What Makes a Dog's Nose Raw and Crusty
Nov 25,2024 | puaintapets
A dog’s nose is often a sign of their overall health. While it’s normal for a dog’s nose to occasionally appear dry or chapped, a raw or crusty nose can indicate an underlying issue. Understanding the potential causes and knowing how to treat them can ensure your dog stays healthy and comfortable.
Symptoms of dog nose sores and crusts
I. Sore Symptoms
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Reddening of the skin
When your dog has a nose sore, the localized skin will appear red, which is due to an inflammatory reaction.
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Swelling
Swelling may occur at the site of the sore, which is due to the body's immune response to the tissue damage that causes localized congestion and edema.
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Pain
Sores can cause pain in your dog, which can lead to your dog showing discomfort such as frequent head shaking and scratching their nose with their paws.
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Sores
If raw sores are not treated in a timely manner, they may deteriorate further and become ulcerated, which can increase the risk of infection.
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Hair loss
In some cases, the hair around the raw sore may fall out, which may be due to inflammation affecting the health of the hair follicle.
Related: What Vitamin Deficiency Causes Hair Loss In Dogs
II. Symptoms of crusting
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Hard lumps of scabs
The scabs on your dog's nose may appear hard and lumpy, which may be formed due to the drying up of blood, exudates, etc. after a skin injury.
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Patchy scabs
Crusts may also take on a patchy appearance, a condition that can be associated with fungal infections, etc.
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Eye Crusts
If there is a lot of discharge from the eyes, eye droppings may crust over the nose.
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Pus ringworm scabs
Crusts may appear on the nose when infected with ringworm of pus.
Also Read: How to Treat Ringworm in Dogs at Home
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Dry with no exudate
When the scabs are dry and there is no exudate, it usually indicates that the wound is healing.
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Localized redness and inflammation of the skin
If there is inflammation under the scab, you may see localized redness and inflammation of the skin after washing the scab.
What Causes a Dog’s Nose to Get Raw and Crusty?
There are a variety of reasons why dogs get sores and scabs on their noses, here are some of the common causes.
1. Trauma
Dogs may accidentally scratch or bite their noses while playing or interacting with other animals, resulting in broken skin and infection. Additionally, dogs can be injured by scraping the edges of the cage or other sharp objects while moving around in the cage. These traumatic injuries, if not treated promptly, can easily lead to bacterial infections, which in turn can lead to nose ulcers.
2. Skin diseases
Bacteria such as Staphylococcus and Streptococcus are common causes of pyoderma in dogs.
Fungal infections, such as Microsporum canis and Microsporum gypsum, can cause redness, crusting, itching, and hair loss.
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Parasitic infections
Such as helminthic mite disease, helminth mites parasitizing the skin can cause skin disease.
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Autoimmune diseases
Such as deciduous pemphigoid, an autoimmune maculopapular disease that causes pustules on the skin, which rupture and then crust over.
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Allergies
Dogs may have allergic reactions to certain foods, pollen in the environment, dust mites, or chemicals, resulting in red, itchy, and ulcerated skin.
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Nutritional deficiencies
Dogs that are chronically deficient in certain vitamins or nutrients can suffer from a variety of health problems, including scabs on top of the nose.
3. Environmental factors
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Dry Air
Dry air affects the moisturization of your dog's nose, leading to dry skin on the nose and potentially leading to nose scabs.
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Overexposure to the sun
Sunlight and UV rays can damage your dog's nose, leading to dry nose skin and scabs.
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Diseases
Certain diseases, such as distemper and other viral infections may cause your dog to have an elevated temperature and a dry, cracked and bleeding nose, which can lead to ulcers.
4.Aging
Older dogs are more prone to dry, crusty noses due to reduced natural moisture production.
How to Properly Clean and Sanitize Dog's Injured Nose?
①Cleaning Steps
⑴Calm the dog
First of all, calm the dog and put an Elizabethan collar on it to prevent it from continuing to scratch its nose or not cooperating with the treatment of the wound.
⑵Flush the wound
Use saline to flush out excess dirt, and tweezers to remove any foreign objects embedded in the flesh. If saline is not available, water can be used, but it is not as effective as saline.
⑶Dry the wound
Use absorbent gauze to gently dry the wound of excess moisture.
②Steps for disinfection
⑴Disinfect the wound
Use a cotton swab moistened with iodophor or hydrogen peroxide to apply disinfection to prevent infection. Alcohol is not recommended as it is highly irritating and can make the wound feel like it is being burned.
⑵Apply anti-inflammatory medicine
after disinfecting the wound, then sprinkle an even layer of anti-inflammatory medicine, such as erythromycin ointment, on it to cover the wound completely. Generally speaking, the dog's nose will not be injured very seriously, treatment up to this point is enough, and the dog's nose area is not good for bandaging, otherwise it will not be good for breathing.
⑶Prevent licking
To prevent the dog from licking the wound, put white tape or a band-aid on the wound, but be careful to change it frequently. If the wound becomes infected and inflamed, take it to the hospital.
