There is a lot that your dog’s nose can tell you. They can sniff out critters, they can help you find and clean up the food that fell on the floor and in some well trained medical dogs, they can even identify cancer cells on the human body. That is pretty impressive for a nose. But what about if it is warm or dry?

Can our dog’s nose let us know if they are getting sick?

Unfortunately, this is a myth that we have grown up with over the years. If your dog’s nose is warm or dry it does not mean that they are sick. The same goes thought that if a dog has a cold wet nose then they are well. Either way, it is not a good way to determine if your dog is sick or not.

In fact, the temperatures of dogs’ noses fluctuate day to day, even hour to hour. A dog can be perfectly healthy and have a warm, dry nose. A dog can be really sick and have a cold, moist nose. According to Steven Marks, DVM, clinical associate professor of critical care and internal medicine at North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, “in a very dehydrated dog, yes, the nose might be dry,” he says. “But dogs can have moist noses because they are healthy, and they can have moist noises when they have a nasal disease. It’s just not a reliable sign.”

Look for better symptoms about your dog’s health such as:

• Lack of appetite
• Not drinking
• Behaving oddly
• Whining
• Lethargy

Why is my dog’s nose usually wet?

Dogs keep their noses cold and wet by licking. The moisture on the nose helps intensify scents and give dogs the ability to determine which directions smells are coming from. It is normal for a dog that has just woken up to have a dry nose. This is simply because the dog was not licking his nose in his sleep

If your dog’s nose happens to be dry or warm but otherwise looks normal, do not panic. However, you should contact your veterinarian right away if something does not seem right with your dog. Furthermore, if they nose changes color, shape or has crusting or scabbing you should contact your vet as well. It could be a sign of an autoimmune disorder. These can usually be treated pretty easily, but they do need medical attention

It is typical to as pet parents to wonder and worry about our dog’s health. Myth or no myth, we will always want to make sure that they are feeling their best. But when it comes to warm noses, do not worry.