Brookdale Animal Hospital, P.A.

3000 Brookdale Drive

Brooklyn Park, MN 55444 US

763-560-6906

Open mobile navigation
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Hospital Policies
    • Location and Directions
    • Business Hours
    • Meet Our Veterinary Team
  • Pet Boarding & Boarding Policies
    • Boarding Rates
    • Online Boarding Check in Form
  • Emergency
  • Services
    • Pet Wellness Care
      • Vaccination/ Immunization
      • Nutrition- How to Read Pet Food Labels
    • Diagnostic Services
    • Surgical Care
    • Pet Dental Care
      • Dental X-rays
      • Home Dental Care For Your Pet
  • Pet Memorial Page
  • Petsimonials
  • Contact Us
  • Veterinary Topics
    • Pet Health
      • Chronic Conditions
      • Digestive and Oral Health
      • Diseases and Viruses
      • Pests and Parasites
      • Orthopedics
    • Today's Veterinarian
    • Choosing Your Pet
      • Finding Your Pet
      • Cats
      • Dogs
      • Exotics
        • Amphibians
        • Birds
        • Reptiles
          • Lizards
          • Turtles
      • Small Mammals
        • Ferrets
        • Rabbits
        • Domesticated Animals
          • Prairie Dogs
        • Pocket Pets
          • Chinchillas
          • Guinea Pigs
          • Hamsters
          • Hedgehogs
          • Rats
      • Livestock
        • Cows
        • Donkeys, Horses & Mules
        • Goats
        • Pigs
        • Poultry
        • Sheep
    • Living With Your Pet
      • Bringing Your Pet Home
      • Children and Pets
      • Providing Care
      • Travel
      • Saying Goodbye
    • Newsletter Library
      • Tips for Pet Owners
      • Behavior & Training
      • Fleas & Parasites
      • Keeping Pets Healthy
      • Cats
      • Recognizing Illness
      • Nutrition & Food
      • Pet Dangers
      • Seasonal Topics
      • Visiting the Vet
      • Equine
      • Newsletter Archive
        • Fun with Pets
        • Unbelievable Pets
    • Video Newsroom
      • Health Topics
      • Technology and Science
      • Other Interests
    • Client Survey
    • Pets4Kids
  • Home >
  • Articles >
  • Newsletter Library >
  • Recognizing Illness >
  • Is a Wet Nose a Sign of a Healthy Pet?

Is a Wet Nose a Sign of a Healthy Pet?

  • Created in Newsletter Library, Recognizing Illness
image of a closeup of a dog's nose

Have you ever heard that a wet nose is a sign that your pet is healthy? Although that's often the case, it's not always true. A moist nose can benefit your pet in several ways, but it doesn't necessarily guarantee good health.

How Does a Wet Nose Help My Pet?

Have you ever been woken at 5 a.m. by a cold, wet nose rubbing against your hand or face? Although the ability to easily wake lazy humans is certainly one advantage of a wet nose, your dog or cat benefits from a moist nose in a few other ways.

Scents are very important to your pets. Animals mark their territory by leaving subtle scent clues when they rub against people and objects. Outside, pets set boundaries by urinating or defecating in strategic places. When other animals sniff those scents, they understand the message your pet is sending.

A wet nose enhances your pet's ability to identify scents. Microscopic scent particles float through the air and land on your pet's nose. If the nose is wet, they'll stick to it rather than falling off, which makes identifying odors much easier.

A wet nose also helps keep your pet cool. As moisture evaporates from the nose, it provides a cooling effect. Luckily, it's easy to restore lost moisture with a simple swipe of the tongue.

Can My Pet's Nose Be Too Moist?

A wet nose isn't always a good sign. If your pet's nose is suddenly very wet, an upper respiratory infection may be to blame. When dogs and cats catch a cold or other virus, they may experience runny noses just like people do.

Is a Dry Nose a Bad Sign?

A warm, dry nose isn't necessarily a sign that your pet is ill. Some dogs or cats naturally have dry noses. Even if your pet normally has a cool, wet nose, it may tend to become dryer and warmer after a nap or a few hours spent in the sun. Dryness may also be a natural effect of aging.

A dry nose can be a sign of dehydration or illness, particularly if your pet's nose is usually wet. You can tell if your pet is dehydrated by examining its gums. Dehydration often makes the gums look pale instead of pink. The scruff test offers another way to determine if dehydration is a problem. Perform the test by gently pulling up on the skin on the back of your pet's neck. If your cat or dog isn't dehydrated, the skin will quickly snap back against the body. It will take a few seconds for the skin to return to normal if your furry friend is dehydrated.

