A nudge in the early morning from that cold, wet nose – yikes! Ever wonder why your Morkie’s nose is so wet?
Dog noses are covered with a thin layer of mucous for a couple of reasons. First, it helps regulate their body temperature. Dogs don’t have regular sweat glands like people, to regulate hot and cold. Instead, they sweat via their paw pads and nose only.
Second, that moisture on the nose increases its efficiency. Did you know a dog can actually lick scent chemicals off his nose, sending them to special smell glands in the mouth?
Third, dogs tend to lick their noses a lot.
What about a warm, dry nose?
Not necessarily anything wrong with that. Some dogs don’t secrete as much moisture on their schnozes, that’s all. Just be sure your Morkie isn’t dehydrated.
What do watch for
If your Morkie’s nose is suddenly all thick and yucky like he has a cold, he probably does. Look for other symptoms and see your Vet for treatment. He could have a serious upper respiratory tract infection.
True or False?
If my dog has a cold wet nose, he’s healthy. A hot dry nose means he’s sick.
FALSE.
Your dog’s nose isn’t a general snapshot of his health. Temperature and moisture fluctuate throughout the day. And each dog is different.
Instead, watch for not eating or drinking, lethargy, and of course vomiting or diarrhea.