There is no doubt that a French Bulldog is a magnificent creature. Owning one, however, can be challenging because they tend to experience various health issues. This breed is susceptible to illness and requires a fair amount of care and attention to keep them healthy. One issue is that of having a delicate and sensitive nose, which is prone to being a source of irritation and can end up with them having a dry and cracked nose.
When a Bulldogs’ nose is functioning properly and healthily it is one of the main ways that they interacts with the world. Your dog’s nose is invaluable because he uses it to smell, but also because it contains tear and sweat glands. These contribute to helping your dog to regulate it’s temperature as well as getting rid of excess tears.
A French Bulldogs’ nose can frequently suffer from dryness, have a discharge, bleed, and crack excessively. Therefore being able to understand the challenges your dog may face can enable you to find the right solution for you and your pet. This is important especially as the French Bulldog tends to experience these nose issues for most of its life. Knowing what you can do and what can help, will enable you to alleviate stress. Ideally, a healthy Frenchie’s nose should have a particular feel to it. It should feel chilled, spongy and damp to the touch.
French Bulldog Nose Health
French Bulldog Dry Nose
A French Bulldog could have a dry nose for several reasons related to its environment, like the heating within the family home, the climate conditions not being the best, or they just have a bad reaction to something that doesn’t agree with them. If they are regularly parched this can also be a problem.
If your Frenchie’s nose is significantly more dry than it usually is, it’s worth getting it checked out. Also, look at your usual routine and try and work out what it could be that is causing this change. Is there anything that has changed in the home? Have you recently changed your home’s heating system?
A dry nose doesn’t automatically signal something terrible unless other conditions present simultaneously. For instance, if it’s being sick, has the runs, gone off its food and is running a temperature. If this is the case, then a trip to the vets is needed, to be able to rule out anything more serious.
French Bulldog Cracked And Crusty Nose (Hyperkeratosis)
This is a hereditary medical condition where the skin on your Frenchie’s nose becomes hard and thickened, because of a concentrated accumulation of a substance called Keratin. This happens when a bulldogs’ nose has become so dry that it is now in a crusty state as the tissues have formed excessive layers. This can be uncomfortable and irritable for your Frenchie, especially if the skin begins to peel off and bleed. If not treated it can lead to an infection. You may find that your pet starts to sneeze repeatedly and this may also include a nasal discharge.
French Bulldog Breathing Issues
Breathing issues can develop especially when the inside tissue of your pets’ nose become sore, crust and start to bleed.
French Bulldog Stenotic Snare
Unfortunately, French Bulldogs can develop hereditary issues such as a flat face and small nose, which means they can struggle to breathe. When your dog is young, the problem doesn’t seem to be so bad but can become significantly much worse as the dog gets older. This arises when the cartilage in your Frenchies’ nose has become deformed and irregular, and this condition is called Stenotic snares.
It can be very serious because it reduces the amount of air the Frenchie is able to breathe in, and therefore requires medical attention and quite often surgery to put it right. A vet would be able to confirm whether your pet is suffering from this condition just by physically examining your dog. Of all the different Bulldog breeds, the French Bulldogs suffer from this condition the most. If therefore you find that your dog is experiencing problems related to this, you will often see your dog cough, grunt, retch, throw up, and pant. Bearing this in mind, it is probably a good idea to always stay close to your Frenchie when it is feeding or drinking time.
French Bulldog Brachycephalic Syndrome
This is an ailment that causes your Bulldog to breathe heavily and loudly. The loud noises happen as a result of having to work so hard for each breath. Breathing becomes a major challenge because it cannot easily get enough oxygen, and therefore tries to suck in as much air as possible each time it inhales and exhales.
French Bulldog Laryngeal Collapse
This can happen when a dog develops a severe and often chronic obstruction of its upper airway obstruction. Once again this tends to occur in older dogs. It happens as the Cartilage gets weary and weakened so it stops doing its job properly. Subsequently, the Bulldogs’ Larynx collapses, so air is prevented from moving around freely as it should.
