Hyperkeratosis nose / cracked nose

[tbroad81]

Hi wonderfully greyt community!

I’ve searched fairly extensively and have not found anything specifically on this issue so I wanted to post here. Has anyone heard of Hyperkeratosis nose, or similar, where the grey’s nose cracks and then bleeds at small areas? I’ve added a photo of our almost 4-yr old girl, Duchess (just shy of 4-weeks off the WV track). A Chewy.com chat Doctor informed me she’d diagnose as Hyperkeratosis of the nose first, and then rule out any skin or other issues. We have a followup for her hook worms (somewhat common coming off the track) next week so our local doc will have a look. Thanks!

Edited September 7, 2020 by tbroad81

[DocsDoctor]

No, but Ken my old greyhound had recurrent problems with swollen and bleeding nail beds in particular, and would also develop a sore patch on his nose. They would go away when treated with antibiotics, and we assumed initially that he was just prone to infections, but when we eventually saw a specialist dermatologist, she diagnosed mucocutaneous lupus, which affects areas of damp tissue - nail beds, nose, lips, etc. It was an immune issue but one that could be sorted out quite easily, initially with steroids to sort out the inflammation and then a tetracycline antibiotic. He was on the latter permanently but it was inexpensive and unproblematic and worked just fine.

Poor Duchess's nose looks very sore! If it doesn't respond quickly to treatment, or the problem recurs, I would definitely recommend a visit to a dermatologist vet. Mucocutaneous lupus is genetic in origin, our specialist recognised it as the likely culprit straight away though she then had to diagnose it by a process of elimination - took skin scrapes which showed there was no infection, infestation, etc. She also told me that it was something that she had encountered quite frequently, in greyhounds and whippets. So it's a possibility that it would be worth bearing in mind going forward.

[macoduck]

One of my italian greyhounds had a peeling nose like that. Since his toenail beds were not affected the vet ruled out SLO and lupus, so it was probably pemphigus. Vet had me dab some vitamin E oil on it daily, no other medication needed.

[greysmom]

It's probably as Ducky said - an auto immune disorder: lupus or pemphigus.  Usually easily controlled with readily available and cheap OTC vitamin E and fish oil.

You'll likely find more info here if you search under those two key words rather than what your vet said.  I've never heard of that specific diagnosis before.

[tbroad81]

Thank you, all! I really appreciate these notes of experience and am speaking with our primary doc today. 

[macoduck]

"Has anyone heard of Hyperkeratosis nose, or similar, ...?"

My human dermatologist says I have multiple hyperkeratosis spots and laughs when I call them barnacles.

[DofSweetPotatos]

My Yardman had a nose similar to that.   We found that Burts Bees plain lip balm, applied a few times a day worked well.   When he went outside, we would put on Chapstick with SPF.   We found keeping him sun protected worked best with his nose.   

 

Good luck, hope you find some healing. .  Seeing that nose brought back some wonderful memories of a really great dog.   <3

[teri_d]

Phog list pigment in his nose - it was dry and cracked looking - pemphigus - he is in remission now!   He sees an allergy vet.