If you’re a cat owner without too much experience, you’ve probably worried about your pet’s dry nose more than once. We’ve been taught that healthy cats (and dogs) should have a wet nose, and if it suddenly goes dry for some reason or another, a visit to the vet is in order. Fortunately, that’s not always the case. Your feline can have a dry nose for a few different reasons, so the last thing you want to do is panic.
Of course, the most important thing to do when detecting a dry nose is to determine the cause. More often than not, it’s a result of allergies, various environmental factors, and dehydration, but sometimes it’s a more serious health problem. Instead of just doing guesswork, we need to be able to recognize symptoms and decide if it’s something temporary, or if it’s time for our kitty to
see the doc.
We’ll go over a few common causes of a dry nose in cats, along with some treatment options, so you won’t be alarmed if the furball is experiencing this problem.
Is It Allergies?
Yes, these irritating and unwelcome guests can cause a dry nose. There are four common types of allergies found in cats: contact (touching something that causes an allergic reaction, like plants, jewelry, or cosmetics), insect allergies (mostly fleas), atopic dermatitis (typically caused by dirt around the house, like dust or mold), and food allergy.
The thing is, our feline friends are way too curious for their own good. Most of them won’t sit still until they’ve inspected every nook and cranny in your house. And these little adventures sometimes end up in an allergic reaction that can annoy your little buddy. The good side is that you’ll quickly find out if your cat is allergic or not, making it easier for you to handle the situation.
How does an allergy cause a dry nose, exactly? The cat’s immune system releases a chemical called histamine which makes the nose dry, often resulting in flakes or little cracks. But a dry nose is almost always accompanied by other allergic reactions, such as too much licking, scratching, loss of appetite, or noticeable changes in behavior, like lethargy or aggressiveness. In any case, the vet should have the final word in this matter and decide if the dry nose is indeed an allergic reaction.
...Or Maybe It’s the Cold
Chilly weather can be very uncomfortable for felines, despite their warm and fluffy coats. It’s essential, especially during wintertime, to provide well-adjusted room temperature for your kitty. One way in which the cold can affect your pet is by giving them a dry, and even cracked nose. Finding this very uncomfortable, they often scratch it excessively and can even injure themselves.
One solution is to apply ointment to your furball’s nose and see if it works. It might protest at first and try to remove it with its paws, but try some gentle petting so they’ll realize it’s nothing dangerous. Also, there are various pet-safe moisturizers available on the market that can remedy the situation.
If your furball is more outdoorsy than usual, but it’s cold outside, try to minimize their time in the open to avoid a dry nose or other more serious health complications.
Dehydration is a No-No
How many times have we heard that water is the most essential thing for all living creatures? Well, cats are no exception. Though it’s not the usual suspect, dehydration too can cause a dry nose. This is typically not the case if it lasts a short while, but if it goes on for a few days, then you should probably consult. Dehydration is often joined by other symptoms like loss of appetite and weakness, which might indicate another illness altogether.
Having enough water around the house is crucial for the well-being of your feline, especially in hot weather. The more physically active breeds get tired fast, and they always need a refreshing drink lying around.
Beware of Too Much Sun
Staying too long in the sun can also dry out your kitty’s nose. If yours is the type who simply loves basking in the sun, you should watch for signs of nose dryness, but also scabbing, peeling, or red spots. As you can imagine, felines don’t find this particularly enjoyable, and they’ll quickly show their discomfort by scratching or vocalizing.
Excessive exposure to the sun can also result in skin cancer or changes in pigmentation, but that’s a topic for another article. The best approach is to monitor how long your pet stays outdoors in hot weather, just like you would do in winter.
Hyperkeratosis
Don’t let big Latin words put you off – hyperkeratosis is just a term for a medical condition that affects both cats and dogs. The main symptom is unusually thick skin, which includes the nose tissue, the ears, eyelids, or feet. Common causes are infection or bad nutrition. You can definitely feel it when petting your furball, even if it doesn’t show any discomfort.
Is hyperkeratosis dangerous? By itself, no. It only affects the physical look, much like grey hair. On that note, it is mostly found in older cats instead of kittens. In rare cases, this condition might indicate more serious problems, so don’t hesitate to call the vet.
Treatment
With the right treatment method, a dry and itchy nose goes quickly back the normal. In fact, pet owners should remember that a cat’s nose can go wet and dry more times in one day. This is considered normal, depending on the weather, room temperature, hydration, etc. You should only react if it lasts more than a couple of days.
The most effective solutions for a dry nose are topical creams and ointments that are pet-safe and vet-approved. Their anti-allergens and anti-inflammatory properties work hard to defeat the enemy and eliminate your furball’s frustration.
Final Thoughts
When our cats feel good, we feel good. And if a dry nose is causing them trouble, we need to react fast and ease their discomfort.
