My Mastiff’s nose has become dry and chapped. What can I use to help with dryness? It doesn’t seem to bother him. It is not uncommon for dogs to develop scabbing, crusting, or a change in pigmentation (color) on the nose. The syndrome most frequently occurs in the area where the haired skin of the muzzle meets the hairless skin of the nostrils. In most cases, the syndrome is triggered by excessive activity of the immune system. I see it most often in German Shepherds, but any breed may be affected. Dogs with the syndrome usually do not show signs of pain. However, severe cases can lead to disfigurement or skin infections. There are several ways to treat the problem. First, I recommend protecting your dog from stimuli that may trigger hyperactivity of the immune system. Two major factors are known to contribute to this syndrome and are easy to avoid. The first, and most important, is sunlight. Since you live in an area with lots of sun and a high UV index, and since the days are getting longer, I suspect that sun exposure is playing a role in your dog’s predicament.
If you keep him inside or in the shade during peak sun hours (10:00 am to 3:00 pm), you may see improvement. The second immune system trigger is fleas. If your dog isn’t on a good flea preventative, I’d recommend that you start one. Topical treatments are the next line of defense. Unfortunately, many dogs lick off and swallow anything that is applied to the nose. Because of this, I recommend applying liquid vitamin E to the area twice daily. Vitamin E is sold in gelatin capsules at drug stores. The capsules can be punctured, and the liquid inside can be squeezed out and applied to the nose. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that can modulate the activity of the immune system in the affected area. If your dog licks it off, it is completely harmless. In fact, some experts advocate oral, as well as topical administration of vitamin E. If the problem cannot be controlled with these simple steps, then you may need to use oral or topical steroids related to prednisone. Before you take that step, however, it would be wise to perform tests (such as a biopsy or a simpler procedure known as cytology) to confirm that such a powerful treatment is necessary.
Vitamin E is found in many foods and is extremely important for a variety of health issues. For dogs, Vitamin E is essential at helping to protect the skin and other cells throughout the body from free radicals. When the food a dog eats is converted into energy, free radicals are formed. If your dog isn’t getting enough Vitamin E in his diet, it could lead to lower quality skin, dry paws, and potentially even cracked and damaged foot pads that can be extremely painful to deal with. Vitamin E is also used by the body to fight off infecting bacteria. When dogs walk around outside, they are being exposed to a wide range of bacteria, germs, and other foreign contaminants. If their paws are dry, if they are damaged, they are increasing their exposure to these foreign contaminants. Why Use Natural Vitamin E for Dogs There are an increasing number of supplements that contain vitamin E for men, women, children, and even pets like cats and dogs. Focusing on all-natural ingredients should always be a priority as any vitamins or supplements that are chemically modified may not be doing the body the same good as all natural ingredients.
Vitamin E is commonly used to help promote immunity and encourage healthy skin and eyes. Vitamin E is also being more commonly used as an antioxidant. Currently, most research on Vitamin E is showing that there will only be a benefit for those individuals or animals that have a specific Vitamin E deficiency. Due to the processed nature of dog foods today, many dogs are simply not getting the right level of Vitamin E in their diet. That is helping to degrade the quality and condition of their skin, including their snout and paws. Essential Properties of Natural Vitamin E Most Vitamin E that is taken as a supplement today is done so internally, through a supplement or with an increased focus on nutrition and diet. However, topical application of Vitamin E can also be highly beneficial for the skin as it allows the skin to absorb the nutrient directly. When dogs have raw paws and dry skin conditions, it could be the result of a number of other factors or deficiencies.
It may also be the direct result of a diminished Vitamin E quantity in the body. There is currently no research to indicate that consuming too much Vitamin E is harmful, and when applied directly to the dog’s paws, can begin to provide healing, especially when used in conjunction with other active ingredients. History of Natural Vitamin E Vitamin E is found naturally in a wealth of foods throughout the world. Because it is such an important nutrient for animals from all walks of life, it is abundant. However, in today’s modern society with so many processed foods, those processes actually remove a high percentage of the positive nutrients, vitamins, and minerals from the foods. You dog’s Vitamin E requirements will likely vary from another dog’s, but when you notice his paws becoming raw, cracked, and damaged, the skin is likely suffering the same. It can be painful for the animal so healing is essential as soon as possible. A topical ointment that contains Vitamin E is going to provide better healing because of the skin’s need for this vitamin.
