Anyone who has raised dogs knows that under normal circumstances, a Central Asian Shepherd's nose is usually moist. That is why many people first look at the nose when trying to judge whether the dog might be sick. But why is that?
The Nose of a Central Asian Shepherd Contains Many Folds, Greatly Increasing Surface Area and Smell Receptors
It is said that if the folds inside a dog's nose were unfolded, the surface area would be around four times greater than that of a human nose. Humans have about 25 million smell cells, while dogs may have between 125 million and 220 million, and their sensitivity can be up to a million times stronger than ours. No wonder people now rely on the sense of smell of dogs like the Central Asian Shepherd in many fields where humans cannot do the same job.
Why Is the Nose of a Central Asian Shepherd Usually Wet?
The same folds that increase surface area also help support more scent cells. This is why the dog's nose has to stay moist: moisture helps it collect and process scent particles efficiently. The dog often keeps the nose wet by licking it.
Dry Nose Means Sickness? The Main Reason a Dog's Nose Dries Out When It Is Ill Is That It Stops Licking It
In simple terms, just as a sick person may stop caring whether they have washed their face, a sick Central Asian Shepherd may not have the energy or desire to keep licking its nose. Long periods without licking are one reason the nose becomes dry during illness. Fever is another. When body temperature rises and the dog is also not licking its nose, the nose dries more easily.
Other Situations in the Central Asian Shepherd
1. A dry nose right after waking up is not related to illness. During sleep the dog does not lick its nose, so it is normal for the nose to feel somewhat dry upon waking.
2. A moist nose is not the same thing as clear nasal discharge. Dryness is only one external clue when judging whether the dog is sick.
Sometimes, if the Central Asian Shepherd has clear nasal discharge, you should consider whether it may have caught a chill or a cold. In that case, some owners use dog-specific traditional cold medicine and may add vitamin C support. Usually this is not a major problem, but body temperature should be monitored closely throughout the process.