Why is my Golden Retrivers Nose Dry?Causes, Concerns and Care
By Ludic Paws9 min read
Reviewed by Ludic Paws — Lead Writer
I think we all have heard that tale - ‘If your dog’s nose is dry, they are sick’. Whoever owns a pet and knows this sends them in panic mode - including myself - looking for the thermometer to check any signs of illness.
It was a Sunday and lilly(my golden retriever) woke up from his nap and came to me on my desk when I noticed dry nose of my golden retriever. It was a bit warm too which really kicked me in the emergency mode and I learned a valuable lesson: a dry nose is not always a signal of illness.
So as Lilly has been my first pet, I started researching and this article probably contains everything you need to know about a Golden Retriever dry nose.
Quick Answer: A dry nose in a golden retriever is usually nothing to worry about. Its Often caused by sleeping, dry weather or not drinking enough water. However if dryness lasts for days or comes with cracking, peeling,bleeding or changes in your dogs behaviour. Its best to contact to your veterinarian. Golden retrievers can also be more prone to the condition called nasal hyperkeratosis, which may require treatment.
Why Does My Golden Retriever Have a Dry Nose? 7 Common Reasons
A Golden Retriever’s nose is more than just a cute little feature - it’s an amazing sensory tool. It needs to be moist as it makes the nose pick up the scents more effectively - which is one of the reason why Golden Retriever keeps licking their nose all day.
When they pick the scent, the moisture also allows the scent particles to cool and allow them to transfer the scent to their smell detection organ which is located in the roof of their mouth.
When the nature moisture cycle is temporarily disrupted, a dry nose can become the result of that.
When I did my research, I realised that a dry nose in Golden Retrievers can happen for complete normal reasons also and in most of the cases it has nothing to do with the sickness and it usually resolves on it’s own.
Below are the seven most common reasons for a dry nose in Golden Retriever:
Sleep: Sleep is one of the most common reason for Golden retriever dry nose. Fairly they do not keep licking their nose while they are asleep and a warm and dry nose is quite common after your golden retriever wakes up from a nap. Also, according to PetMD - a dry nose should return to normal moist state within 10 minutes after your golden retriever has woken up.
Dry Indoor Air: This has happened with my lilly couple of times, in the winters, we use heaters and they have the same effect on the golden’s nose as our lips. And also, if your Golden Retriever enjoys sleeping near fireplaces or air vents, you might see their dry nose more often.
Dehydration after exercise: All the people who own a retriever - they know that golden retrievers are high energy dogs who love to play, run, loves long walking sessions - which ultimately dehydrates them. A dry nose after a heavy session of exercise can be a signal to rehydrate them again.
Sun and wind exposure: In low humidity areas, extended outdoor timings of golden retrievers, especially when the sun is also out, can also cause dry nose and if your golden retriever has a lighter pigmented nose - they are susceptible to sunburns also.
Age: When a golden retriever ages, they produce less nasal mucus. So do not expect the same moisture on your dog's nose as it did when your pet was 3. You can use a dog-safe nose balm on them to help them keep it moist and cute.
Allergies: Some golden retrievers can be more allergic to environmental allergens like - pollen, mold, dust - which in turn, can inflame the nasal tissue and then lead to dried nose in golden retrievers.
Nasal hyperkeratosis (breed-relevant): This is one and the only cause in our list with a breed specific angle. I’ll write more on it below as this one is important and needs to be more than just a point here.
Are Golden Retrievers Prone to Nasal Hyperkeratosis?
And the answer is YES YES YES! They are!
When I started digging deep into this I realised that Golden Retrievers are among some of those breeds which more or less genetically prone to Nasal Hyperkeratosis - this is actually a condition where your Golden Retriever’s body starts producing more keratin on the nose, which in turns makes the nose tissue thicker, dry, crusty and in severe cases, the nose can be cracked and it is very painful.
Hyperkeratosis isn’t the same as a nose that’s dry after a nap. The key differences:
Feature | Normal Dryness | Hyperkeratosis |
Duration | Minutes to hours | Persistent, doesn’t resolve with licking |
Texture | Slightly warm, smooth | Thick, rough, crusty, sometimes cracked |
Color | Normal pigment | May show discoloration or pale patches |
Pain | None | Possible — dog may avoid nose contact |
Bleeding | No | Possible in advanced cases |
And sometimes, hyperkeratosis can happen without a very clear sign or cause also. It known cases it can be linked to conditions suck as discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE), pemphigus, or zinc-responsive dermatosis.
In this case, your vet might have to take a small sample from your dog’s nose to figure out what is causing this. So if your Golden Retriever’s nose feels thicker and crusty even after you moisturize it well, you should consult your vet.
When Should You Actually Worry? The Warning Signs
Im a very serious pet owner and I would recommend you something more practical. A dry nose is normal if it’s just simple dry nose and there are no other symptoms, it should be temporarily dry, isolated and no other symptoms, then it is not a problem. And a dry nose is a problem and concerning if there are other signals too and AKC and PetMD also agree to it, I also do.
Call your vet if you notice any of these alongside a dry nose:
If there are cracks, bleeding or open sores on the surface of the nose.
If you see yellowish, greenish or dark and thick nasal discharge
If your Golden retriever is also showing some changes in behaviour or appetite or lethargy.
Your Golden retriever is vomiting or going through diarrhea
If your golden retriever is licking the nose very excessively or the face rubbing
If there is having a crusty and thick texture on the nose which persists for days and the moisture balm fails to work on it.
