What Are Nasal Dermatoses in Dogs?
Nasal dermatoses in dogs refer to skin problems that can impact either the hairy area of a dog’s muzzle, known as the nasal bridge, or the hairless part of the nose, including the nostrils, called the nasal planum.
The majority of these conditions affect the area where the hairy part of the muzzle meets the hairless part of the nose, known as the mucocutaneous junction.
Symptoms
Symptoms indicating the presence of nasal dermatoses in dogs encompass:
- Hypopigmentation, signifying a loss of pigment, on the nasal planum.
- Hyperpigmentation, indicating an excess of pigment, on the nasal planum.
- Presence of ulceration, characterized by sores.
- Crusting of the affected area.
- Swelling and redness.
- Formation of scabs.
- Appearance of bumps.
- Lesions that ooze.
Diagnosing nasal dermatoses in dogs can be challenging as most of the diseases causing this condition manifest similar symptoms.
Causes
The primary causes of nasal dermatoses in dogs are typically attributed to four factors:
- Bacterial infection (pyoderma/mucocutaneous pyoderma)
- Demodicosis (presence of Demodex mites in the skin)
- Dermatophytosis (ringworm)
- Autoimmune disorders
Bacterial Infection
Pyoderma constitutes a skin infection primarily triggered by bacteria. Typically, it remains superficial, affecting solely the upper layers of the skin and hair follicles. Bacterial pyoderma in the vicinity of the nose may lead to hypopigmentation (loss of pigment), crusting, oozing, and ulceration (sores).
Common bacterial culprits such as Staphylococcus and Streptococcus are often responsible for pyoderma in dogs. Additionally, Malassezia yeast, naturally present on the skin but prone to overgrowth during infections, is frequently detected on affected skin alongside the bacteria.
Demodicosis
Demodicosis, alternatively termed demodectic mange, arises from the microscopic Demodex mite. These mites typically inhabit the dog’s skin, yet their rapid reproduction can lead to skin lesions, particularly in young dogs or those with compromised immune systems. Lesions around the nostrils (hairless nasal planum) may become evident in affected dogs.
Dermatophytosis (Ringworm)
Dermatophytosis, also referred to as ringworm, is caused by a fungus (typically Microsporum canis) and not by a worm or parasite. Ringworm lesions, despite their name, may not always appear ring-shaped and can resemble various other skin conditions, making them easy to overlook. This condition is prevalent among young animals or those with compromised immune systems. However, it can also affect healthy adult animals.
Autoimmune Disease
When infection and mites are excluded as potential causes, autoimmune disease becomes a consideration. The diagnosis of an autoimmune disease in your dog typically necessitates obtaining a small skin sample through biopsy.
Autoimmune conditions such as pemphigus, lupus erythematosus, uveodermatologic syndrome, and cancers like cutaneous lymphoma may closely resemble symptoms of a skin infection, Demodex mites, or ringworm.
Diagnosis
Diagnosing nasal dermatoses in dogs typically involves a physical examination conducted by a veterinarian. However, to determine the underlying cause of the condition, tests for the following conditions are necessary.
Diagnosing Pyoderma in Dogs
The diagnosis of Pyoderma in dogs involves a procedure known as skin cytology. In this process, the veterinarian obtains a sample of the inflamed and crusted skin, which is then examined under a microscope. Additionally, in certain instances, a biopsy and/or culture of the skin might be advised for further evaluation.
Diagnosing Demodicosis in Dogs
Diagnosing Demodicosis in dogs typically involves a skin scraping procedure, although locating Demodex mites can be challenging due to their residence deep within the hair follicles.
Your veterinarian can perform a skin scraping test in their office. The process entails massaging a small section of your dog’s skin to extract any Demodex mites from the hair follicles. Subsequently, a scalpel blade is delicately used to scrape a sample from the surface layer of the skin. This sample is then scrutinized under a microscope for examination. While a skin scraping may induce some rawness and minor bleeding, it is generally well-tolerated and non-invasive.
