How To Cure A Sore, Dry Nose?

[Stitch]

It started off as a dry nose that looked like it had been grazed on the end. The nose was slightly swollen and looked sore.

I have noticed that the dogs occasionally get a sore nose which I have always put down to injury caused by them occasionally burying something they wanted to save till later and I usually just apply some antibiotic cream a few times and it gets better.

However almost as quick as I apply the cream it naturally gets licked off and this time it is not improving.

How do you treat this kind of thing?

It has two small red raw spots on the end that look like the black skin has been scraped off

I am taking the dog to the vet tomorrow afternoon but I was wondering if anyone else has come across this type of thing as I am inclined to think that it may not be an injury but rather an allergy or something else????

Can anyone help??

[BC]

Could it be something like "collie nose" ?

[Stitch]

I have no experience with Collie nose.

I have had experience with the pigmentation getting paler mainly in winter.

Can you give me more info?

[JayGee]

We have a greyhound here with a similar problem. She was adopted from a Vet Surgery, who put her nose problems down to an allergy....which I not so sure about now. They weren't treating it, and basically said it would clear up!

I've tried a few different combinations, and we seem to be have a great success. I use the Lucas Papaw Ointment, which seems to aid in the healing. As the nose was quite pink and had lost a lot of pigmentation, I then started using zinc cream, just to give her sun protection as she loves lying around outside. With this system, the nose is healing nicely, and she's regaining her black pigment on the nose. I just do the zinc in the morning, and the papaw ointment in the afternoon, really slather both products on, and massage it right into the nose, so there's not a lot of excess to lick off!!! I think her long life of living in kennels may have attributed to some major sun damage.

Good luck.

[Stitch]

Thank you very much for that JayGee.

I will get some of that ointment today.

Did your dogs nose look scraped in just a few areas, and those areas were red raw and wheepy - not cracked but scraped?? How does white zinc go on areas that are open?

They are not big areas but they look sore!

The nose looks a little swollen too and very dry in the areas that are not open.

We live in a rural area and there are lots of things that dogs can be allergic to.

It will be interesting to see what the vet says as I am trying a new local vet so I don't have to travel so far to go to my old vet.

I do hope his experience stretches beyond giving immunisations and minor surgery - awful to say that but unfortunately too few of them seem to be able to diagnose accurately!

[BC]

This is some info on Collie nose:

'Collie nose' is used to describe a condition in which breeds with little or no pigment on their face develop lesions, usually on the nose, eyelids, and lips. The lesions are caused by a hypersensitivity to sunlight. Despite the term 'Collie nose,' breeds other than Collies can also be affected, especially Shetland Sheepdogs. Collie nose has an inherited component and is worse in areas with sunny climates.

What are the symptoms?

Usually the lesions appear as pink, raw areas about the nose and occasionally on the eyelids. The hypersensitive areas may actually ulcerate and develop a crusty scab-like covering. The condition may vary from mild irritation to severe ulcerating lesions that hemorrhage.

What are the risks?

Left untreated, severe discomfort can result. As the nasal tissues become deeply irritated, they may crack, bleed, and impair breathing. All cases should begin treatment in the early stages. Advanced stages may develop into a form of cancer, which can be deadly.

Hope the vet can diagnose

[JayGee]

Stitch, you'll find the Lucas Pawpaw Ointment handy for a lot of things, the blurb on the container refers to "boils, burns, chaffings, cuts, cracked skin, gravel rash, splinters, open wounds, insect bites and nappy rash"!!! I find it handy for all sorts of ailments. My daughter-in-law swears by it for nappy rash, gone after one application.

Shila's nose does get a cracked, dry appearance, so after a rough play with our doberman, she can get a little raw and weepy looking. I'm trying to make sure they don't go into wrestling, head first.....but I'm losing the battle there. I actually starting using the zinc more of a sun protection, but because it's such a nice thick substance, I think its also helping with moisturising the nose. I didn't start using the zinc until I had the nose looking good though. As I've had a good result, I've just kept using the two products. I've googled nose problems, was actually concerned that Shila may have lupus. I had to take her to an emergency vet one night (not our own) over another matter, mentioned the nose to him, and he said not to worry about it, it looked fine???? So, I've just been carrying on with my own doctoring, as it does seem to be working. She's due for her vaccs soon, so we'll see our vet to make sure I'm going about it in the right manner.

After reading BC's post on the collie nose, I think I'll get Shila to the vet just to have it checked out, looks like the sun hypersensitivity matches our problem, but I'm a bit concerned about the chance of developing cancer. I must admit, I've had that in the back of my mind.......but fortunately, we're seeing the return of the black pigment to the area. Her nose tip was completely pink when she was adopted. Thanks for the post BC, very interesting.

Hope all goes well at the vet Stitch, I'll be following your progress. If we get any further info on Shila, I'll let you know.

[Staffyluv]

A dry nose can also point to a medical condition with the thyroid.

Best to get it checked right out, I think.

[Stitch]

Took dog to vet this afternoon and was very pleasantly surprised. Vet was really nice, thorough and very pleasant plus found out that the new surgery is owned by a prominent vet specialist! Yeah!!!!

Vet took a sticky tape sample of nose end (ouch) and looked at it under microscope.

Bacterial infection diagnosed at this stage - Clavulox & Neotopic Ointment. Working on the theory that a grazed nose has become infected.

If that doesn't work then they will take a biopsy - so lets hope it doesn't get to that stage.

I am going to get some of that PawPaw ointment though - it sounds great!

Thank you all for your ideas - much appreciated!