swollen cracked nose

GSDAK47 · 01-03-2012, 09:40 PM

Hey everyone, I am a long-ish time lurker here, first time poster and recently joined. I have a 6 month old bitch and lately her nose has been very dry due to the weather change and now has started to crack, this morning I noticed the bottom sections of her nose are very red and irritated and look very painful. It seems like the bottom of her nose where it is raw is starting to swell, should I be concerned at all? This is my first GSD and I first called the breeder and she recommended I apply some vaseline. Any info would be great, thanks!

1sttimeforgsd · 01-03-2012, 10:47 PM

Sorry I don't have any suggestions just wanted to say I hope your girl's nose heals up quickly.

KZoppa · 01-03-2012, 10:55 PM

The red and swollen is from her licking her nose to try to get some moisture back in there. In trying to fix her nose herself, she's only making it worse. I agree with your breeder on applying vaseline. She can lick it and be fine so its not harmful. It applies moisture and locks in moisture at the same time. Apply a couple times a day and you should see positive results.

Also look into Bag Balm. I use it on my dogs pads when they get dry and cracked. It really helps.

onyx'girl · 01-03-2012, 11:00 PM

I would consult the vet to make sure it isn't an auto-immune disorder. Vitamin E gelcap/prick the cap and squeeze the oil onto the nose, then give a dab of vaseline to seal it. Bag balm is fragrant, and works, but my dogs never liked having a scent like that(I used it on paws and nose a few winters back)

LisaT · 01-03-2012, 11:03 PM

No Vaeline, you don't want it to get into the lungs and cause problems there. I would use Bag Balm, though I'm not sure it's that much different from vaseline?

If it's getting red and particularly worse, there may be an infection - staph, fungal, bartonella, etc. Often it's hard to tell whether it's just dry or an infection.

LisaT · 01-03-2012, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onyx'girl

I would consult the vet to make sure it isn't an auto-immune disorder. Vitamin E gelcap/prick the cap and squeeze the oil onto the nose, then give a dab of vaseline to seal it. Bag balm is fragrant, and works, but my dogs never liked having a scent like that(I used it on paws and nose a few winters back)

Forgot about both of these! Could be autoimmune, and liquid vit E really is the best - Solaray and Country Life make good products in a bottle with a dropper.

GSDAlphaMom · 01-03-2012, 11:17 PM

I have no personal experience with this product so can't speak to it's effectiveness but you may want to check it out.

NATURAL DOG SNOUT SOOTHER - the nose balm for dogs that is guaranteed to work!

01-03-2012, 09:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
GSDAK47 New Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 4	swollen cracked nose Hey everyone, I am a long-ish time lurker here, first time poster and recently joined. I have a 6 month old bitch and lately her nose has been very dry due to the weather change and now has started to crack, this morning I noticed the bottom sections of her nose are very red and irritated and look very painful. It seems like the bottom of her nose where it is raw is starting to swell, should I be concerned at all? This is my first GSD and I first called the breeder and she recommended I apply some vaseline. Any info would be great, thanks!

01-03-2012, 10:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
1sttimeforgsd Crowned Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: West Virginia Posts: 4,897	Sorry I don't have any suggestions just wanted to say I hope your girl's nose heals up quickly. __________________ karen, mom to: ace-gsd (bi-color) 6/14/2010 mandy-yellow lab 1/31/2009 baby-terrier mix 11/25/2000

01-03-2012, 10:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
KZoppa Crowned Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Maryland kinda missing CO Posts: 13,821	The red and swollen is from her licking her nose to try to get some moisture back in there. In trying to fix her nose herself, she's only making it worse. I agree with your breeder on applying vaseline. She can lick it and be fine so its not harmful. It applies moisture and locks in moisture at the same time. Apply a couple times a day and you should see positive results. Also look into Bag Balm. I use it on my dogs pads when they get dry and cracked. It really helps. __________________ The more people I meet and talk to,the more I love my dogs and their intelligence. www.krystalscollarcreations.weebly.com Riley GSD/BC 1/10/05 Zena GSD 6/1/03 Shasta GSD 5/5/10

01-03-2012, 11:00 PM	#4 (permalink)
onyx'girl Crowned Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SW, MI Posts: 17,608	I would consult the vet to make sure it isn't an auto-immune disorder. Vitamin E gelcap/prick the cap and squeeze the oil onto the nose, then give a dab of vaseline to seal it. Bag balm is fragrant, and works, but my dogs never liked having a scent like that(I used it on paws and nose a few winters back) __________________ Jane~ Kept by Onyx, Kacie and Gideon v Wildhaus aka Karlo

01-03-2012, 11:03 PM	#5 (permalink)
LisaT Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Northern CA Posts: 17,002	No Vaeline, you don't want it to get into the lungs and cause problems there. I would use Bag Balm, though I'm not sure it's that much different from vaseline? If it's getting red and particularly worse, there may be an infection - staph, fungal, bartonella, etc. Often it's hard to tell whether it's just dry or an infection. __________________ K9 Tick Disease Information http://www.rabieschallengefund.org

01-03-2012, 11:17 PM	#7 (permalink)
GSDAlphaMom Knighted Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 2,230	I have no personal experience with this product so can't speak to it's effectiveness but you may want to check it out. NATURAL DOG SNOUT SOOTHER - the nose balm for dogs that is guaranteed to work!

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