Crusty Nose (Paws and Elbows too)

Meet Sabo, a cool Boxer that I have taken care of for several years now. Boxers are one of those breeds that are prone to the crusty nose. So just what causes the crusty nose?

Causes of the crusty nose can range from "Boxer Acne", hyperkeratosis, histiocytomas, or more serious problems like infection or mast cell tumors. Hyperkeratosis is one condition I am most familiar with, as my Great Pyrenees actually had this condition on her paw and the growth had to be removed surgically.

Sabo's owner and I just recently talked about his nose. He mentioned that he tried a lotion, but Sabo kept licking it off. This led me to research treatments, not only for Sabo, but for my dogs as well to help if they have anymore issues with their paws or even their noses as well.

Hyperkeratosis: A common skin condition where excess keratin causes thick, crusty, dry or even "hairy" growths (ew) on a dog's paw pads, nose or elbows. Keratin is a protein that even our human bodies produce as part of the make-up of our hair, nails, and outer skin layer. Our own bodies, as well as our dog's bodies produce it naturally. You may have also seen it used in cosmetic products. If there is an overproduction of keratin, it can cause this ugly build-up. For us humans, too much keratin is what's behind a corn or callus. So, what causes this overproduction? In dogs, it can stem from genetics, like the Boxer. It can also be a symptom of aging, infection, autoimmune disease, nutritional deficiency, environmental irritation (like a dog's water bowl), or other idiopathic factors. For Sabo, it's probably genetic, for my Great Pyrenees, it was probably age related. At any rate, it's a common issue and thankfully, there are treatments available and it is most often not a life threatening condition.

Treatments: Balms and lotions are a common treatment for hyperkeratosis, and most over-the-counter treatments are effective, but there are treatments a veterinarian can prescribe as well. Here are a 5 balms I found on both Amazon and Chewy's.

Burt's Bees: Burt's Bees is a pretty common household name. Their known for many products like lotions, hair care products and beauty aids, as well as grooming products for dogs. It was no surprise to me to find that they carry a product a balm for dogs. Burt's Bee's nose and paw balm with naturally derived Beeswax and Cocoa Butter and other ingredients to help soothe a dog's rough paws and nose.

Snout Soother by Natural Dog Company: Natural Dog Company offers a number of wellness solutions for dogs such as allergy & itch defense, omega oils, balms and other skin & coat essentials. The snout soother ingredients include Hempseed oil, Kukui Oil, Coconut oil, Shea butter, Candelilla wax, Jojoba oil, Vitamin E, Chamomile Extract and Rosemary Extract. Available in a stick or tin.

Pawsono Paw & Nose Balm: Pawsono uses 8 natural, food-grade ingredients in their balm, including Beeswax, Coconut oil, Shea butter, Olive oil, Aloe vera extract, Sunflower seed oil, Candelilla wax, and Vitamin E. Available in a stick or tin.

Blissful Dog Nose Butter: This butter is a combination of pure ingredients such as Shea butter, Almond oil, Olive oil, Essential oils, etc. Blissful dog is kind of fun because although the product is the same, there are different breed labels you can choose from to make it more personal. It is available in different size tubes or sticks as well as tins.

Pet MD 3-in-1 Pet Balm: As with the other balms, Pet MD's product is made of similar ingredients of Shea butter, Olive oil, Almond oil, Coconut oil, Beeswax, and Cocoa seed butter. The 3-in-1 is for the three areas the balm will help, the nose, elbow and paws, however, all of the products I've listed are good for those 3 areas.

All 5 treatments taunt the use of natural ingredients, and there are many other products out there. The 5 listed were just the ones that stood out to me. However, I can't really find that one stands out above the others, so your choice may be finalized by a simple preference of ingredients, and reviews of others. I personally like Vitamin E and Coconut Oil as top ingredients, but Shea Butter and Aloe Vera are beneficial ingredients. as well. God has given us so many tools to care for ourselves. And just like anything God gives us, the most important thing is to USE IT. It's almost important to note, lotions and balms for humans may not be safe for dogs. These products are formulated for dogs.

A crusty nose is more visible and noticeable, but a dog's paw pads and elbows are prone to hyperkeratosis. These areas are not as visible, so it's a good idea to check the paw pads regularly. If your dog is groomed regularly, the groomer should notice any abnormalities. In the case of my Pyrenees, Jazzy, the growth was kind of buried in between her paw pads and her hair. I didn't notice the issue until I spotted bloody spots on the floor where she had walked. I felt so bad that it had gotten to the point where the growth had to be removed surgically. It was NASTY. It literally looked like an alien growth on her paw pad. So, I am more careful now to do a quick check on a regular basis.

Finally, I am not a veterinarian, nor do I have any medical schooling. My suggestions are just from personal experience and what I have researched in looking for treatments to suggest to my own clients. While these treatments do not require a veterinarian exam, it's still a good idea to have a conversation with your dog's care provider to make sure the issue is not stemming from something more serious.

Until next time...hug your critters for me.

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