A year ago, a designer created a nose guard for her pitbull, Billie, after the dog was diagnosed with discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE), an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the skin on the nose and sunlight worsens symptoms. According to the designer, the veterinarian’s guidance was clear: there’s no quick fix, only management through twice-daily ointment applications and sun avoidance. The challenge came when Billie would immediately lick off the ointment.
The designer responded by creating what she initially called “Doguard.” After thirteen prototypes and extensive testing with Billie, she developed a working design. Rather than commercialize it immediately, she uploaded the file to MakerWorld and posted the process on Reddit, offering it free to anyone who wanted to print one.
Messages began arriving from dog owners asking if they could purchase one directly. The designer initially tried helping people print and assemble their own, but realized most dog owners simply wanted a ready-made solution. On October 1st of the previous year, she launched a website. Sixteen days later, her first customer placed an order.
Since then, according to the designer, SnoutCover has helped more than 500 dogs. She has personally printed and assembled 395 orders shipped to 16 countries, while others have printed versions from the open-source design themselves.
The designer continues to manufacture each cover herself using a single printer in her studio shed, cutting and assembling every strap and packing each order. She has made ongoing refinements based on customer feedback, including adjusting strap designs, reinforcing stress points, and creating custom sizes for dogs with unique nose shapes, such as a Bull Terrier model designed from photographs.
In June of that year, she introduced a second product called the Care—a more ventilated version designed for dogs needing gentler barriers during ointment application rather than full sun protection. According to the designer, the Care filters UV in proportion to how much mesh covers its surface and is intended for indoor use, while the original Shield model provides full sun protection for outdoor activities.
The designer emphasizes that refinement remains ongoing, stating the goal is for every cover to be “a little better, and a little more reliable, than the last.”
Key facts
- Designer created nose guard after her pitbull Billie was diagnosed with discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE)
- Initially shared the design free on MakerWorld and Reddit before launching commercial sales
- SnoutCover has shipped 395 orders to 16 countries since October launch last year
- Designer personally prints, assembles, and packs every order from her studio shed
- Introduced Care model in June for gentler, more ventilated nose protection