My dog's nose is raw and getting worse from licking. What should I do?

I hate to hear that Bear is having this issue. The sores aren’t likely there from licking but certainly the licking doesn’t help anything. Trauma from rubbing the nose, ringworm (which humans can get) and less likely, an autoimmune condition can all look like this. It looks pretty wide spread on his nose and I recommend to have him seen by his veterinarian to test for make sure there’s no sign of an autoimmune disease. The doctor may recommend to test the lesions as well. Hopefully it’s something that will clear up quickly! I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

This looks like it might not simply be from digging. I can see what looks like hair loss all the way up the bridge of Charlie’s nose. I would recommend having your vet examine him - he might need antibiotics. Your vet might recommend taking a biopsy to rule out autoimmune skin diseases that can affect the nose.

Hello. This can be several things. She may have picked up a bacterial infection while rooting around in the soil. This could also be some kind of allergic reaction or possibly even an immune-mediated response. You should have your veterinarian check this out as the right diagnosis will led to the correct treatment ( if anything is necessary ), especially if it is getting worse. Hope all is well & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Your dog may have rubbed it raw, under the couch or through the fence maybe? I suggest washing the area gently with antibacterial soap and water. Apply a warm washcloth 2-3 times a day for five minutes at a time to help keep it clean and draining. After washing and the compress, dry thoroughly and apply a dab of antibiotic ointment that **does NOT** contain hydrocortisone to the wound. Steroids will slow healing. An OTC triple antibiotic ointment will suffice. Rub it in well and don't leave any excess for your pet to lick off. If it does not show signs of healing or if your dog develops a fever, loses his appetite, starts vomiting or has diarrhea have him seen by your veterinarian right away. Potential cause may include allergies, infection, automimmune disease or even cancer. An e-collar (cone) may be used to prevent rubbing or pawing.

Depending on your dog's age and clinical signs, this could be a few different things. A fungal infection is certainly possible, and if this is the case, it will definitely require a systemic anti-fungal rather than something topical to rid the problem. Bacterial or viral infections can also cause this sort of thing. Another distinct possibility are certain types of tumors. One that come to mind in particular is call a TVT (transmissible venereal tumor). We see this a lot in young, in tact male dogs although it can in theory occur in any canine. Other cancerous growths can occur on the nose and face as well, but this one is fairly common. The only way to know for sure will be to obtain cytology and/or biopsies of the affected areas. I would strongly recommend getting Vador into the vet to be examined sometime soon. These sorts of things are best dealt with head on in the beginning. Hope this helps.

This could be due to an autoimmune disease but it is very hard to say just by looking at a photo. I suggest you have your dog examined by your vet as soon as you can get an appointment. It's not an emergency but sometime in the next couple days would be good.

I am sorry to hear this. Your pet Meeiah has a very raw area that does not look normal or likely to go away on its own. This can be caused by an immune mediated skin condition (lupus) or an abrasion. I would recommend taking Meeiah to your local vet for a consultation. They may try steroid and antibiotic therapy with him as a conservative treatment or do some skin/blood testing first. I hope that things improve soon with Meeiah soon! Best wishes and take care.