Why is my dog's nose raw after being lost in the woods and creeks?

These may be traumatic sores from small abrasions that she got on bushes and tree limbs while she was running through the park. Or they may be signs of skin infection. If it doesn't clear up in a couple of days you may want to take her to the vet to be checked out, she may need antibiotics to clear up the infection. You could try putting a topical antibiotic ointment on the lesions but since they're so close to her mouth she will probably lick it off.

It is not uncommon for dogs to traumatize the top of their nose when they are in a kennel or cage and trying to get out. They usually rub a sore on the wire part of the cage. If the wound does not seem to be bothering her, you may be okay waiting to see her regular veterinarian. If she seems uncomfortable or the wound/rash are worsening or spreading, then it may be best to get her in somewhere sooner. If you start to notice that the wound looks infected (pus coming from it), I would bring Wendy in sooner because the worse it gets, the longer it will take to heal. If you have an E-collar (the lamp shade looking device) at home, I would put that on her in the meantime to prevent her from further damaging the area. Hope Wendy heals quickly!

Being boarded can be a stressful situation for dogs. I would ask the kennel if the staff noted him rubbing his nose. It is very common for them to run their noses on the bars or bottom of wired cages/crates. This may have been stress related, excitement related (seeing another dog), or boredom related (not getting as much exercise as usual). It can also happen if they flip bowls/bedding with their nose. For nose rubbers it is best to find a boarding situation with less opportunity for this to happen. Like asking for runs with glass doors and not wire crates/cages and facilities that offer some outdoor space or more exercise time. Hopefully the area will not scar but it could take some time for the pigment to reappear. It may not look quite the same as the surrounding tissue. I hope this helps and thank you 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.

If the abrasion was severe enough it may cause scarring of the tissue and lead to permanent depigmentation. If the abrasion is only superficial (which it appears to be in this pic) the pigmentation will likely return.

This is a difficult place to put anything on, because it will just be licked off. From what I'm seeing in the picture, it is a very minor abrasion, so I would not be to worried about it getting any worse. For now, it's best to just keep the wound clean by wiping it with warm water occasionally. This should be completely healed within the next two weeks.

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.