Sadly sometimes the reality is that the best course of action is surgery if your Frenchie is struggling that much to breathe. It is agonising to see your pet this way. However, your vet is the best person to diagnose, explain clearly and layout simply all the options, so that you can make an informed decision about what to do next.
Allergies
Another reason why your Frenchie might be suffering from a dry nose could be as a result of being allergic to something. With your vets help try to work out what it is in particular that your pet could have had a bad reaction to. Sometimes they are allergic to plastic, and even dye so it could be your pets’ feeding or drinking bowl, a specific weather season, or something they’ve eaten.
You could try swapping your dogs’ feeding and drinking bowls with ones made of other materials to see if this deals with the problem. You could try one made of stainless steel, or ceramic instead.
Signs You May See Relating To Allergies Include:
- Soreness
- Redness
- Breakouts and inflammation
- Presence of mucus discharge from the nose
- Swelling
- Infection
- Persistent sneezing
- Itchy skin
It is imperative to take every concern that you have to your vet especially if your pet is showing any signs of any of the above. The sooner the better, so that treatment can take effect as soon as possible. They will make helpful suggestions regarding what you can change and do to ease your Frenchie’s suffering. They will also mention if medication is necessary and if so, which ones specifically will help.
Read on to find out other reasons why your Frenchie may have a dry nose:
French Bulldog Dry Nose Due To Sleep
French Bulldogs keep their noses moist by licking them regularly. They obviously cannot do this when they fall asleep, so the area appears to be dried out when they first wake up.
Home Heating Source
If your Frenchie’s favourite thing to do is to curl up beside the radiator, fire, or heater, this is probably contributing to the dryness of its nose. If this is what is happening in your home, try to discourage it from doing so perhaps by blocking access as much and as best as possible. Once you are aware of your pets’ habits you can arrange things accordingly, and hopefully, the problem will disappear in no time at all.
Parched Frenchie
It is so important to make sure that you don’t allow your beloved pet to get dehydrated. Encourage them to drink plenty of water as part of a healthy routine. If the weather is especially hot, please make sure that you adjust their fluid intake accordingly.
If your Frenchie is not keen on drinking much at any particular time, that is definitely a cause for concern because it could get dehydrated. Here are some signs to look out for:
- Do they seem lethargic
- Are they struggling to breathe more than usual?
- Does their Spittle seem particularly thick?
- Do their eyes seem hollow?
- Are their gums an unhealthy white instead of pink when pressure is applied?
After a lot of exercises, your pet could easily get dehydrated. French Bulldogs do struggle with this and can get worn out very quickly and easily, so it’s worth bearing this in mind when you take your dog out for any physical activity. It is also a good idea to exercise them little and often instead of for long bouts. If at all possible take water with you for your furry friend to drink, to keep them watered on very hot days.
Wintry Weather
Harsh wintry weather is a struggle for anyone to have to deal with, so it certainly is the case also for your Frenchie. Just as the cold weather affects human skin, similarly it also affects Frenchies by causing their noses to become even drier than usual. Therefore if preventative measures are not taken, their noses, unfortunately, can become so affected that they crack. If this does happen, it is imperative to get your Frenchie treated straight away to prevent the problem from getting worse. When you do go out, try to limit the amount of time you and your precious furry friend spend out in the cold.
In the winter it is worth investing in a good moisturizer to use to help your Frenchie, and let this be part of your daily routine. Apply frequently as this will prevent dryness in the long run. Coconut oil is a really good one to use even on a super-sensitive Frenchi nose.
Sunburn
When out and about in the sun with your pet, it is vital to protect them from harsh prolonged exposure to the sun. So concerning their noses, as much as you regularly use a moisturizer as part of your pet’s daily routine, when going out it is well worth applying appropriate sun protection lotion. This is especially important if you have a fair-skinned dog. This will give your pet the best chance of maintaining a healthy nose and being a happy dog.
Effects Of Ageing
Unfortunately, as your dog starts getting on in years you will find that the dry nose problem may start to appear to get worse. It’s a good idea to keep up with a regular moisturizing routine to counter the dryness.
