Does a dry nose mean my dog is dehydrated?

Ever been surprised by a cold, wet, dog nose boop on your leg? We all know that dogs’ noses should be shiny and damp. But what if they’re dry? Google says it could be dehydration. What do you think? Fact or fluff?

It’s a fact.

Dehydration can dry out a dog’s nose, but that’s just part of the story. A dry nose might be normal too, so don’t jump to conclusions before reading this.

Why your dog’s nose might be dry.

Your dog’s dry nose could be due to a range of causes, from the harmless to medical concerns. Besides dehydration, other reasons for a dry nose include:

• They haven’t licked their nose in a while.
• Their face structure means their tongue can’t reach their nose.
• They’ve just had a nap or have been running around.
• They have inflammation or irritation of the nasal skin cells.
• Their nose is sunburnt.
• They have an underlying disease, such as an autoimmune disease, affecting the skin cells of their nose.

If your dog’s nose is dry and you also notice its colour has changed, they’re lethargic, have a poor appetite, vomiting or not themselves, speak to your vet immediately.

How can you tell if it’s dehydration?

If your dog’s nose is dry due to dehydration, watch out for these other signs:

• Skin tenting: After you pull up their skin, it should quickly return to normal. If it stays up, they might be dehydrated.
• Sunken eyes
• Lethargy
• Dark urine
• Dry, tacky gums
• Thick saliva

If you notice these along with a dry nose, be sure to speak to your vet.

How to make sure your pet stays hydrated.

Dogs get dehydrated when more water is going out than coming in. Sometimes when they’re vomiting or have digestive upsets, you might need veterinary help to help get hydration levels back to normal.

Simple things you can do to keep your dog hydrated:

• Keep plenty of fresh, clean water available in multiple spots
  • Buy a drinking fountain – flowing water encourages some pets to drink more
  • Feed wet food – it’s higher in water than kibble and you can add more to make a tasty slurry

Looking for an even better way to increase your dog’s water intake? Add The Nosh Project to their diets.  

Formulated with moisture-rich ingredients like succulent Aussie, chicken, veggies and fish, Nosh meals not only tantalise your dog’s tastebuds, but also keep them happily hydrated.