Your daily dose of doggy goodness!
Every day, we celebrate our shared love of dogs and hopefully brighten your day. Enjoy!
Dog of the Day:
Madigan!
Meme of the day: We can’t resist a dog!
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The Amazing Truth About Your Dog's Wet Nose
If you’ve ever been jolted awake by a cold, wet nudge from your furry best friend, you’ve experienced the magic of the canine rhinarium (that’s the fancy name for their nose pad). That perpetually damp, cool surface isn't just cute—it’s actually a vital piece of equipment that helps your dog experience the world in rich, aromatic detail.
So, why are dog noses wet? The short answer is for smell, cooling, and detection.
The Superpower: Trapping Scent Particles
The main reason for the moisture is to boost your dog's already legendary sense of smell. Think of your dog's wet nose like a tiny, biological fly trap for odor.
The wet film on the nose is a combination of two things:
Mucus Production: Your dog’s nostrils are constantly coated with a thin layer of mucus secreted from specialized glands. This mucus helps to capture microscopic scent molecules wafting through the air. Once the odor particle is trapped, your dog can lick the nose, bringing the scent to the olfactory glands (the smell receptors) located further back in their nasal cavity. This effectively "processes" the smell and lets them identify exactly what they’re sniffing.
Tears: Yes, tears! A dog’s tear ducts drain into the nose, adding another source of liquid to the mix.
Essentially, a moist nose ensures that the surrounding air's aromatic information is constantly being collected and delivered directly to the scent analysis center in the brain.
Built-in Air Conditioning
Dogs don't sweat all over their bodies the way humans do. Instead, they primarily rely on panting to regulate their body temperature. However, the nose also plays a small but essential role in cooling down.
When moisture evaporates from the surface of the nose, it helps to cool the blood circulating in that area, contributing to the dog's overall temperature regulation. So, that chilly nose is not only helping them smell the barbecue—it’s also helping them stay comfortable in the summer sun!
The Olfactory Thermometer
Here’s a feature you might not know about: many scientists believe the moisture allows the dog to better sense the direction of a smell.
When a dog sniffs, the wet nose can feel the subtle temperature difference between the air coming from one side (which may have a scent stream in it) versus the other. This helps them instantly determine which way to point their head to track the scent, making them incredibly effective at following a trail.
Does a Dry Nose Mean My Dog is Sick?
While a wet, cool nose is the norm, a nose that is temporarily dry or warm is usually nothing to worry about.
A dog's nose can dry out for simple reasons:
They just woke up from a long nap (they don't lick their nose while sleeping).
They’ve been lying in the sun or near a heat source.
They're dehydrated after a long walk.
The most reliable indicators of a dog's health are their energy level, appetite, and behavior. If your dog's nose is dry, but they are otherwise playful, eating normally, and active, they're likely just fine.
However, a persistently dry, cracked, crusty, or discolored nose, especially when combined with lethargy or a change in appetite, is a good reason to call your veterinarian.
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Dog Food and Supplement Recalls
Here are the recent recalls and advisories:
Viva - Ground Beef for Dogs and Ground Chicken for Dogs and Cats for potential Salmonella and Listeria contamination.
Savage Pet - Cat Food Chicken for potential bird flu exposure.
Wild Coast Raw - Frozen Boneless Free-Range Chicken Formula raw pet food for cats, for possible bird flu exposure.
The Smile Section
Family Photo of the Day:
Jax!
We want to feature your pup!
We want to share your pup with our pack. Email us your favorite doggy pic or video with your pup’s name, and we'll try to feature it as a family photo in one of our upcoming newsletters or on our Facebook page.
Share our newsletter with your friends!
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Meme of the day: @idogsplanet
