ABOUT THAT NOSE
My dog's nose is cold; oh no, it's warm. What's a dog owner to think about
that oftentimes cold, wet dog nose?
Blame the confusion on one gland -- the lateral nasal gland.
A small organ in the nasal cavity, it controls the condition of a dog's
nose, says Eddie Doughty, DVM, Mountain View Animal Clinic, Layton, Utah.
The gland is part of the animal's thermoregulatory system, Doughty said.
Based on surrounding air flow and the dog's body temperature, the gland
produces a clear or serous fluid.
The fluid keeps the nasal passages moist when the dog breathes. That's
helpful because panting is the primary way dogs cool off.
Some of the moisture finds its way onto the exterior of the nose where
evaporation of the fluid makes the skin cool.
When a dog gets overheated or body temperature rises because of a fever,
the gland produces more fluid, Doughty says.
This should put to rest one nose myth. A warm, dry nose is not a sign of
illness.
"Yes, a dog's snout is typically cool and moist, but the lateral nasal
gland is always making adjustments," Doughty explained. "If the nose
happens to be warm and dry, there's no cause for alarm."
Nevertheless, plenty of
dog owners trek to their veterinarian's office,
concerned about that nose.
A better indicator is overall demeanor. If the dog is alert, bouncy and
eating well, then most likely the dog is healthy -- warm nose or not.
