon, it is advisable to consult a veterinarian if other symptoms or abnormal behaviors are found in dogs. Weakness, apathy, lack of appetite or excessive sleepiness could be alarm bells with respect to Cushing's disease or Leishmaniasis. So when you notice something unconvincing in your pet it is never a mistake to contact the vet.