Why Do Dogs Have Wet Noses?
Have you ever wondered why your dog’s nose feels wet when it presses its face up against you? If so, you are definitely not alone. Why do dogs have wet noses? This is a very commonly asked question that dog lovers have about their furry friends. Let’s discuss why dogs have wet noses and other facts about dogs that you might find interesting.
Why Is My Dog’s Nose Always Wet?
The bottom line is that your dog’s nose feels wet and cool because it is covered with several layers of different fluids. The first layer on your dog’s nose is mucous. In dogs, mucous works to trap and hold smells, expanding a dog’s already incredible capability to sniff out what the human nose cannot.
The saliva on your dog’s nose is also making it wet. A dog often licks its nose to clean off little bits of food left there, further indulging in its leftover scent. Sweat is also present on your dog’s nose since canines sweat through their nose and paws to cool off.
Don’t forget that dogs also like to stick their noses in wet places such as their water bowl and wet grass. Hopefully, your dog isn’t sticking its nose into your toilet bowl as logically this is a breeding ground for bacteria.
What If Your Dog Has a Dry Nose?
According to the ASPCA, if your dog’s nose is dry, this doesn’t mean that you should be concerned. Some dogs have dry noses, and others have wet ones. A dog’s daily activities may have an effect on whether or not its nose is wet.
You may have heard that your pup may have a fever if it has a nose that is dry and warm. Though this can be an indication of a fever, it isn’t a telltale method to know if your pup has a fever for certain.
With that being said, if your dog’s dry nose goes hand-in-hand with an upset stomach or mucous drainage, it would be best to bring your canine to the vet to rule out another sickness such as the canine flu.
Has your dog been out in the sun for a prolonged amount of time lately? Keep in mind that a sunburn on your dog’s nose can cause it to be dry as well. You will know it is a sunburn if it is red and flaking. If this is the case, be sure to apply sunscreen for dogs on its nose next time.
Dog Nose Facts
- Olfactory receptors are how our noses pick up on nearby smells. While the human nose has around 6 million of them, canines have about 300 million. Taking this further, the region of the brain that interprets smells is four times bigger in a dog than in a human. Together, these two elements give dogs the power to smell up to 100,000 times better than humans can.
- Dogs have a special organ within their nose that gives them the ability to detect pheromones being emitted from other canines.
- Humans are only able to smell when we breathe in, not out. Dogs, however, can smell on the inhale and the exhale.