Mend Your Diet

Older Dog with Very Dry, Flaky nose?

I have an unneutered german shepherd who is about 10 years old. He's been in great shape up until this and does not look or act like an old dog at all. He has started to get an extremely dry nose. It's so bad that parts of his nose start to flake off. He is not dehydrated as they always have fresh water. My other dog is not showing any symptoms. Last month he also got a sore on his hindquarters. I am not sure if it started out as a sore or as very dry, cracked skin though. In any case, he bit it until it was an oozing sore, and that's when I noticed it. His fur is long enough for it to stay hidden before that. I squeezed vitamin e oil onto it for 3 days, and it cleared up. All his fur grew back pretty quickly. I don't know if these things are related, but they are both recent, and he did not have any health problems before. I haven't tried anything to soothe the nose yet, but a moisturising oil and vitamin e would be my first guess. Could this be a serious condition? I have an unneutered german shepherd who is about 10 years old. He's been in great shape up until this and does not look or act like an old dog at all. He has started to get an extremely dry nose. It's so bad that parts of his nose start to flake off. He is not dehydrated as they always have fresh water. My other dog is not showing any symptoms. Last month he also got a sore on his hindquarters. I am not sure if it started out as a sore or as very dry, cracked skin though. In any case, he bit it until it was an oozing sore, and that's when I noticed it. His fur is long enough for it to stay hidden before that. I squeezed vitamin e oil onto it for 3 days, and it cleared up. All his fur grew back pretty quickly. I don't know if these things are related, but they are both recent, and he did not have any health problems before. I haven't tried anything to soothe the nose yet, but a moisturising oil and vitamin e would be my first guess. Could this be a serious condition? If so, what?

Public Comments

1. YES!!! take the pup to the vet......its not healthy if his nose if flaking..........unless he got sunburn....yes that is possible.........so take him to the vet......good luck
2. Oh, CRAP! THATS NOT GOOD! VET PLEASE NOW!!A dry nose on a dog is always trouble!OH THAT POOR BABY!!!VET NOW!!FOR THE DOGS SAKE!!! GOOD LUCK! May God bless you and your dog.
3. He could have some kind of a fungus that could be treated with an antifungal cream. This occurs with dogs who dig in the yard or in dirt alot. It would be best to have it checked by the vet so you know what you are treating and how to properly treat what is wrong with him.