Dogs Nose - Page 1

 Anyone seen something like this before?  It just showed up today......

Yes. This happens to some dogs, especially in winter if you live in a cold climate. It can be due to many othjer things besides cold: allergies come to mind.

If you are in a cold area and this is a recent development and nothing else has changed in your dog's environment (no immediate reason for an allergic reaction) treat the symptoms first with an antibiotic ointment. I like Neosporin for this because it's petroleum based and creates a shield, much like vaseline. Since there doesn't yet appear to be any infection you can also try Bagbalm which isn't harmul if the dog licks it off.

My dog gets a dry nose occasionally. It hasn't yet cracked and split like yours. I keep it covered with Bagbalm, Carmes (which he loves!) or any other lip balm, sometimes olive oil, whatever is there when I think to smear something on. Run a cold mist vaporizer in the house if you can to put some humidity in the air.

This can take a while to go away.

Aye!almost looks like t' dog's muzzle be coated with petroleum jelly or ointment aye Could be any number o' thin's. Infection, Fungi, or Nose Mites aye! Me be knowin' about all 3 o' those thin's aye! Get him t' a good DVM aye. If ye cannot then oral doses o' Ivomec every week 1/10 CC Ivomec per 10lbs o' GSD aye. Be needin some antibiotics too aye. me orders most all me meds here

http://search.qcsupply.com/?searchString=antibiotics&cmEnabled=1

http://www.terrierman.com/antibiotics.htm

 Aqua,

Thanks for the reply, I'm in eastern NC and the weather has been all over the place, 70 degrees one day and 30 the next.  His nose does seem dry normally.  I thought he may have rubbed it a little raw chewing on one of his bones (raw).  I'll definitely use some Neosporin or Bag Balm for awhile.  

Keep an eye on it for infection. If it gets deep pink or red you'll need more help that you'll find here. If it is NOT infected but it does get cracked and bleeds, keep the ointment on it. In some dogs it's very similar to the winer skin some peaople get, alligator skin, you know? Or dry cracked chapped lips which can bleed.

And sure, if he's an enthusiastic chewer or likes to push dirt around with his nose, this can be a cause. I have a friend in VA with a dog who has a very dry and cracked nose, ongoing.  She's not had to give him oral antibiotics yet, just keeps th area coverd with a number of moisturizers. I like Bagbalm for this because it's not harmful if he licks it off, ditto for lard or vegetable oils. Of  course, the Golden Child prefers my Lancome facial creme  :)

I have a different take on this. This does NOT look good to me and I would suggest this dog be seen Monday by a vet. It appears that there is exudate, perhaps pus in the area, or it could be he has a general infection in his nose. Is it in one or both nostrils? Bag Balm has NO antibiotic properties of use. Neosporin may or may not be useful because he is going to simply lick it off and if it is not a localized skin infection, neosporin will do no good anyway. I have seen hundreds of GSDs in my life and none looked like this unless they had a nasal infection or an infection that gave them nasal drainage, or a foreign body in the nose.

Blimey Hodie me Beauty! Me eyes aren't that good aye... Me wishes the pic would have been when t' nose be dry aye.... me thought whatever they put on t' nose be some greasy, nasty, discharge aye! now me thins they be puttin bag balm or pulvex on t' nose before they took t' pic aye.....Hodie me lass, ye know me feelins about Discharges, infections, and Mites aye!!

I would take him to the Vet ASAP look at the edges they are GREEN and it looks like he is swollen, plus that nasty green gook is comming out of hes nose, yes it is infected very much so but there is more. Take him to the Vet.

 Nothing has been applied to his nose in the picture, and it is localized to one nostril.  I'll spare you any more pictures of my dogs snotty nose (It does appear to be mucus in nature) and I'll run him up to the vet on Monday.  

Thanks for the feedback

I would never wait till Monday.  Looks serious.  If it is bacterial it can actually spread quickly  throught the facial region and you will end up spending a lot more money and putting the dog at great risk.  Don't you have an Emergency Vet near you?  Load that sweet thing up and get him help.