Skin color changing as a result of age I’m sure you’ve known dogs that go gray as they get older – especially on their faces. According to the Veterinary Internal Medicine textbook, such age-associated graying is a result of decreasing numbers of melanocytes and occurs most frequently in German Shepherds, Labradors, Golden Retrievers and Irish Setters.
If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian — they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.
Skin color is determined by melanocyte cells in the skin. Those cells produce melanin which gives skin its color. When skin is exposed to the sun, those cells are stimulated to produce more melanin. That’s how you get a suntan. But what can cause the opposite result? Obviously dogs, like people, come in many different shades. (Dogs can even be albinos – or lacking in pigment altogether.) That means that some dogs are less pigmented to start with. But why might your dog lose that original coloration and develop depigmentation? Let’s discuss some of the possible reasons.
What all three of these causes for depigmentation have is common is the fact that they are not a disease that can bother or hurt your dog at all. There is no reason to worry about them and there is nothing to be done to ‘correct’ them. The depigmentation is purely cosmetic.
Skin color changing as a result of outside influences For instance, any contact dermatitis/irritation can cause depigmentation as can certain chemicals in rubber that can affect the production of melanin pigment where the rubber touches the skin1. According to the Veterinary Internal Medicine textbook, the administration of certain drugs like ketoconazole, procainamide, and vitamin E have been reported to cause generalized changes in coat color in dogs, and injections of other drugs (glucocorticoids, for instance) can cause localized loss of pigment.
Inflamed areas can often be red around their edges, which signals the presence of a secondary bacterial infection, or possibly a yeast infection. Without treatment, hyperpigmentation can spread to different parts of your dogs body – including the groin, abdomen, ears, and around the eyes. They may also experience itchiness and discomfort. Eventually, your canine companion could experience even further hair loss, fluid discharge, and infections. Regardless of the severity of your poochs symptoms, take them to a vet to be examined and diagnosed so that treatment can begin sooner.
Secondary hyperpigmentation tends to resolve once the underlying problem is treated, including any additional bacterial or yeast infections that are present with your dogs skin change. Your vet could recommend medications such as antibiotics and antifungals to treat bacterial and yeast infections affecting your dogs skin, and other topical treatments like medicated shampoo to help soothe and treat your dogs skin. Treatment will need to be consistent to see results; it is advised that pet parents prepare themselves to be patient and persistent. Neglecting to follow treatment instructions could lead to a relapse and return of hyperpigmentation in your dog.
Primary hyperpigmentation is currently only seen in Dachshunds and does not have a cure. Sometimes, the condition only cosmetically affects the skin and wont necessitate treatment. If the hyperpigmentation presents with inflammation, medicated shampoo and steroid ointments can be effective treatments during the early stages. Your veterinarian will be able to properly diagnose your pet and recommend the best treatment options with their wellbeing in mind.
Primary hyperpigmentation in Dachshunds is not curable. In some dogs, the condition is only cosmetic and does not require treatment. If inflammation is present, early cases may respond to shampoo treatment and steroid ointments. As signs progress, other treatment, such as medication given by mouth or injection, may be useful. The concurrent treatment of secondary infections is helpful and is required before steroids are administered. Medicated shampoos are often beneficial for removing excess oil and odor but must be used regularly.
Your veterinarian will base a diagnosis on particular symptoms and the physical appearance of your dog. If you have a young Dachshund, other potential causes for hyperpigmentation should be ruled out first. A thorough history is taken and a physical examination is carried out to diagnose a cause for the condition. In the case of secondary hyperpigmentation, there is almost always an underlying disease to blame. In order to narrow down potential causes, skip scrapings are taken from the affected sites and examined for other issues (e.g. parasites). Your vet may recommend additional testing depending on the findings, including diagnostic procedures like endocrine function tests, allergy tests, and skin biopsies for further examination. If there are secondary bacterial infections present, your vet will treat those before moving on to other tests.
Pigmentary changes in your pet can be a little alarming, but they are really a great signal to you that something’s not quite right with your pet’s skin. It’s usually nothing life threatening or even dangerous, but rather a sentinel for you to recognize that it is time to come and see our expert dermatology staff.
Just like with our skin, dark pigment in a dog’s skin is the result of melanin production. It is normal for dogs to have more melanin in certain areas of their skin. Generally, darker areas of skin produce darker fur. Some breeds, such as the arctic breeds, have dark skin as well.