Dry and cracked nose

Question
Our 2 year old German sheperd has developed a dry and cracked nose.  The cracks are in a crazed pattern and some of them appear to be quite deep and raw.  his nose is moist around the nostrils. He does not appear to be in any pain although he licks it a lot. This happened about 6 months ago.  The vet says that this can be peculiar to German sheperds and they do not know the cause or the cure.  I have a bit of trouble accepting this diagnosis and believe that there must be a cause.  Is it possible that it is diet related? I was told to put on vaseline or some other barrier cream, but of course he licks it off.  He is in every other way healthy, energetic, alert and an absolute joy. I would really appreciate your thoughts and suggestions


Answer
HI LYN
YOUR VET SHOULD OF DONE SKIN BIOPSYS, BLOOD WORK, ETC.  ANY VET WOULD NOT JUST GUESS AT SOMETHING LIKE THIS.  IT DOES NOT RUN IN SHEPHERDS.  THE MANY MANY YEARS I HAVE HAD SHEPHERDS, I HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM.  THE ONLY PROBLEM IS HD, PANO, WORMS IF LEFT GO TOO LONG, ETC.

NOW, I HAVE FOUND A COUPLE SITES THAT U MIGHT WANT TO READ AND SEE IF IT LOOKS LIKE THE PICS, IF SO THEN I WOULD LEAN MORE TO GENETIC REASONS.  AT TWO YEARS OLD, I WOULD GO BACK ON THE BREEDER ABOUT THIS.

http://vetmedicine.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=vetmedicine&zu=h...

LYN, U MIGHT WANT TO READ MY HOMEPAGE OR FRONT PAGE FOR SPRINGTIME, IN THEIR SEARCH TYPE IN DOGS.  LOOK FOR FRESH FACTORS.  READ WHAT THE ALL NATURAL TAB DOES FOR A DOG.  IT KEPT MY OLD BULLDOG ALIVE TILL LAST WEEK OF NEARLY 12 YEARS OLD, LIFE SPAN FOR HER WAS 8 YEARS OLD.  THIS PRODUCT JUST MIGHT CLEAR IT UP FOR YOUR PET.?  OTHERWISE, VASOLINE IS GOOD, ALOEVERA CREAM, MAKE SURE YOUR ON A TOP BRAND OF DRY KIBBLE, WET IT WITH SOME HOT WATER AND STIR TO LET THE ACIDS ESCAPE SOME.  IF HE WOULD STOP LICKING IT MIGHT HEAL IF WE CAN FIND A WAY TO KEEP HIM BUSY.  IT ALSO MUST HURT OR HE WOULD NOT LICK UNLESS IT HAS BECOME AN OBSESSION KINDA?  THEY DO DEVELOPE BAD HABITS ALSO.   GOOD BRANDS OF TOP FOODS ARE :  FLINT RIVER RANCH, SOLID GOLD, CANDIDAE, INNOVA, ETC.  WHAT YOUR WALLET ALLOWS BUY THE BEST YOU CAN.  TRY AND STAY AWAY FROM THE VETS MEDS THEY PRESCRIBE FOR THEY CAUSE MORE PROBLEMS THAN FIXES.  ALSO IT IS EXPENSIVE.  GIVE THE DOG SOME COTTAGE CHEESE IF IT IS ON ANY ANTIBIOTICS.  U MUST KEEP THE GOOD BACTERIA UP AS THOSE MEDS TAKE THEM DOWN.

LET ME KNOW HOW HE COMES ALONG.  CLICK ON MY EMAIL ON CONTACT PAGE OR FRONT PAGE AND LET ME KNOW.

WARM REGARDS
PATT
WWW.SCHREKNHAUS.COM
ALSO, CHEMICALS WE CLEAN WITH CAN CAUSE DOGS REACTIONS TO, YOUR CARPET CAN IRRITATE THE DOG, IF IT LAYS ON THE BED, WHAT YOU USE FOR SOAP CAN IRRITATE THE DOG.  JUST KEEP SOME CREAM ON IT FOR HEALING WITH ALOE IN IT AND SEE HOW THINGS GO, IF ON A CHEAP FOOD, TRY FOR THE BETTER AND WET IT.