Have you every been snuggling with you cat or dog and been surprised by a nice, wet swipe of their nose across your face? Have you every wondered why you cat or dog’s nose always seems to be a little moist? Is a wet cat or dog nose normal? If you are interested in any of these questions, our article below will answer them.
Why do cats and dogs have wet noses
The main reason cats and dogs have wet noses is because:
Sweat accumulation: Like humans, cats and dogs have sweat glands located on and around their noses. Cats and dogs sweat through their nose in order to regulate their body temperature. They may also sweat through their nose if they are nervous or anxious.
Drainage from the eye: You may be surprised that cats and dogs drain fluids from their eyes through their nose. This is due to the facial bone structure of cats and dogs, which drains their excess tear liquid down the nose. This is why sometimes you will see eye guck flowing down from your cat or dog’s eye to their nose.
Lick their nose to improve scent: Perhaps the most interesting reason cats and dogs have wet noses is its function to improve scent. In fact, a wet nose allows scent particles to stick to the nose of a cat or dog. This is why you will see you cat or dog frequently licking their nose. Since cats and dogs frequently use their nose to poke around and smell, they also lick their nose to clean it off. Thus, a moist nose greatly improves a cat or dog’s sense of smell. Did you know that a dog’s sense of smell is over 15,000 times stronger than humans’?
Nasal discharge: Just like humans, cats dogs are susceptible to runny noses. A lot of times the snot will accumulate on the surface of your pet’s nose. When you see your cat or dog with snot on their nose, you should remove it with a tissue. If your cat or dog continually has snot on their nose, we recommend consulting a vet.
Is a wet cat nose or wet dog nose normal?
Most of the time, a wet or moist nose is normal and is not a cause for concern. As you can see from above, a cat and dog’s nose naturally stay moist. However, there are a few rare exceptions that could mean you cat or dog is sick.
Cat or Dog nose is wet. What illness could it be?
If your cat or dog has a constant runny nose with discharge, it could be a nasal infection. In extreme cases, it could be the sign of an upper respiratory infection. If your cat has a constant runny nose, you should look for other symptoms that signal an illness. If your cat is also coughing or is having trouble breathing, you should definitely take your cat or dog to the vet.
Check out this funny article to see what does it mean when a cow drools.
