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                         March 8, 2002

Why do dogs have wet noses?

Many people believe that if a dog has a cold, wet nose, he must be healthy. There is some truth to this old adage, but it is largely a myth. The true reason for the dog’s wet nose lies in basic physics. Dogs have very few sweat glands as compared to people. However, when a dog’s body temperature rises, it must still dissipate the excess heat. A dog uses his nose to relieve this buildup of body heat. Heat will escape through a dry nose, but a wet nose is more effective.

How does the nose get wet in the first place? Watch your dog; you will notice that every so often he licks his nose. A warm, dry nose simply means that your dog has been sleeping. When asleep, dogs don’t lick their noses!