③In the process of treating the wound, you need to pay attention to the following points.
- Avoid excessive activity of the dog so that the wound will not bleed again.
- The owner needs to observe the dog's condition, and if the situation does not improve, it is necessary to seek medical treatment in time.
- If the dog's nose bleeding is more serious, it is recommended that the owner take the dog to the pet hospital for medical treatment in time.
- In daily life, the owner also needs to strengthen the care of the dog to avoid the dog being hurt.
How to Treat a Raw and Crusty Nose in Dogs?
The treatment of nose sores in dogs needs to be determined by the specific cause of the condition, here are some suggestions for treating some common conditions.
1. Nose sores caused by trauma
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Clean the wound
Flush the wound with saline to remove dirt and foreign objects.
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Disinfect
Disinfect the wound using iodophor or hydrogen peroxide. Avoid using alcohol as it is more irritating to the wound.
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Apply anti-inflammatory medicine
Apply anti-inflammatory medicine such as erythromycin ointment on the wound to cover it and avoid infection.
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Prevent licking
Put an Elizabethan ring on the dog to prevent it from licking the wound and affecting the healing.
2. Nose sores caused by skin diseases
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Bacterial infection
Use ointments or sprays containing antibiotics, such as lysozyme or antibiotic spray, 2 to 3 times a day.
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Fungal infections
Use fungal sprays, such as canine microsporum infection, which need to be promptly sprayed with fungal sprays and shaved to check other areas for infection.
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Parasitic infections
Use deworming medication to deworm both inside and outside the body.
3. Nose sores caused by allergies
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Avoid allergens
Identify and avoid your dog's exposure to allergens such as certain foods, pollen, dust mites or chemicals.
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Use anti-allergy medication
Use anti-allergy medication under the guidance of your veterinarian to relieve symptoms.
4. Nose sores caused by diseases
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Canine distemper
Take your dog to the veterinary hospital in time to receive treatment and control the development of the disease.
Attention
Diet and nutritional supplements: Make sure your dog is getting enough vitamins and minerals to boost immunity and promote wound healing.
Keep the environment clean: keep the dog's living environment clean and dry to minimize bacterial growth.
Avoid Irritants: Avoid exposing your dog's nose to irritants such as smoke, chemicals, and strong sunlight.
FAQs
What Does Hyperkeratosis Look Like On a Dog's Nose?
Appearance of Hyperkeratosis on a Dog's Nose
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Texture Changes
- Hyperkeratosis causes the skin on a dog's nose to become thickened. The normal smooth texture of the nose is replaced by a rough, scaly surface. It can feel like sandpaper when gently touched.
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Color Alterations
- In some cases, the color of the affected area may change. It can become darker or lighter than the surrounding normal skin. For example, it might turn a whitish - gray or a darker brownish - gray color.
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Crusting and Build - up
- There is often a build - up of keratinized material on the nose. This forms crusts or flakes that can be dry and brittle. The crusts may be small and scattered or form larger patches, depending on the severity of the hyperkeratosis.
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Shape and Contour
- The overall shape of the nose may also appear different. The thickening can cause the nose to lose its normal, well - defined shape. In severe cases, it can look distorted or lumpy.
Can I Put Neosporin On My Dogs Raw Nose?
Neosporin is a common over-the-counter antibiotic ointment used for minor cuts and wounds in humans, but its use on dogs, especially on sensitive areas like the nose, requires careful consideration.
Neosporin is generally safe for dogs when used sparingly on small wounds or abrasions, Dogs frequently lick their noses, so applying Neosporin can lead to ingestion. While a small amount is unlikely to harm your dog, consuming large amounts can upset their stomach or, in rare cases, cause more serious issues. If your dog’s raw nose doesn’t heal within a few days, worsens, or is accompanied by other symptoms (e.g., nasal discharge, swelling, or pain), consult your veterinarian. They can determine the underlying cause and recommend appropriate treatment.
How Long Does a Raw Nose Take To Heal?
The healing time for a dog with a nose sore depends on a number of factors, including the severity of the sore, the cause, the treatment, and the overall health of the dog. Here are some possible scenarios.
1. Sore caused by minor environmental factors
If a dog's nose sore is caused by a minor environmental factor (such as dryness, cold, or sun exposure) and is given prompt care and treatment, it can usually heal within 1-2 weeks.
2. Sore caused by infection
If the sore is caused by a bacterial or fungal infection, the healing time may be extended to 2-4 weeks or longer, depending on the severity of the infection and the dog's response to treatment.
3. Dogs with weakened immune systems
For dogs with weakened immune systems, the healing time may be longer because their bodies may not be able to fight off the infection effectively.
Conclusion
A dog's nose becoming raw and crusty can be caused by a variety of factors, including environmental, health - related, and behavioral. By being aware of these causes and taking appropriate steps for treatment and prevention, dog owners can ensure the well - being of their furry friend's nose and overall health.