A dog's nose knows.
The color of a dog's nose is determined by its breed. Noses can be black, reddish brown, pink or the same color as the dog's coat. Yet when a dog's nose color changes from black to pink, there may be cause for concern. While it's normal for some dogs' noses to lose pigmentation as they age, a color change also could be a sign of illness.
Seasonal Changes
There are three main causes for loss of nose pigmentation: seasonal changes, aging and a physical condition or illness. It's common for Labrador and golden retrievers and Siberian huskies, among other dog breeds, to experience seasonal color variation in their noses. Noses of these breeds of dogs naturally lighten during winter months and darken in summer months.
Aging Changes
Tyrosinase is the enzyme responsible for producing pigment in a dog's body. Over time, this enzyme may naturally break down, causing the dog's nose to turn from black to pink. It's a normal occurrence in some dogs and it isn't harmful.
Physical Condition or Illness
Certain physical conditions can cause a dog's nose to change from black to pink. Temporary pigmentation can be caused by trauma, such as when the nose is lacerated, or by contact dermatitis, a type of allergic reaction. The immune disease vitiligo can alter a dog's nose color. Vitiligo causes the body to produce antibodies that attack and annihilate pigmentation cells, resulting in a pink nose. Doberman pinschers, rottweilers, German shepherds and dachshunds are at greater risk of vitiligo. Sunburn can also cause a dog's nose to burn and blister and change pigmentation. While black and brown noses generally are less likely to burn than pink noses, prolonged and repeated sun exposure for any dog can be dangerous. Dogs with pink noses are susceptible to sunburn that over time can cause skin cancer.
Diagnosis
Once a veterinarian rules out seasonal nose color variation or loss of pigmentation due to aging, he can then examine the dog for other causes. Chapped, blistered or excessively dry noses are indicators of a more severe problem. According to Professor's House, another symptom commonly associated with contact dermatitis is swollen, red lips. Other symptoms of vitiligo include white patches or white strands of hair appearing in the dog's coat. To check for vitiligo, a small skin sample from the dog is removed and sent to a lab for analysis. Pet Place says that diagnosing sunburn is done by evaluating the time of year along with the dog's possible exposure time, in addition to the dog's physical characteristics. Although a blood test isn't a reliable indicator of sunburn, it can determine the effect it had on the dog's health.
Treatment
When a dog's nose heals from trauma, its pigmentation generally returns. The same is true for contact dermatitis, when the dog no longer is exposed to the irritant triggering the allergic reaction. It may be necessary to switch the dog's food and water bowls to stainless steel to avoid exposure. Certain nutritional supplements may be helpful in restoring pigmentation to a dog diagnosed with vitiligo, although no prescription drugs are effective cures for this disease. A dog with sunburn may need a topical medication to clean and help heal the nose, especially when blisters are present. The dog's sun exposure should be limited until the wound has completely healed. In addition, sunscreen should be applied to its nose whenever the dog is exposed to sunlight.
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