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My dog has dry, cracked nostrils. What can I use to moisturize them?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | German Shepherd | Female | unspayed | 2 years and 2 months old | 54 lbs

So my dog had w at looks to be cracks in her nostrils. She does not act like they hurt and her nose is dry. Is there something I can do to get then to go awaym

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on November 13th, 2017

I see a small superficial abrasion on the right side of her nostril. This can be caused by the dry nose situation that you described earlier or from a traumatic event. You can try applying either Vasoline or Bag balm on her nostrils to keep them moisturized. However, typically most dogs don’t require this unless they are older senior dogs or have a skin condition (ie Lupus). Best wishes and take care.

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    Answered By Daniel Fonza, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on October 9th, 2017

    Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. In the picture you have provided, I can see the cracked and dry spot you are speaking of. This can be caused by a number of factors. The environment can play a role, so moisturizing the nose can be quite helpful. Other causes can be infection, skin disease or immune-mediated disease. I would recommend moisturizing the nose to start with. The product that I recommend is Biobalm by dermoscent. This product can easily be found online. If after one to two months of using this product there is no change or if the nose worsens during this time I would have a veterinarian examine this and perform additional testing to determine what the cause could be. In very severe cases, I recommend taking a tissue sample of the nose and sending it out for further testing. A Veterinary dermatologist can also be helpful in diagnosing abnormal skin conditions. I hope this helps! Please feel free to contact me if you have any other questions or concerns. I am also available via consultation if needed.

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