There's been a myth floating around for years about what it means if your dog's or cat's nose is warm instead of cool, or dry instead of moist. A warm dry nose by itself doesn't mean your pet is sick or has a fever. In fact, your dog or cat's nose can be moist and cool one moment, and dry and warm the next, and it doesn't mean that he's sick. It's all perfectly normal. Now if your pet has other symptoms, like for instance loss of appetite, vomiting or diarrhea, lethargy, or other obvious signs of illness, then a dry, warm nose goes along with those other symptoms of systemic illness. The time for a second look is if your pet's nose is changing texture. For example, if it becomes flakey or crusty or you notice a change in the color. If the nose is not only dry but the skin is also cracking, or if it's getting lighter in color … if you can see scabs, open sores, non-healing cracks or fissures, or other types of skin irritation … those are all things that you'll want your veterinarian to take a look at.
The color of your pet's nose can be black, pink (a pink nose is also called a Dudley nose), liver colored, or the same color as your dog's or cat's fur. Nose color is determined by genetics. Some noses fade during the colder months and return to their normal color during the summer months. This is a condition known as 'snow nose' or 'winter nose.' Certain breeds have noses that go from black to brown or pink as the dog ages. This is thought to be a result of the breakdown of tyrosinase, which is an enzyme that produces pigment. Since tyrosinase is also temperature-sensitive and works more efficiently in warmer weather, this could also explain the 'winter nose' color some dogs get when the weather gets cold. If you happen to have an orange or calico kitty, you might notice that black spots appear on the nose and lips as your pet gets older. This is a totally normal change veterinarians call lentigo simplex, and it's no cause for concern. Sometimes the nose will go lighter when the pet is sick and return to a darker color once health is restored.
If a pet gets a scrape or other abrasion to the nose, often the nose skin will turn pink as the healing process is occurring, and then the darker natural color will appear as the scab wears away. Contact dermatitis can also cause your dog or cat to lose pigment on the nose. Some pets have sensitivity to plastic food and water bowls, and continued exposure can cause the nose to lighten in color. Sometimes the lips will also become inflamed. I recommend you use stainless steel food and water bowls, because aside from the potential for plastic hypersensitivities, plastics wear down over time, and the material in plastic bowls can leach into your pet's food and water. The immune disease called vitiligo can also turn a dog's nose pink, but there are usually other signs of this disorder occurring at the same time, like your dog can have white hairs or entire patches of white hair all over her body. With vitiligo, the immune system attacks the pigment-containing cells of the body that are responsible for color.
Certain breeds seem more likely to develop vitiligo than others including Dobermans, German shepherds, Rottweilers, and Dachshunds. Whether your dog's nose is naturally pink or has turned pink either temporarily or permanently, you'll need to protect him from sunburn during the summer. You can apply a safe sunscreen when your dog will be out in the sun. It is important that you cover up pink noses during hot summer months. There is a technique and actually a permanent solution to a pink nose some pet owners have opted for, but I don't recommend it. Some veterinarians will suggest that you have your dog's nose tattooed black. I think this should be done only if your dog lives outdoors full time (which I absolutely don't recommend) and can't avoid contact with direct sunlight. Otherwise, this is an unnecessary procedure and must be done under anesthesia. If you notice a nasal discharge, swelling, an unpleasant smell from your dog's nose or the area around it, or if your pet seems to be having trouble breathing, it's time to call the vet.
