Is a dry nose bad for dogs?

Does a dry nose mean my dog is not feeling well? Should I worry? Our gundog vet offers advice on the subject

Q: My springer spaniel has a dry nose. What does it mean?

VICKY PAYNE replies: The short answer is, not a lot! Some dogs have naturally drier noses than others. Recent research suggest dogs can detect heat with their noses as well as scent and a dry nose may not be so good. If your dog’s nose changes, this could be a sign of illness and should be checked by a vet.