Snout Soother for the win: This vegan canine nose balm works wonders

Remember last winter when you had that cold and your nose was all red and chapped? And then you slathered Vaseline on it until your friend procured a magic balm that saved the day?

Well, your dog can also suffer from a dry, crusty, or chapped nose due to things like allergies, dehydration, fleas, sunburn or exposure to dry, wintery air. And, there’s a magic balm that can save the day for dogs, too.

Enter Snout Soother from Natural Dog Company, an all-natural balm with healing oils and ingredients that soothe and moisturize your dog’s nose and dry skin. We discovered the brand when reviewing dog balms (check out our top picks for dog paw balms) and it soon became one of our favorites thanks to its vegan, organic ingredients and natural SPF benefits.

And it’s not just our favorite. Below, we spoke with a pet owner below who swears by Snout Soother, saying it’s made her two dogs “more comfortable and much happier.”

We chatted with Kim Coumont, dog mom to Ziggy and Zelda (4 and 5 years old, respectively), two of Canada’s most adorable French bulldogs. If you don’t believe us, their cuteness is documented on social media — check them out on Instagram. They probably have more followers than you do! “Ziggy is the sweet, gentle giant, and Zelda is the spicy one who loves to keep you on your toes,” Kim told us.

Not only are French bulldogs already prone to nose dryness as a breed (they often frequently lick their snout), but Ziggy and Zelda live in a very dry region which aggravates their nasal dryness even more.

 

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A post shared by The Life Of Ziggy And Zelda 🐾 (@ziggyandzelda) on Oct 31, 2019 at 7:51am PDT

Snout Soother came to the rescue after Kim had already tried organic coconut oil on Ziggy and Zelda sans results. “It definitely offers more overall benefits and has worked better than coconut oil. It keeps the dog’s noses from drying out and they love the taste so it’s not a chore to them when I put it on. I’ve been using the product for at least three years now,” Kim said.

Ziggy and Zelda see the Snout Soother as more of a treat, which makes it easier for both of them and for Kim, who has to apply it. “They always initially lick as they love the taste but it’s such a nice thick balm that it doesn’t come off — unless they are in a goofy mood and start rubbing their noses on the pillows. Then I’ll just add a bit more and that usually works. Both dogs seem much more comfortable and happier since I’ve been using Snout Soother.”

When dogs are happy, their owners are happy, too. One of the reasons Kim loves using Snout Soother (besides the fact that Ziggy and Zelda love it and it works) is that it’s natural and safe for dogs. “I always recommend this product to anyone who has a dog! I love knowing that all the ingredients are non-toxic, organic, and cruelty-free,” she added.

Let’s back things up a bit. It’s important that you understand what’s going on with your dog’s nose before treating it. Dogs with dry noses may just be as common as humans with dry noses, especially during winter, or if you live in a dry region with extreme weather conditions.

Some breeds are especially prone to this or genetically inherit it

Certain Brachycephalic breeds like Pugs or American bulldogs may lick their nose excessively and therefore experience dryness. Other breeds, like Shih-Tzu, Pekingese, Maltese, or Lhasa Apsos may develop crusty noses too. Dehydration or sunburn can also cause dryness. Dogs can even have allergies, just like humans!

👉  Make sure to remove allergens from your dog’s environment if you suspect this is the cause of their dry nose. This could be things like specific treats, or even plastic water or food bowls.

The shape of a food or water bowl could also cause dryness. Vet Dr. Erica M. Irish recommends a flat bowl if a deeper bowl is causing irritation. “Very flat bowls where pups don’t have to put their entire face into the bowl or the pile of food can help prevent this,” she said.

Having fleas or hyperkeratosis can also cause your pup’s nose to dry out

You shouldn’t have to worry about your dog’s nasal dryness as something severe, though. It’s usually an easy fix (we know a balm!) unless your dog has a severely cracked or ulcerated nose.

🚨  Contact your vet if your dog regularly has a chapped nose, the dryness is severe (cracked or ulcerated) or you notice other symptoms in conjunction with a dry nose like diarrhea, yellow/green mucus, or dry gums. It could be a sign of an upper respiratory infection, immune-mediated disease, or other skin disorders that require additional treatment.

Applying a balm to a dog’s nose is the easiest way to solve dryness. But, it may be hard to find just the right one. Sometimes, dogs won’t tolerate the balm or lick it all off before it has a chance to soak in. Snout Soother, though, seems to pass muster. (Natural Dog Company also makes Paw Soother and Skin Soother for the paw and body.)

👉  Don’t put Vaseline or Neosporin on a dog nose. It can cause adverse reactions such as stomach upset when licked or may not allow the nose to fully heal in some cases.

Ingredients
Kukui Nut Oil, Grapeseed Oil, Coconut oil, Chamomile, Organic Hempseed Oil, Shea Nut Butter, Jojoba Oil, Candelilla Wax, Natural Vitamin E, Rosemary Extract

Snout Soother brings a lot more to the table than just your basic coconut oil. There are other balms and moisturizers, but some have been known to cause skin irritations — some can even cause nose discoloration. Some other brands don’t have these key moisturizing ingredients that Snout Soother does:

• Kukui Nut Oil has healing and moisturizing properties. It’s also a natural sunscreen.
• Chamomile is healing and great for sensitive skin.
• Hempseed oil lowers prostaglandins and has anti-inflammatory properties.
• It’s antifungal and antibacterial.
• It’s vegan, organic, and cruelty-free.