Dog Heatwave Health: How a dry nose could indicate heatstroke, dehydration or sunburn - as temperatures continue to rise
A dog’s nose can be a quick indicator of how they are dealing with the heat.
A dog expert is warning pet owners to look out for one common sign of dehydration in dogs, as temperatures soar across the UK and Europe.
The Met Office has issued an extreme weather warning amid a 40-degree forecast for Wales and England, with temperatures set to reach 30C in Scotland.
Many owners will be taking extra precautions to keep their pets safe, with heat-related conditions a common occurrence in dogs.
To help out Dr Sarah Page-Jones, Head Veterinary Surgeon at Pet Drugs Online, has shared one simple-to-check indicator of whether your dog is suffering from three of the most common health issues.
She says that a dry nose is one of the most common symptoms of dehydration, sunburn and heatstroke.
Here she explains why.
Dehydration
There are several reasons your dog might have a dry nose, with some more serious than others. Firstly, it could be a sign of mild dehydration, often because of overexertion during exercise, which uses up the body's stored water. Make sure you give your dog plenty of water after taking them on a walk or to the park, so they can rehydrate fully.
On the more serious side, a dry nose could be a sign of more severe dehydration, and the body not producing enough water to create moisture in that area. You’ll likely see other worrying symptoms if this is the case: excessive panting, sunken eyes, vomiting, lethargy, and reduced appetite. If you notice any of these symptoms and are concerned that it could be severe dehydration, it’s important to take your dog to the vet immediately. They’ll be able to identify the underlying cause, such as a fever or another medical condition.
Sunburn
Sunburn is another possible outcome if your dog has dry skin on the nose. It’s a delicate area of skin that is easily susceptible to sun damage, and there will be other visible signs to help you identify this as the cause. Their nose is also likely to be warm to the touch and show signs of redness if they have sunburn. If this is the case, make sure they are taken inside and somewhere cool.
Heatstroke
Another cause of a dry nose could be as severe as heat stroke, in which case they will also be showing symptoms of vomiting, red gums, excessive panting, disorientation, seizures, and increased heart rate. Heat stroke also causes severe dehydration, which is what causes their nose to dry out. This illness can be life-threatening to dogs, so take them to the emergency vet immediately for the correct medical care.
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