Lesions or loss of pigment on or around the nose of your golden retriever
Also, for a better overview, check your Golden Retriever’s gums as they give more reliable health information than the nose alone. According to AKC and my VET: the gums should be moist and pink - this is a sign that your Retriever is well hydrated. If the gums are anywhere pale or dry or the gums are tacky, then it is a better signal that your Golden retriever is dehydrated.
LudicPaws’ bottom line: A temporarily dry nose is normal biology. A persistently dry, cracked, or crusty nose with accompanying symptoms is a vet visit — not because the dryness itself is dangerous, but because it may signal an underlying condition that needs diagnosis.
What Conditions Can Cause Chronic Dry Nose in Golden Retrievers?
Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE): This is an autoimmune condition, in DLE, the immune system finds the skin a signal of danger and starts attacking the skin and the nose which might lead to depigmentation, ulcerations and crusting also. Vet’s are required to do a biopsy and blood work to diagnose DLE. If the results come positive then it is managed with immunosuppressive drugs and topical treatments. What’s good is that it is manageable and what’s bad is our understanding of biology has not found a cure to DLE yet.
Pemphigus: Just like DLE, Pemphigus is also an autoimmune disorder which affects the skin and mucous membranes of the dogs. This problem causes blisters, cracking and crusting of the nose. It can also be diagnosed via biopsy and if results come positive then, treated with immunosuppressives
Severe allergic reactions. If your Golden Retriever is allergic to environmental things, then strong reactions to pollen or mold or even food can cause nasal inflammation, swelling, redness and drying of the nose which doesn’t go away just by applying simple moisturizers and require vet consultation.
Sunburn. This point is relevant for all the Goldens but more to the light nosed ones like English Cream lines. A sun burnt nose of your colden retriever can also get cracked, and have flakes and may even peel. I will first recommend you using a pt safe sunscreen if your golden is very outgoing in the sun and if you are facing this issue, please consult your vet right away.
Safe Treatments for a Golden Retriever’s Dry Nose
Ensure adequate hydration. First and foremost, there should be cool and fresh water available for your golden retriever at all times, it should always be in access. And if you are taking your pet out for a walk or an exercise session - first you should carry his water, and another thing is that after the session is done, offer your golden retriever water always.
Move the dog bed away from heat sources. Check if your golden retriever is sleeping near the vents or fireplaces because these things will definitely dry out the nasal tissues of your golden retriever. So figure out a cooler space for your golden retriever to sleep.
Use a dog-specific nose balm. There are products in the market for canine’s nose, like there are products very specific to them and for them - often containing ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil or beeswax - these are products which are safe if even licked and help provide moisture. Dr. Sarah Wooten, DVM, writing for PetMD, says that whenever you apply on your pet’s nose it should be really safe for ingestion so please avoid any human skin lotion if you are planning to use one.
Add humidity in winter. If you live in a dry and a humid place, get a humidifier near your golden retriever’s sleeping area.
For hyperkeratosis: If it is mild, you can use nose balm for treatment, but I would still recommend consulting the vet before you even try anything at all. If the thing is moderate to severe, you then definitely need to visit the vet for topical treatments. Also, please, please - do not try to trim away the excess buildup of keratin yourself, go to your vet.
For suspected DLE or pemphigus: First of all, I’m feeling bad even thinking about it, you definitely should visit the vet for diagnosis and you need a full prescription treatment like immunosuppressives, topical tacrolimus, vitamin E, etc. Home remedies won’t resolve autoimmune conditions at all, your pet needs a proper treatment.
Can You Prevent a Dry Nose in Golden Retrievers?
I think if you are here now, you have realised that prevention mostly depends on the cause and how much you care. Environmental dryness is preventable; genetic predisposition isn’t — but it’s manageable, so you need to take care of your pet’s habits.
What you can control: What I do at my best, and what you should also do is below:
Keep water available all the time.
Limit too much time in the sun for your golden retriever
Make sure your golden retriever stays away from heat vents and fire places
Use humidifier in dry months
Use a good pet friendly nose balm for your golden retriever proactively, especially in the winters.
Use a pet safe sunscreen on your golden’s nose which is safe for ingestion also.
What you can’t control: Every one goes through age related stuff and so do golden retrievers too. Also, we have realised that Golden Retrievers are genetically predisposed to hyperkeratosis. For these kinds of issues, the strategy should be management — regular moisturizing and veterinary monitoring if you see any of the conditions progressing.
Common questions
- Is a dry nose always a sign of sickness in Golden Retrievers?
- No, it is not a signal of any illness in any Golden Retriever or any other dog breed either. Their nose naturally fluctuates between being dry and wet, and that too multiple times in a day. A dry nose due to sleep, exercise or heat exposure is normal and you need not to worry about it. But if a dry nose is there with more symptoms like lethargy, cracking or peeling of nose, appetite changes or behavioral shifts then you need to consult a vet for sure.
- Why is my golden retriever’s nose dry and cracked?
- If there are cracks on the nose and it is also dried, most likely the reason could be nasal hyperkeratosis as Golden Retrievers are genetically prone to it. But if the conditions don't get better witin 1 week of using a nose balm, then a visit to vet becomes important.
- What can I put on my golden retriever’s dry nose?
- You can use balms which are pet safe and are made with ingredients which can be ingested by a Golden Retriever like shea butter, coconut oil or beeswax. Dr. Sarah Wooten, DVM, she also says that products applied on nose should be safe for ingestion. Avoid any human lotions, petroleum jelly or products containing zinc oxide.
- Do golden retrievers get nasal hyperkeratosis more than other breeds?
- Golden Retrievers has the type of genes which make them more prone to nasal hyperkeratosis. In this condition, the keratin is over produced by the nose which leads to development of a thick and crusty nose.
