Many people believe that if a dog’s nose is wet and cold it means that it is healthy and that a dry, warm nose means it is sick. However this isn’t necessarily true. A dog’s nose will be wet and dry at different times, depending on when you touch it, the environment he or she is in, what he or she has been doing (maybe he or she has licked their nose to moisten it or maybe it got wet when they were getting a drink, etc.) Most of the time however a dog’s nose is often colder than other parts of its body since their nose is an extremity.
Of course like most things, there are a few exceptions. If a dog’s nose is warm for a few days in a row it is most likely a sign that they are indeed ill. He or she may be running a temperature. In this case they should be taken to the veterinarian to get checked out. Other symptoms that should be taken seriously include runny nose and/or nasal discharge. Dogs do not get colds, they do however get respiratory infections. Coughing and lethargy are other symptoms in an ill dog. When a dog isn’t feeling well they tend to lick their noses less causing it to be more dry. This is not to say however that a dry nose always means a sick dog.
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