Other signs that may indicate illness in pets, whether the nose is dry or wet, include:

  • Unusual Lethargy
  • Loss of Appetite
  • Change in Behavior
  • Obvious Pain
  • Urinating More or Less Than Normal
  • Hiding (in Cats)
  • Coughing
  • Vomiting and Diarrhea
  • Lameness
  • Constant Scratching
  • Hair Loss
  • Difficulty Moving or Walking
  • Weight Loss
  • Changes in Bowel Habits
  • Lumps
  • Cloudy or Red Eyes

Has your pet's nose suddenly become dry and warm? Call us to schedule an appointment to find out if a health issue is the reason for the change.

Sources:

Dog Health: Does a Dry Nose Mean My Dog is Sick?

https://www.doghealth.com/how-and-why/why-dogs-have-wet-noses

Catster: Ask a Vet: Should a Cat’s Nose Always Be Cool and Moist?, 6/21/16

http://www.catster.com/lifestyle/cat-health-care-nose-wet-moist-cool-ask-a-vet

VetStreet: Why Does My Dog Have a Wet Nose?

http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/why-does-my-dog-have-a-wet-nose

Animal Wellness Magazine: What Your Dog’s Nose Can Tell You

https://animalwellnessmagazine.com/dog-nose/

Healthy Pets: Help Your Dog Overcome These 3 Common Allergies, 9/15/11

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2011/09/15/help-your-dog-overcome-these-common-allergies.aspx

Drs. Foster and Smith: Allergy Signs & Symptoms

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?siteid=12&acatid=169&aid=75

  • Pet Health
    • Chronic Conditions
    • Digestive and Oral Health
    • Diseases and Viruses
    • Pests and Parasites
    • Orthopedics
  • Today's Veterinarian
  • Choosing Your Pet
    • Finding Your Pet
    • Cats
    • Dogs
    • Exotics
      • Amphibians
      • Birds
      • Reptiles
        • Lizards
        • Turtles
    • Small Mammals
      • Ferrets
      • Rabbits
      • Domesticated Animals
        • Prairie Dogs
      • Pocket Pets
        • Chinchillas
        • Guinea Pigs
        • Hamsters
        • Hedgehogs
        • Rats
    • Livestock
      • Cows
      • Donkeys, Horses & Mules
      • Goats
      • Pigs
      • Poultry
      • Sheep
  • Living With Your Pet
    • Bringing Your Pet Home
    • Children and Pets
    • Providing Care
    • Travel
    • Saying Goodbye
  • Newsletter Library
    • Tips for Pet Owners
    • Behavior & Training
    • Fleas & Parasites
    • Keeping Pets Healthy
    • Cats
    • Recognizing Illness
    • Nutrition & Food
    • Pet Dangers
    • Seasonal Topics
    • Visiting the Vet
    • Equine
    • Newsletter Archive
      • Fun with Pets
      • Unbelievable Pets
  • Video Newsroom
    • Health Topics
    • Technology and Science
    • Other Interests
  • Client Survey
  • Pets4Kids

Contact Us

We look forward to hearing from you

Featured Links

Click to find out more

  • Services

    We strive to provide complete care for our patients. Learn more about all the services we provide.
  • Meet Our Team

    Know more about the Brookdale Animal Hospital Staff.
  • Online Forms

    Our patient forms are available online so they can be completed in the convenience of your own home or office.

Office Hours

Our Regular Schedule

Monday:

8:30 am

5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:30 am

5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:30 am

5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:30 am

5:00 pm

Friday:

8:30 am

5:00 pm

Saturday:

8:00 am

Noon

Sunday:

Closed

Closed

Location

Find us on the map

Testimonials

Read What Our Clients Say

  • "Great people who really really love your fur babies! Recommend them highly.
    Dr. Renee is AWESOME!"
    Sherri H. Brooklyn Park, MN

Featured Articles

Read about interesting topics

    February Newsletter: Weird Things Your Cat Does and What They Mean

    Looking for an explanation for your cat's strange behaviors? ...

    Read More

    February Newsletter: Where to Start When Training Your Puppy

    Is your puppy ready to be trained? ...

    Read More

    January Newsletter: National Bird Day

    Got any plans for National Bird Day? ...

    Read More

    January Newsletter: Don't Forget to Vaccinate Your Pets this Year

    Is pet vaccinated? ...

    Read More

    December Newsletter: Cold Weather Tips for Your Pets

    Are your pets ready for winter weather? ...

    Read More

    December Newsletter: Pets and the Holidays: What to Know before Feeding Your Pet Table Scraps

    Could holiday table scraps cause health woes for your pets? ...

    Read More

    November Newsletter: How arthritis can affect your pet

    Could your pet have arthritis? ...

    Read More

    November Newsletter: National animal shelter appreciation week

    Looking for ways to support your local animal shelter? ...

    Read More

    Three Reasons to Always Microchip Your Pets

    Wondering if microchipping is right for your pet? ...

    Read More

    Bad Breath Can Indicate Your Pet Needs Dental Care

    Could bad breath mean that your pet has a dental issue? ...

    Read More

Newsletter Sign Up

Connect With Us

  • Copyright © 2023 MH Sub I, LLC dba iMatrix.
  • Admin Log In
  • Site Map