Why is my dog's dry, peeling nose now red, irritated, and bleeding?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Summer. I recommend that she sees her veterinarian. She may have a common condition known as hyperkeratosis of the nasal planum. If this is not the case, a more serious condition such as an autoimmune disease should be considered. Discoid lupus usually appears as a cracked, bleeding and ulcerated nose. This is diagnosed by a skin biopsy. I hope this information helps!

Hi, and thanks for your question. Even though a picture would help to understand better the underlying cause, this presentation could be due to a trauma or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria or fungal). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics or antifungal meds (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection can be possibly started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any scratching (if any). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Dry noses can be caused by a wide variety of conditions, including infectious conditions, immune mediated issues, allergies, or more systemic diseases. Since this seems to be a recurring annual issue, I would be inclined to think that allergies seem most likely. Max will lick anything off of his nose, so try to apply topical treatments as he is eating to at least allow for a brief period of contact time. You can try starting an oral omega 3 fatty acid supplement (such as Welactin). Topically, you can try applying vitamin E (buy OTC capsules and open them up to apply the contents to his nose) and moisturize with small amounts of lanolin. If the cracking continues or worsens, a trip to the vet is in order for further diagnostic testing. I hope that all goes well!

Poor baby. Definitely looks red and irritated. It may need oral antibiotics or possibly just some topical antibiotics. I would call and schedule an exam and get the correct medications. The cause could be infection, allergies, immune mediated conditions, and more. Needs to be looked at a little more closely.

I am so sorry to hear about Drako! It is definitely quite possible given the appearance and his breed that he could be suffering from an autoimmune disease such as lupus. Other possibilities would include bacterial and fungal infections, solar dermatosis (sensitivity to sun) and zinc responsive dermatosis, and less commonly cancer. It looks like if your dog didn't respond to the antibiotics and steroids then some additional testing needs to be done. A biopsy is the fastest way to determine what the problem here could be. I would recommend discussing this with your vet and if they don't feel comfortable asking for a referral to a specialist.

Aww poor Grizzlu that must be very painful! That looks like very severe dermatitis. Some causes of this are bacterial and fungal infections, autoimmune disease, severe allergies, mites and even cancer. Please take Grizzlu to see a veterinarian as soon as you can. Whatever caused this it looks like it is now infected and she likely need antibiotics, topical treatment and possible other oral medications like corticosteroids.

Thank you for posting the picture of Bruce’s nose. Many different disease processes can look almost identical on the nose. Often a bacterial infection can be the problem. Often underlying thyroid disease can redispose to the infection. If antibiotics dont resolve it then a biopsy is usially done to obtain a diagnosis. Zinc deficiency, skin disorders such as discoid lupus, and even more aggressive problems such as pemphigus can begin with this symptom. I would highly encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian soon. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.