These signs can point to a foreign object or a foreign body, an infection, or even a nasal tumor. If your pet's nose has a discharge from just one nostril, there could be a foreign body stuck up in there. Other signs of an irritant, a foreign object, or a tumor in the nose include sneezing, pawing at the nose, or nosebleeds. Nasal polyps or tumors will often coincide with a bloody discharge or mucus from the nose. You might also notice your pet's breathing is noisier than normal, and you can sometimes see a bulge or a lump on one side of the face or nose. Pemphigus complex is a group of very serious autoimmune skin diseases that affects both dogs and cats. There are two main types: pemphigus foliaceus and pemphigus erythematosus. Both start with patches of red skin on the face, including the nose and ears. The foliaceus variety often spreads to other parts of the body, including the feet, central body, core, and paws. Pemphigus erythematosus involves only the face, head, and footpads.
The red patches rapidly turn into blisters, and then pustules, which can become crusty and cause the hair to stick to them. They look like oozing, crusty sores. Areas of skin depigmentation are also seen with both of these disease processes. There is a third type of pemphigus called pemphigus vulgaris, which is rare. Blisters and ulcers can form on the lips, nostrils, and eyelids with this particular disorder and it can also involve the nail beds, which can cause the nails to fall out. Discoid lupus erythematosus is another autoimmune disease that can occur in dogs, but doesn't happen in cats. It's more common in certain breeds including Collies, German shepherds, Huskies, Shetland sheepdogs, and Brittany spaniels. It is thought to be a milder version of the systemic form of lupus, and limits itself only to the face. First the nose loses pigmentation, and then often it develops cracks and sores, non-healing fissures, as well as some crusting. Another type of nose disorder is called zinc-responsive dermatosis.
It's caused by a zinc deficiency and is prevalent in Huskies, Doberman pinschers, Great Danes, and Alaskan malamutes. In zinc-responsive dermatosis, the dog's hair thins and a scaly, crusty rash can develop on the face that is most obvious on the nose, around the eyes, even in the ears, and around the mouth. Crusting also appears on the elbows and hocks in some dogs. These areas can become callused and crack easily. It's important to make sure your dog has a confirmed case of zinc-responsive dermatosis before you discuss supplementing zinc with your vet. Zinc toxicosis is actually more prevalent than zinc-responsive dermatosis due to pet owners over-supplementing with zinc, incorrectly assuming their dog has a deficiency. Other nutritional deficiencies can also cause changes in nose tissue, especially omega-3 fatty acid deficiency, which can cause the nose tissue to become thickened and dry. Omega-3 fatty acids are sensitive to heat and light, and their potency decreases over time when food is stored.
It's no wonder that most pets consuming dry, kibbled food end up with essential fatty acid deficiencies. Nasal solar dermatitis, also known as Collie nose, is a condition seen most often in sunny areas of the U.S. It primarily affects herding breeds including Collies, Aussies, and Shelties. With exposure to sunlight, the skin between the nose and muzzle first becomes quite irritated looking, the hair falls out, then the skin begins to ooze and crust over. If the condition is allowed to continue with repeated sun exposure, the skin actually breaks down. And in serious cases, the nose can become just a big, giant, non-healing wound that's incredibly painful. Certainly, skin cancer has been known to develop out of advanced cases of this particular disease. There are other systemic conditions which can affect the health of your dog's nose. The most common is hypothyroidism, which leads to a thickening of the nose and a leathery appearance. Checking your dog or cat's nose should be a normal part of your at-home wellness exam.
Getting acquainted with the look and shape of your pet's nose when it's healthy is important, because then you'll be able to determine when a problem pops up and it becomes unhealthy. You need to look for any unusual signs like nasal discharge, especially and certainly if it goes from clear to mucus-y or bloody. You also need to stay alert for excessive dryness, crusting, or loss of pigmentation. I also recommend you watch the nose as your pet breathes. Dogs and cats are nose breathers when at rest. If the nostrils flare more than normal, your pet could be having a breathing problem. If you notice anything unusual about your pet's nose, especially if you are seeing other signs of illness, I certainly recommend you make an appointment with your veterinarian. As some of you know, topical ointments applied to the nose are often totally useless, because they become oral supplements in a matter of seconds to minutes in most dogs and cats. The only supplement I recommend applying to your pet's nose while you're waiting for your vet appointment is natural vitamin E.