Typically, a graying muzzle or face is a sign your dog is entering his senior years. Typically, dogs enter their senior years between the ages of seven and ten, but depending on your dogs size it might be even younger. For instance, giant breed dogs (those that weight 91 pounds or more) can be considered senior by the time they turn five, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Small and medium breeds (up to 50 pounds) can be considered a senior at around age seven. Genetics plays a large roll in the graying process of your dog as certain breeds or lineages have a predisposition for graying earlier than others. Its also a lot easier to notice a gray muzzle on a dog with darker hair than say a West Highland white terrier.
Dogs that have reached their senior years may benefit from switching to a senior dog food. While it doesnt reverse the causes of graying in your dog, the best senior formulated dog foods offer a nutritional formula that works to ease the effects of aging. For instance, Hills® Science Diet® Youthful Vitality was developed with the changing biology of pets ages seven and above in mind. The breakthrough nutrition found in the Science Diet® food is made with Hills proprietary recipe of natural ingredients including fruits, vegetables, fatty acids and antioxidants plus added vitamins, minerals and amino acids — all of which work together to fight the effects of aging. Its formula is designed to help with brain function, energy and vitality and healthy immune and digestive systems. It also includes essential fatty acids that promote a coat with increased shininess and softness.
Gray hair on a dogs face and around his muzzle is a natural occurrence as he ages — just like turning gray is a natural occurrence for humans. Because dogs age faster than humans, they turn gray sooner than their pet parents. And just like humans, some dogs turn gray much earlier in life than others.
While typically a sign of an aging dog, a gray muzzle can also be found in dogs as young as one year old. A study of 400 dogs, published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science, discovered that dogs that experience high levels of anxiety, are impulsive or have fearful responses to strange people, animals and noises are linked to premature graying — not much different to when you hear people say things like, “youre the reason I am going gray.”
Why Do Dogs Go Grey Early?
Is your dog doing grey around the muzzle? Just as it is with humans there’s a couple different reasons as to why some dogs go grey early while others don’t grey much at all.
Two major factors come into play when it comes to dogs going grey — stress and genetics. Dogs with high levels of psychological stress or anxiety have been found to grey earlier, and the cellular stress that causes grey hairs has a genetic component in dogs.
On average most dogs start going grey around 5 years old, though some start going grey before the age of 2. Greying in dogs can occur anywhere, but it tends to be most prominent on their muzzle.
The Influence of Genetics On Going Grey
Genetics is a big influence in premature greying, in both dogs and humans. The pigment cells that give hair it’s youthful color are called melanocytes, and when they die off or grow incorrectly greying starts to occur.
The pigment cells responsible for our hair color undergo levels of cellular stress that lead to greying. When they die off or develop in the wrong part of the hair follicle our hair goes grey.
Why Does My Dog Get Gray Hair? Besides Age
Have you started to notice that your dog’s fur is turning white or gray? While it can be shocking to suddenly realize your pet’s fur has changed color, there might not be anything wrong with your beloved dog. AVES is here to tell you about the reasons your dog’s fur might be turning a white or gray color.
Age is one of the most common reasons for pets going gray. This is a very similar process to the one we see in humans as we age. However, unlike humans, dogs don’t tend to go gray throughout their entire coat. The majority of graying will happen around the muzzle and face. Graying usually starts with a salt-and-pepper look in dogs.
Dogs that are naturally gray can also show signs of aging, but you might have a more difficult time spotting these changes. Generally, coat texture changes with age, so you might start to notice that the texture of your dog’s fur is different than it used to be. Also, gray dogs might start to turn more white than gray as they age.
Stress and anxiety could also be potential causes for your dog’s hair turning white. While the reason is unknown, it is possible that stress somehow causes the body to stop producing pigment in the same manner as it used to. If you are unsure of whether or not stress or anxiety are causing problems for your pet, you can speak to your veterinarian or a veterinary behaviorist to what you can do to reduce the stress in your dog’s life.
If it seems like your dog isn’t old enough to start graying, you might find it interesting that genetics can play a role in when your dog’s hair starts to turn white. Do you have a friend that started graying before 30? Think of your dog in the same way. Even perfectly healthy dogs might be genetically predisposed to early graying. In fact, even puppies can have graying hair, and it can start to become more silvery with age.
A few breeds are more likely to be genetically predisposed to graying. Schnauzers are known for their gray beards, while greyhounds and Weimaraners are naturally gray in color. It is also common for black dogs to start showing gray earlier than lighter colored dogs.
Sometimes, the reason your dog’s fur is turning white is a condition call vitiligo. Vitiligo is a rare skin condition that can cause pigment loss in certain patches of skin and fur. While the causes of vitiligo are unknown, many scientists believe that the condition is hereditary. However, it is clear that vitiligo occurs when something happens to the melanin-producing cells in your dog’s body.
Vitiligo affects all dogs a little differently. Some dogs will lose pigmentation on their entire body, while others will only be affected in certain spots. Depigmentation can also spread over the first few months of the condition’s appearance. Vitiligo can also cause skin lesions and dandruff. Fortunately, all of the symptoms of vitiligo are painless for your pooch.
Vitiligo is also more common in purebred dogs due to the hereditary nature of the condition.
There are a few health issues that might cause your dog to start graying. One of these conditions is hypothyroidism. Dogs with hypothyroidism have underperforming thyroid glands. Hypothyroidism also causes a variety of other symptoms including weight gain and skin problems. Getting your dog proper treatment for hypothyroidism should reverse the graying of the fur.
Liver and kidney disease can also cause graying. However, this is a very rare symptom of these diseases. The reason that these diseases lead to graying fur is that the toxins aren’t being removed from the body quickly enough. Treating the underlying condition can reverse the graying.
If your pet appears to be graying prematurely, bring them in for a visit with your veterinarian. If liver or kidney disease or hypothyroidism are determined to be the cause of the premature graying, your veterinarian may want to refer you to a specialist. For those living in Austin, Texas, you can request a referral to AVES, where you will meet with our team of specialists. Our internal medicine team can meet with you and come up with an appropriate course of treatment for your pet.