Does a dry nose really mean your dog is sick?

Time for a 'boop-ometer' reading...stat! It’s been a hallmark of those home health checks for so long. But does a dry nose really mean they're sick? And is a wet nose the clean bill of health? Here's all you need to knows about noses...

Well, here’s the low down.

And here's the first shock. The moisture content of a dog’s nose is barely noted by most vets during a consultation. 

But here are the facts on...
DRY NOSES:
While dehydration and a lack of appetite (both signs of illness) can make the nose dry out, sun exposure, low humidity, strong winds and (most commonly) age can also suck the wetness out of that cold weapon of mass disruption!


And WET NOSES:
While on the flip side, yes a well hydrated dog (or cat) will often have a wet nose, a runny nose due to a serious virus can have them licking a nose and causing record levels of wetness.

So essentially, the dry nose is an unreliable indicator of illness.
In the same way, a wet nose isn't a guarantee of good health...

THE BIG TIP?
I’d be basing your in-home health assessments more around a lack of interest in food, and exercise as well as the smells and sounds that seem far from normal. Plus, the more spectacular clues like vomiting and diarrhoea.