Does my dog have vitiligo? Expert Advice

Diagnosis is usually based on the skin and blood samples examined under the microscope. While the condition is not in any way life threatening, it can be quite anesthetic, meaning your dog may look a little odd especially if he is dark by nature and breed and suddenly starts changing color and pattern. A Rottweiler that produces blond or white patches looks quite unusual because people are used to that breed being very dark, but your dog won’t worry about it and will continue as if nothing has happened so there is no need to be concerned once you have your veterinarian’s positive diagnosis.

Your dog may suddenly start going grey in patches in front of your eyes. While these patches and depigmented areas can be esthetically displeasing, they are not generally considered as dangerous to your pet’s health. Vitiligo is often hereditary but sometimes can develop as an autoimmune response related to and affecting the melanocytes. Stress can sometimes be a cause of this condition as well. There is no known treatment for vitiligo and if stress isn’t the problem, your dog will continue being his happy self.

There is no treatment available that will return your dog to its original color. Occasionally, your dog’s patches may re-pigment and the color will return even partially or fully, but this is a rare event. The effect of vitiligo is quite variable, with some dogs suffering extensive patching or fading, while in others it will only affect the nose and perhaps around the mouth. Some veterinarians suggest getting your dog outside more often to enjoy the sunshine, in the hope that the sunlight will stimulate the melanocyte production and prevent new loss of colors from occurring. Vitiligo is not associated with diet, but it wouldn’t hurt to get your animal specialists opinion on whether your dog’s diet is providing the right nourishment for optimal function of the immune system. Some veterinary caregivers will also prescribe nutritional supplements such as Omega-3 and Vitamin C.

Management is the option here, as recovery for the lost color is usually irreversable. Very rarely does the natural color come back on its own accord. Once you have checked with your dog’s veterinarian expert and he has confirmed the vitiligo condition, it is a matter of living with it. A healthy and varied diet, plenty of exercise and time outside in the sun, and that is the best you can really do for a dog with this condition. Providing a stress-free environment for your pet accepting your dog for what he now looks like is important for the mental health of your four-legged friend. It has been noted that Omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants such as vitamin C may help this problem, so that is worth discussing with your veterinarian.

My pet Duster is also suffering from Vitiligo and there are many white patches on in whole body. We consulted our Vet and took his medicines and supplements but no positive result came. Then we went for homeopathic medicines and now it seems that he is recovering. Hope he will be back in form soon and even in any negative circumstance, we are happy living with him with this condition.

What Is Vitiligo in Dogs & Cats?

Vitiligo is a rare skin condition that some humans may develop, but so can cats and dogs. A human or animal with this condition experiences depigmentation, which occurs when the skin loses its natural pigments. The skin will turn white (or light pink) in patches and hair in those spots can also turn white.

Tri-County Animal Hospital in Wayne, New Jersey reported that vitiligo is a “condition characterized by symmetrical lack of pigment in the skin and white hair coat, especially involving the face and nose.”

Is vitiligo something that can be “caught” from another animal with the condition? Simply stated, no. Austin Veterinary Emergency & Specialty (AVES) confirms that vitiligo is not contagious. However, this condition is often hereditary, so if a previous generation experienced depigmentation, your cat or dog is more likely to develop this uncommon skin condition. Its not clear why vitiligo occurs, but its believed that it happens when something interferes with the bodys melanin-producing cells.

What does vitiligo in dogs look like?

For dogs, vitiligo usually shows up in young adulthood, similar to humans. It almost always starts on the dog’s face. In most dogs, this loss of pigment stays on the face or head, but sometimes it can spread to other parts of the body (like the footpads, nails/claws, paws/limbs, and neck/trunk/rump area).

Vitiligo can affect the skin cells or hair cells or both. It does not always appear symmetrically in dogs, but sometimes it does.

Scientists aren’t totally sure what causes vitiligo. It can run in families, which gives us a clue that it’s a hereditary condition. But how people or dogs inherit a genetic risk for vitiligo isn’t simple.

There’s no test for vitiligo in dogs because scientists haven’t yet discovered the gene that causes it. Actually, there are probably several genes that cause vitiligo, not just one (what scientists call “polygenic,” AKA “from many genes”). Scientists think that genes, the environment, stress, and other factors join together to cause the condition.

In humans, scientists have found at least 3 or 4 genes associated with predisposition to vitiligo, possibly more. A recent study found several genes that are “turned on” in vitiligo. We don’t know exactly how the disease happens, but some of those genes might be involved.

Vitiligo is associated with some autoimmune diseases in humans (like lupus, thyroid disease, and others). One theory says that when these autoimmune diseases attack the body, the skin cells get caught in the crossfire. In this theory, skin cells are “innocent bystanders” that happen to get caught up in the body’s immune response.

Vitiligo in Dogs | Wag!

Fanny (@fannyasfresh) is a Bernese Mountain Dog who tells a unique story about vitiligo in dogs.

Fanny might have a rare condition called vitiligo. Her owner shared on Instagram that Fanny’s black fur started changing color when she was 3 or 4 years old. The color change started on her head, gradually at first, and then quickly.

According to Fanny’s owner, “It could be vitiligo. The doctors couldn’t tell what gene it is exactly. Only her hair changed, not her skin.” Other Bernese Mountain Dogs, like @siegfriedthedog, also share this condition.

But what is vitiligo in dogs? Does it affect some breeds more than others? And how do genetics play a role in whether a dog develops vitiligo or not?

Vitiligo (pronounced “vih-tuh-lie-go”) is an autoimmune condition that can occur in both humans and animals. Vitiligo affects skin cells called melanocytes. These skin cells create a pigment called melanin. That pigment is what gives our hair and skin its color (the more melanin, the darker the color). With vitiligo, something in the body’s immune system attacks those cells, causing the skin and hair to lose color (a process called depigmentation).

In addition to humans, vitiligo can occur in dogs, cats, and horses. Vitiligo in dogs is mainly a cosmetic condition. It is not painful for dogs and does not require treatment. It’s not contagious, either, so dogs can’t spread it to each other.

While vitiligo is not painful and does not affect a dog’s health, it can have a significant impact for owners and breeders of show dogs. There are some treatments available, and some cases of remission from vitiligo. If you’re looking into treatment options, be sure to talk to a veterinarian first. Some treatments can be ineffective or cause negative side effects.