Nose discoloration

[bren]

Tek's nose has turned a slightly pinkish color. I'll try to take pictures of it sometime and post. I've searched online and can't really find any info on causes, other than using plastic dishes. We use metal bowls for both their food and water.

Anyone have any ideas? He seems fine otherwise, acting like his normal goofy self. I haven't noticed any other changes.

We need to make their annual appointments soon, so I'll check with the vet then. Just want to make sure it's nothing major to be concerned with.

[sam.i.am]

Have you googled photos of snow-nose to see if that looks like what you're seeing? {this can happen in warm climates, too}

Here is a short article that mentions getting a thyroid panel "just in case", but it's not normally a health issue:
http://www.ehow.com/how_2108929_prev...nose_-dog.html
http://www.lovemydogblog.com/snow-no...-turning-pink/

Oliver had this and it was more and more prominent as he got older. I think after a while, his nose stopped changing back to black and was always lighter. My vet said this was pretty normal and nothing to worry about.

[kasmith]

Abby's nose when we got her was black, and probably sometime in July it started to lighten and is now almost fully pink except for by the corners where her nose meets her fur. I've received three different answers, the last is the one I believe. We were using metal bowls, and I was told by one vet that it was because of the material of the bowl and to change. We switched to ceramic and the same thing. Another vet said that it was because of the cold weather. If it hadn't begun during the summer months I would agree. But the final answer I received was from the trainer, and she said that it wasn't uncommon in the light tan/blonde dogs for noses to turn pink and that there are a lot of dogs that as they get older their nose just changes color. So like I said, Abby's was completely black at first and now it is pink. And when I look at pictures of her with the black nose it actually just looks kind of weird.

Either way each of the three assured me that this was absolutely nothing to be concerned with at all. But oddly enough there is a woman I work with who has some sort of terrier and his nose did that. When they changed his bowls based on their vets instructions it turned his nose back to black, go figure.

[Lora]

Apollo has snow nose and it's gotten lighter exert year. Common in lighter colored dogs and nothing to be concerned about unless it is accompanied by other thyroid telling issues. Apollos never darkens back much in the sun. Just watch for sun burn

[Hounds_N_Leo]

yep I mean there's solar nasal dematitis...and some cancers...and some Phemingus (sp) that could be more sinister causes BUT those typically have other signs along with them. The seasons are changing. Now my red hounds noses typically DARKEN as the days lengthen but they are outside a lot. If an indoor dog is kept indoors more once it gets warmer out I would see how a reversal could occur. Many of the things we and our dogs find comforting....a/c...forced air heat...artificial lighting etc can really wreak havoc on the circadian rhythm's from shedding all the time instead of seasonally, to flip flopped sleeping patterns, etc.

I have heard the use of Kelp can help with pigmentation...and have tried it before with some success, so once other things are off the table you can always consider that if it bothers you.

[bren]

It does sort of look like those pictures of snow nose, but the name threw me off when I was searching.

Thanks for all the tips! I guess I'll just continue to watch him to make sure no other symptoms pop-up, and I'll have the vet look at it when we take them for their annual appointments.

[Delynnr]

Caza's nose was spotted (pink and black) as a puppy, went black for a while, but has faded to mostly pink with adulthood - it was very cute spotty

Not sure about Tek's nose - but a lot of yellow dogs have pink on their nose, but with tek's face being all black I have no clue. Hopefully it is normal and nothing serious.

[ToBScholarly]

Without pictures, we cannot be of any more help. *cough*

[bren]

Hehe! I FINALLY finished the quilt I've been making for my parents anniversary, late last night, so I should be able to get a picture of it tonight.

[Lora]

From the AKC Site

Ask AKC

with Lisa Peterson
January 2008

Dear Lisa: My two-year-old yellow Labrador Retriever usually has a black nose but this winter it turned a very light pink. His nose is not dry, but looks like someone drained the color out of it. What causes this? Is there anything I can do to fix it? – In the Pink
Dear Pink: Whenever your dog’s nose becomes something other than the cold wet nose they are famous for, take note and decide whether a trip to the vet is called for. A dog’s nose that becomes dry and cracked or changes color is cause for further investigation. It may be a symptom of some more serious problem.
Most likely, what your dog is experiencing is something called “winter nose” or “snow nose” and it affects many breeds, including Labradors, some northern breeds and even smaller dogs like terriers. A normally black nose will fade during the colder, shorter daylight hours of winter. The dark pigment will return when the days are longer and the weather warms up. Dogs are known to repeat this process year after year.
There is no definitive answer for why this happens, but several observations have been made and a few theories bandied about. One notable observation is that this condition happens to dogs in warmer climates, so the cold temperature most likely isn’t as big a factor in triggering it. Perhaps the length of daylight associated with colder weather plays a part. And some researchers and breeders believe there may be a genetic component to this condition. The temporary loss of pigment is not anything that is harmful to the dog and there is no “cure” or fix for it, short of coloring it with make-up, which I don’t recommend. But you can check to see if your dog has a permanent loss of color to his nose.
Dudley Nose
The term “Dudley Nose” can refer to a yellow Labrador with chocolate pigmentation. A Lab with absolutely no pigmentation on the nose or eye rims, where all areas are pink in color, is very rare and most likely a genetic quirk.
To tell the difference between a simply faded nose and a “Dudley” check the eye rims and gum tissue color. A Dudley will have only light pink or tan skin while the other dogs will have black pigment in these areas. In some dogs this permanent lack of pigment in nose and eye rims is a disqualification for the show ring, while winter nose is not. The pink nose has also been nicknamed a "Liver Nose" in some breeds, and is acceptable in some liver-colored breeds but not in others. "Liver Nose” has been linked to a chromosome, which gives credence to the possible genetic origin of winter or snow nose. While winter or snow nose is not harmful in any way, sun-block should be applied when dogs are outside for a long time to avoid sunburn to the sensitive pink skin.