Discoid Lupus Erythematosus
This is a disease that affects the dog’s immune system which begins to malfunction and attack the cells and tissues of the body. When it strikes the nose, the pigmentation is affected, so inevitably a nose that was once black now turns to grey. As a result of this condition, the skin begins to crack, flake, form crusts and ulcers. It also becomes susceptible to Bacterial infections. Taking your pet to the vets is a good idea as he will most likely prescribe Steroids to deal with any inflammation and Antibiotics to clear up all infection.
Canine Pemphigus
This is one of the most common autoimmune diseases that also attacks body tissue. This can be quite severe and typically causes widespread scabs, ulcers, cracks, crusts and even cysts and lesions full of pus. It can undoubtedly be very uncomfortable and painful for your dog.
Unfortunately, it can take months to get a handle on these diseases. Once again an urgent trip to the vets is important to halt any escalation of disease and to start treatment as soon as possible. As you do all you can to make your Frenchie as comfortable as possible, with tender loving care and appropriate remedies, your pet will be back on the road to recovery.
Recommendations For French Bulldogs Dry Nose
As there are so many different possible causes for a French Bulldog suffering from a dry nose, its best to initially pinpoint what exactly is responsible for your pets’ specific problem. Many of the issues can be helped and sorted with a regular routine of using an appropriate good moisturiser. Anything more challenging and concerning will require a trip to your vet for his invaluable input.
French Bulldog Nose Moisturisers:
Thankfully there are various moisturisers you can use on your Frenchie’s nose that you probably already have at home which may include any of the following:
- Olive oil
- Shea butter
- Coconut
- Almond oil
- Castor oil
You want to use safe and natural ingredients to help soothe your pet’s nose and if they are organic that’s an extra bonus.
You can also purchase moisturisers, balm or an oil-based cream specifically made for your dog if you prefer. There are various ones available to buy. They can be very helpful in dealing with itchy skin, irritation, and general all-round protection.
Read on for a further look into each of the above moisturisers and how they can act as remedies to help your pet cope and feel more comfortable.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is an excellent moisturiser to use on your Frenchie’s nose. It is gentle on the skin and soaks in really well. It goes a long way so only a little is needed at a time. It’s so safe to use that you can even add some to your dog’s food. This will help promote healthy skin from the inside out.
Shea Butter
This can be used in tiny amounts on your Frenchie’s nose to help soothe especially crusty noses, as it is safe to use on your pet.
Coconut Oil
This is one of the most natural and beneficial moisturizers you could use on your Frenchie’s nose. It contains lots of vitamins and it is especially good for skin suppleness and softness. The best kind to use are the brands that are unrefined, and chemical-free.
Almond Oil
This is another oil that soaks in easily and works well on the skin of your dog’s nose. It’s full of good fats and it’s great for irritated noses.
Castor Oil
Castor oil is calming and comforting for treating many skin challenges that your French Bulldog may experience, as it has good healing properties. This includes when dealing with serious skin deformities and conditions like tumours and growths, it has been proven to be quite effective.
Nose Butters
These are particularly useful for moisturising the nose keeping it clean and damp. They can be purchased at various places and some of them have been used by many pet owners. Some of them are even recommended by vets, however when it comes to your precious bundle of joy, it is always best to do your own research. That way every decision you make will be an informed one. It is also worth remembering that some products are suitable for some dogs but don’t agree with others. It is worth bearing this in mind therefore when making any decision regarding which products to buy and use.
French Bulldog Nose Products
Snout Magic 100% organic Dry Nose Butter
This is a natural product containing coconut and is sold by Amazon.
French Bulldog Nose Balms
They work more on the inside and deal with any bacteria, burning, soreness or swelling.
Natures Butter Snout Balm
The substances used to make Nature’s Butter Snout Balm Include, Avocado Oil, Castor Oil, Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Beeswax, Almond Oil, Cocoa Seed Butter, and Shea Butter. Since these are all-natural ingredients, they are non-hazardous to your pet, so if they accidentally lick some off, it will not harm them in any way. It is comforting and gentle with a calming effect.
