Vitaligo in Dogs
Vitiligo is a skin disorder which results in a loss of pigment in splotches of the skin, which can affect many different species of mammal. While the disorder is most apparent in humans, who lack full body hair which could obscure the color change, vitiligo can also affect dogs, where it can be more difficult to identify.
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Effects
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Vitiligo causes some portions of the dog's skin to lose pigmentation, while other portions of the dog's skin remain unaffected. As a result, the dog's skin will appear to be speckled with lighter sections. Fortunately, the effects are merely cosmetic, and the vitiligo is not a sign of any potential negative side effects for the dog.
Severity
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The severity of the condition will vary from one infected dog to the next. While some dogs will suffer discoloration all over their body, others can only show discoloration in a small portion of their body. In some cases, the loss of pigment can also result in a loss of pigmentation in the hair follicles of the dog, leading to a more-easily-apparent splotchy coat.
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Duration
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The loss of pigmentation suffered as a result of vitiligo is a permanent effect of the disorder, and cannot be reversed after it has occurred. The process of changing pigment is not fast-acting, rather the pigmentation will slowly change over the span of several months. In most cases, the pigmentation changes occur for a period between three and six months.
Breeds
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Vitiligo is not a breed-specific disease, and as such a dog of any breed could potentially find themselves suffering from the disorder. While all breeds are susceptible, it is more common in some breeds, particularly dogs of Germanic origin, such as German shepherds, dachsunds, dobermans and rottweilers, as well as in Old English sheepdogs.
Causes
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While there have been many potential causes for vitiligo proposed and tested, including stress, genetic mutations and a defect in skin pigment receptors, researchers have yet to determine a conclusive cause for the disorder. The disease has shown to be more common in humans suffering from specific autoimmune deficiencies, however similar ties have not been discovered for dogs.
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