Maltese Skin Discoloration

Maltese sometimes have skin that becomes discolored.

Maltese are small dogs with long white fur. Their skin shows in very few areas, but there can be some discoloration that happens that is rarely any concern from a medical standpoint.

Belly

The belly, like the rest of the dog's skin underneath the coat, is normally pink. The belly can sometimes become a darker pink, brown, black or a mixture of the colors.

Causes

The discoloration of the belly usually happens because of exposure to sunlight, much like human skin.

Seasonal Changes

The discoloration can fade during the winter and then reappear during the summer as sun exposure increases.

Halo

The halo is the darker skin around the eyes of the Maltese. This is normal for all Maltese.

Winter Nose

The noses on Maltese are known to fade from their normal black and can even become pink or light brown. This is known as winter nose and it is often affected by the changing amounts of sunlight much like the discolored bellies.

References

• PetMaltese.com: What Color is the Belly of the Maltese
• The Visual Dictionary: Maltese dog