Diagnosing Demodicosis in Dogs
Diagnosing Demodicosis in dogs typically involves a skin scraping procedure, although detecting Demodex mites can be challenging as they inhabit deep within the hair follicles.
Your veterinarian can perform the skin scraping test in their office. The process entails gently massaging a small area of your dog’s skin to coax any Demodex mites out of the hair follicles. Using a scalpel blade, a sample is carefully scraped from the surface layer of the skin. Subsequently, this sample is examined under a microscope. Although a skin scraping may induce some rawness and slight bleeding, it is generally well-tolerated and non-invasive.
Diagnosing Dermatophytosis in Dogs
Diagnosing dermatophytosis in dogs can pose challenges as it often entails a fungal culture, a process that can take weeks to yield results. Alternatively, diagnosis may involve examining a sample of affected skin or hair under a microscope.
The fungal organism may sometimes be visible on skin and hair samples, yet a fungal culture or other specialized tests like a fungal PCR test, which confirms the presence of ringworm DNA, may be necessary to exclude dermatophytosis.
In certain instances, a Wood’s lamp, a specialized lamp used to inspect skin and eye lesions, may cause affected hairs to fluoresce, appearing bright yellow in the dark. While a positive Wood’s lamp test confirms a ringworm diagnosis, a negative result does not necessarily rule out ringworm, as only a fraction of ringworm infections will exhibit fluorescence.
Treatment
The treatment for nasal dermatoses varies depending on the root cause. For mild cases of pyoderma, a simple topical antifungal or antibiotic may be prescribed, whereas autoimmune diseases often necessitate long-term oral medication.
To address demodicosis, flea and tick preventatives belonging to the isooxazoline class (such as Bravecto, Credelio, Nexgard, and Simparica Trio) are effective in killing the mites responsible, although this usage would be considered off-label. After your veterinarian identifies the underlying cause of the dermatosis, they can provide more detailed treatment guidance.
Living and Management
The recovery and management of nasal dermatoses in dogs are contingent upon identifying the underlying cause of the skin issue. Pyoderma and dermatophytosis (ringworm) typically respond well to appropriate treatment, often resulting in full recovery.
Skin mites can be effectively treated and prevented using specific types of flea and tick preventatives. However, dogs with skin mites may also harbor concurrent skin infections that necessitate treatment.
Managing autoimmune diseases may present more complexities. Depending on the specific type, it may entail a combination of medications and long-term treatment strategies.
Nasal Dermatoses in Dogs (Dog Nose Skin Issues) FAQs
Why does my dog develop scabs on their nose?
Scabs on a dog’s nose indicate skin inflammation and irritation, possibly stemming from various diseases such as bacterial pyoderma (skin infection), demodicosis (mange caused by the Demodex mite), dermatophytosis (ringworm), trauma, or autoimmune disease.
Why does my dog have bumps on their snout?
Bumps on the muzzle, akin to scabs on the nose, often signal skin inflammation and irritation. While large bumps could indicate growths or hives, small bumps frequently denote skin infection and inflammation.
How should I treat my dog’s sore nose?
If your dog’s nose appears raw, inflamed, or irritated, it’s crucial to have it examined by a veterinarian to ascertain the cause. Once identified, the optimal treatment can be discussed. In the interim, maintaining your dog’s nose clean and dry until veterinary evaluation is advisable.
Can I apply Vaseline to my dog’s nose?
Although a small amount of Vaseline occasionally is unlikely to pose problems, larger quantities of petroleum jelly (the primary ingredient in Vaseline) can lead to stomach upset, vomiting, and diarrhea. Moreover, it may have minimal efficacy as dogs tend to lick it off. Some products are designed specifically as paw and nose balms; however, consulting your veterinarian beforehand is prudent to determine if your dog’s snout necessitates additional treatment.