My dog's nose appears dry and is cracking. There is not any other indication of illness, nor does it appear anywhere else on his body. What could this be?

My dog had the same problem many years ago. We went through a lot of tests for various things. Finally, I was referred to a vet dermatologist who quickly diagnosed discoid lupus. I learned there are two types of lupus - discoid (affecting only the skin and usually on the face) and systemic (body-wide). Thankfully with discoid lupus you can treat it with a topical steroid. For systemic lupus, the treatment appears to be steroid pills or injections (or at least it was at the time). The problem with the topical ointment on the nose is that it can be licked off easily, but to work, it needs to stay on for as long as possible. I would gently hold her muzzle closed, apply the ointment, and quickly give her the biggest cookie or chew toy I had. The ointment would come off to some extent, but by the time she finished the treat, she usually forgot about it and left it alone. The main tactic for discoid lupus (without apply the ointment) was to keep her out of the sun as much as possible. The sun sets it off. Good luck!

This has happened to my dog, and I tried olive oil on my own. I use to put lotion on it and it made it worse. I didn't ask any advice on it, I just thought olive oil is natural, a thick consistency and it won't hurt her. A natural lubricant. Logical deduction. The cracking is all the time, any season. I was told it had something to do with a poor immune system. I also noticed at one point she had a cyst on her tail, and lo-and-behold, THAT had something to do with the peanuts she used to help herself to on the table in the family room. NUTS ARE BAD FOR DOGS. Peanut butter is like giving them chocolate. DON'T DO IT. She still has the cracking of her nose, even with the olive oil, so maybe I'll try dog vitamins. Anyone know that dogs are suppose to have some levels of vitamin C in their diet? I didn't know that.

Another response that it sounds like lupus. I had a cocker spaniel several years ago with it diagnosed on her nose.

petroleum jelly is PETROLEUM. Not good.. Also Baby Oil can be Very harmful! Would you let your human Baby consume PETROLEUM or Baby Oil ? Baby oil, along with other common household oils for massage, hair, and bath, essential oils, eucalyptus and camphor oils, are responsible for at least 3000 reported ingestion accidents to young children every year in Australia. Toxicologist Dr Naren Gunja from NSW Poisons Information Centre at Westmead Hospital says most parents don't realise the danger. "Once the child has ingested it depending on how much they ingest then it could be too late. Over a period of time, the child can die," says :From web link http://au.todaytonight.yahoo.com/article/5035273/consumer/dangers-baby-oil Best would be Olive Oil

I took my dog to the vet today for the same reason. The vet said My dog has a disease and 80% chance he might die or I could try some antibiotics. Hopefully the meds will work for him because I really love him!

petroleum jelly/ Is petroleum!!!!, Not Good!!. Also Baby Oil is Not Good it is VERY Bady for Animals.. would you put this on your human baby ??? It smells nice and it's soothing for baby. But who would think such an old-time product, a nursery staple, could injure and kill? Baby oil, along with other common household oils for massage, hair, and bath, essential oils, eucalyptus and camphor oils, are responsible for at least 3000 reported ingestion accidents to young children every year in Australia. Toxicologist Dr Naren Gunja from NSW Poisons Information Centre at Westmead Hospital says most parents don't realise the danger. "Once the child has ingested it depending on how much they ingest then it could be too late. Over a period of time, the child can die," says Dr Gunja. "It is a gradual process that can take several days, two weeks to die." LINK:http://au.todaytonight.yahoo.com/article/5035273/consumer/dangers-baby-oil Olive Oil works best.

My cocker's nose was cracked all the way across the top. I thought her nose might fall off! I applied Vaseline petroleum jelly/ointment on the area for a couple of days. It worked! Her nose is normal now and healthy looking. Good luck.