Dogs and Wet Noses

Name: Eric
Status: student
Grade: 9-12
Location: IL

Question: Why are Dog's noses wet? Are all dogs noses always
wet? Is there a health concern in any case?
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Eric,
 
Dog's noses are wet because there is a specific duct which 
drains fluid from the eyes ( tears) directly towards the nose.  
You may know that a dog's sense of smell is far stronger than 
that of a human, and their sense of smell serves them in both 
locating food and deciding if a food is spoiled or not 
(sometimes hunger overwhelms the safety issue, so it is not a 
sure protection).  A dog's wet nose is the norm and not 
something to be concerned about.
 
Occasionally, the duct draining the fluid from the eyes towards 
the nose becomes clogged; you may have seen especially white 
dogs, e.g. poodles, which can develop a reddened area around 
the eyes from inflammation related to this clogging.  Generally, 
the situation will correct itself, even though it is quite 
unsightly.
 
Thanks for using NEWTON!
 
Ric Rupnik
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