Nose Pigmentation in Dogs

What does a dog's nose know?

The nose is a sensitive part of the dog's body. A healthy dog nose is normally cool and moist to the touch and a darkish color, though some dogs with lighter hair have lighter colored noses. It responds to the onset of disease as well as other physical changes taking place in the dog. As a result, the pigmentation of a dog's nose can change over time. There are a number of medical reasons why pigmentation fades in dogs. The reasons vary from simple to complex, depending on the underlying cause of the pigmentation change.

Symptoms

According to DogChannel.com, when the pigment of a dog's nose changes or loses color, it generally first appears as small lesions on the nose surface. Over time, the lesions grow and spread, eventually changing the nose color completely from its original color to a pinkish color. In addition, the nose scales, thickens and crusts as well as ulcerates and bleeds from the irritation.

Duration

In some dogs, change of nose pigment happens quickly, while discoloration may be more gradual in others. There's no defined guideline for when and how long pigmentation changes occur. In addition, no one dog breed is more susceptible than another to pigmentation changes and there's no specific age when it's more likely to occur.

Causes

The causes of pigmentation vary considerably. It's triggered by seasonal changes in some dogs diagnosed with benign cases of pigment change. In others, it's linked to a fungus or bacterial infection that impacts the health of the nose. It occurs in dogs exposed to prolonged periods of intense sunlight as a sign of skin cancer. Nutrient deficiencies also cause pigmentation changes. Moreover, severe diseases in other parts of the body, such as immune disorders and lung-related illnesses, show signs in the dog's nose that cause pigment to discolor.

Diagnosis

Consult a veterinarian when the color of a dog's nose changes. A veterinarian performs a series of tests using a blood sample to diagnose the cause. Once the underlying cause is diagnosed, the veterinarian prescribes a treatment plan.

Treatment

Treatment involves any one or a combination of the following: changing the dog's diet, administering nutritional supplements, prescribing antibiotics or antifungal medications, limiting exposure to sun and surgery in cases that are more severe.

References

• DogChannel.com: Dog Nose Losing Pigment
• Dog Owner's Guide: The nose knows