Sick or NOT sick...could be in the nose!

By Grace Fergusson, 16+ years as Animal Health Technician in vet clinics and labs

No not necessarily. A healthy dog's nose can be cold to the touch and feel warm a little while later. The tissue of the canine nose is like that- it fluctuates during the day.

A better gauge, as another poster mentioned, is the moisture content of the nose. A dry nose can indicate dehydration. A nose with skin that is cracked and broken can indicate a host of illnesses, from mange to allergies.

Normally a healthy dog has a moist nose that is either cold or warm to the touch.

A beautiful, healthy Giant Schnauzer (her petkid)nose pictured above!