Certified Organic Nose Balm
This balm has the natural ingredients of beeswax, Olive oil, Shea butter, and jojoba oil. Whatever is bothering your Frenchies nose this Balm will bring relief, especially if it is damaged, irritable, delicate, and bleeding.
Snout Soother
This product is sold by the Natural Dog Company. This soother is wholesome, restorative, conditioning and great for many dry nose skin conditions that your Frenchie may experience.
Each of these different oils, balms, and creams are all unique and effective in their own way. They also soak into the skin at different rates. It all depends on what the exact issue is, which one you use on your pet at any given time. Some provide almost instant comfort while others provide a more long-lasting relief over time.
Moisturisers that should be avoided
There are some moisturisers that shouldn’t be used on your Frenchies’ nose. Although we use them ourselves we should never use them on our pets because they can be harmful. A lot of it boils down to the ingredients in these moisturisers. If your pet licks or ingests any of them it can upset their stomachs severely.
Such moisturizers may include: Vaseline Petroleum jelly, Baby oil or anything containing these ingredients. They are dangerous for your pet because they potentially have toxins in them, and they could make your Frenchie sick. It is far better to use products that are harmless and 100% natural.
5 Easy Steps To Keep Your French Bulldogs’ Nose Clean
It is imperative to have a good cleaning and moisturizing routine to ensure that your Frenchies nose remains healthy.
1 – Organise Everything That You Need To Start
- Start the way you intend to go on. Try and get into the habit of cleaning and moisturising your Frenchies’ nose on a regular basis. As the saying goes, ‘prevention is better than cure’. The more you take care of your pet’s nose, the less likely it will become dry. You can purchase pet cleansing grooming wipes specifically to use when doing this job.
2 – Lightly And Clean Softly
- We have already established how delicate your French Bulldogs’ nose can be. Bearing that in mind, it’s worth remembering to clean as softly as you can without using any pressure at all. If there happen to be any crusts on the skin, try not to detach them. Done prematurely could cause them to bleed and cause your dog to be uncomfortable. Crust tend to drop off when they are ready to. If they are forcibly removed they will make the skin sore and the area could become infected.
- As your Frenchies’ nose is squashed, it’s important to keep a close eye on the folds of skin. This will prevent a build-up of bacteria and infection.
3 – Deal With Any Mucus
Any mucus needs to be cleaned using warm water and a soft cloth. A very light and gentle rub should be enough to take care of it and remove it from your pets’ nose. Then you can complete the cleaning with a wet wipe. If there is a huge amount of mucus then its best to take your pet to the vet to get checked and rule out any illness.
4 – Apply The Softener
Once the cleaning has been completed, then it is time to apply the moisturiser to soften the nose and maintain its softness.
5 – Prize Time
Once the cleaning and moisturising process is complete, it’s time to treat your furry friend to a reward. It could be something nice to eat, or it could be your dog’s absolute favourite thing in the world; fun time with you! Play a game with him and then end with a big hug. That way your beloved furry friend will associate the cleaning and moisturizing routine with love and fun with you. It will therefore be something they look forward to, rather than shy away from.
Final Thoughts
Understanding what can cause your French Bulldogs’ nose to get dry means its far easier to find the right solution and treatment for your pet. Stay alert, always observing and checking for any changes in the condition of your dogs’ nose. Are there any scabs or discolouration? Peeling? Is it significantly more dry than usual? Is your Frenchie labouring to breathe? Discuss any concerns with your vet and let him check your pet regularly, so treatment can start early.
Taking care of them means better breathing and less discomfort from a dry and crusty nose. Instead they will be able to enjoy a flawless, cheerful, and dampish noise. You will become confident in maintaining the health and happiness of your dog, by taking this extra necessary care from the beginning. Worked into a regular routine, you and your pet will bond and enjoy this part of your day.
Undoubtedly having a French bulldog means you will need to work harder than if you owned another type of dog, as varying health challenges require a lot of loving care and attention. However properly maintaining their health and vitality, with regular cleaning and moisturising, should minimise any dry nose concerns. French Bulldogs are charming and bring so much joy that they are worth all the sacrifice.
