Anyone who has had a dog who was stressed in their crate is sadly familiar with kennel nose in dogs. If you have not experienced this condition, that is wonderful, but you will want to better understand what is kennel nose in dogs in case you run into it.
What Is Kennel Nose?
This condition results from a dog rubbing their nose repeatedly against something, which often includes the crate/kennel. It can also be a result of rubbing their nose against other objects such as beds, bedding, fencing, or even while digging, but being kenneled is the No. 1 cause of kennel nose. A dog with kennel nose has a nose that is likely red and inflamed, possibly with scabbing, crusts, and even open wounds. The condition can vary in degrees of intensity from simple irritation to the point of bleeding and scabs that need first aid.
How Do You Treat Kennel Nose?
As far as kennel nose treatment goes, checking with your veterinarian is an important first option, especially if there are scabs and bleeding. You may want to gently cleanse the nose to prevent infection as well as applying a dog-safe antibacterial ointment. Your veterinarian can suggest an over-the-counter product or prescribe one.
If the nose is very irritated, you may need to consider an Elizabethan collar to prevent further damage. This will prevent further nose rubbing. But it will still require you to better determine the root cause of kennel nose in your dog so that you can prevent a repetition of such. Your dog will thank you for that.
Is Kennel Nose Due to Anxiety?
The root cause of kennel nose is anxiety of some sort. What caused the kennel nose will tell you how to prevent it but for actual crate concerns, you can easily prevent this from happening by teaching your dog that their crate or kennel is not a bad thing. If your dog is battling separation anxiety that causes him to rub against the crate, you should address that.
If your dog buries things with their nose situationally in specific contexts, then determine how you can help them relieve their anxiety about that situation. Do you have guest over? Is the normal routine disrupted? Are other household members, whether human or animal, being intrusive towards them? These are all important considerations to resolve the need to bury things with their nose.
Some dogs bury their belongings in their bed or bedding to such a degree that they end up with kennel nose. This type of behavior can be the result of a form of resource guarding that is less obvious as such. This type of resource guarding causes a dog to seem to feel overwhelmed at having certain items. So, they bury them to keep them safe. I have seen dogs do this with high-value items like bones or bully sticks, when they did not appear to feel safe enjoying them. Addressing this issue is a whole other article, however.
Observing your dog when you notice this type of nose burying behavior will help to identify the source of the issue. Identifying the cause will allow this condition to be better prevented.
Is Your Dog Bored?
If your dog is simply bored, then looking at their typical daily schedule with the goal of adding more enrichment should be the first order of business. A mentally enriched dog is a happier dog. Sniffing walks, problem-solving exercises, physical exercise, and even training games can add enrichment to their day and prevent boredom.
