What does it mean when a dog’s nose is hot?

It is very common to hear that a dog’s hot nose means that he has a fever. This statement may even have some truth to it, but there are some important variables regarding the subject.

To better understand the issue, it is necessary to demystify the idea that “it is normal for a dog to have a cold or hot nose”, as this depends on the circumstances of the environment and, mainly, the temperature of the animal.

To clear up this doubt once and for all, continue reading to better understand the variation in a dog’s temperature and what it means when a dog’s nose is hot.

What is the function of a dog’s snout?

First of all, it is important to understand the function and importance of the snout for dogs. In practice, this organ, besides being cute and charming, has several functions for the pet’s body.

The first is to capture and direct air to the lungs — just like the nostrils for humans — and also to the cells, through the organ called the vomeronasalacting on breathing and odor capture.

However, the snout also has another vital responsibility for the functioning of puppies: the regulation of body temperature.

Dogs, therefore, can raise or lower their own temperature through their snout. As such, it is common for them to be either very hot or very cold, which is a natural and healthy behavior.

My dog’s nose is hot: could it be a fever?

When you touch your dog’s nose, you notice that it is not wet and cold as it always was. In fact, it is hot, a condition that can be confused with some illness or physical discomfort, such as a fever.

As we’ve already mentioned, the temperature of a dog’s nose fluctuates throughout the day. So a dog can be perfectly healthy and have a hot, dry nose, or they can be very sick and have a cold, wet nose.

Therefore, being with A hot nose does not mean that the pet has a feverwhich will depend on several other symptoms to define the condition.

The possibility, although real, should be investigated further to determine whether the dog actually has a fever or not.

When does a dog have a fever?

Did you know that animals have a higher body temperature than humans? While ours is around 36°C, dogs’ body temperature is usually around 38°C.

Therefore, a hot and dry nose can indicate a fever in dogs, as long as it is accompanied by other symptoms. Know the most common signs that your furry friend has a fever:

• warm ears
• Lack of appetite
• Apatia
• Red eyes
• Excessive fatigue
• Cough
• Trembling (in some cases)

In general, it is easy to identify when a dog has a fever, as he tends to be quieter, less active, without an appetite and without the desire to get up even to play or receive a treat.

What causes fever in dogs?

Fever in dogs can occur for a variety of reasons, ranging from diseases caused by viruses, bacteria and parasites to food poisoning resulting from the ingestion of toxic plants, human food, chemicals and cleaning products.

In this way, the dog’s body, just like that of humans, increases its body temperature to signal that something is wrong and to eliminate possible viruses and bacteria causing the situation. It is a kind of defense mechanism for dogs.

What to do when a dog has a fever?

Although there are many home treatments and remedies to treat fever, the safest way to solve the problem is take the dog to the vet.

Through tests, this professional will diagnose the disease or condition that led the animal to the feverish state, in addition to indicating the best treatment for the dog’s fever.

Although a fever, in most cases, does not indicate anything very serious, self-medicating your furry friend can be dangerous, especially if he is already old or already predisposed to certain diseases.

Therefore, you should know that this subject deserves attention, as a fever can also be a sign that your dog has been bitten by a star tick. Read more about this topic by clicking here!