Why is my dog's nose crusty and bleeding? Should I worry about cancer?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Murphy. A common condition known as hyperkeratosis can cause a crusty nose. This is more of a cosmetic probelm and may be what his veterinarian was referring to at your last appointment. If the nose cracks, bleeds or the pigment changes to white or pink though, this is concerning. It can indicate an autoimmune disease. This would need to be diagnosed with a biopsy. In the first scenario, I usually will treat with a topical ointment to dissolve the extra skin or keratin. You need to wear gloves when applying it though as it can dissolve the skin on your finger tips. His veterinarian will be able to prescribe this ointment. I hope this information helps!

At 13 years of age, a nasal tumor would be most likely. A tumor typically would cause bleeding out of just one nostril. Other possibilities would be a severe bacterial infection, tooth root abscess, nasal foreign material (I've seen dogs that had toy stuffing in the nose), or fungal infection. Unfortunately anesthesia for nasal scoping and often CT scan is usually necessary to get a diagnosis.

Hello. Has your veterinarian done a biopsy on the nasal tissue? If not, until cancer is confirmed, this could be something else like an infection or autoimmune condition. Please discuss this with your veterinarian because there are things that might be appropriate to treat this condition based on what is found on the biopsy. Good luck & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Ariel. I recommend that she sees her veterinarian. She may need to have biopsies taken from the affected skin on her nose. I am concerned that she has developed an autoimmune skin disease where the body attacks it's own skin cells. In this case, an accurate diagnosis is necessary to prescribe medications to manage the disease. I recommend having her seems soon as the cracking skin on the nose can result in terrible bleeding if it gets deep enough. I hope this information helps!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Capone. If the nose cracks to the point of bleeding or changes color, these are signs of significant skin disease. Dry skin can be managed with topical treatment. It is worth having him see a veterinarian to determine the extent of his signs. I hope this information helps!

I recommend to have Gary examined by the veterinarian. Lesions like this can be related to allergies or benign hyperplasia. Unfortunately, something more serious like an autoimmune condition is also possible. I recommend to play it safe and have him examined. The vet may try treatment or may recommend a biopsy based upon the physical exam. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

I am sorry that she is having this problem and I am sure you are worried. Nasal discharge with blood can be a sign of infection, cancer, or possibly a bleeding disorder. If the antibiotics do no resolve the problem then your vet will need to do some diagnostic tests to help determine the cause. Your vet can run blood-work, take nasal x-rays, and/or rhinoscopy to see if a diagnosis can be found. I wish I could tell you the cause but am not able to without more information from tests. The bump on the roof of her mouth may not be related but you should monitor it and have your vet take a look at it. Try not to worry as it could definitely just be an infection.