Have you ever wondered if dogs get gray hair? When dogs reach adulthood, you may notice the appearance of some white strands and even notice that a your dog is turning white Is it due to age or due to another reason?
Believe it or not, there is more than one reason why your dog may have white streaks in his coat. Are you interested in knowing what they are? Then you can't miss this article on our site in which we explain if dogs get gray hair or not!
Do dogs have gray hair?
Before you know why your dog is turning gray, you need to know what gives the coat its color in the first place. Well, when it comes to dogs, the first thing to think about is that the coat color obviously corresponds to the genetics of the breed Each breed has its own characteristics, among which the color, shape, abundance and even the texture of the mantle stand out. When the dogs are mestizos, the tone of the coat will also depend on the genetic mixture produced, depending on the origin of the parents.
Now, keeping this in mind, what gives color to each strand of hair? It's about the melanin, a pigment that is also present in humans and whose concentrations determine the color of the animal's fur. In itself, gray hair appears when the amount of melanin begins to reduce, since when experiencing a lack of power of these pigments, the dog's hairs become discolored. What does this mean? Well, dogs can have gray hair, what is really important is the reason why they appear, since this decrease in melanin is not always the product of age. Below we list the main reasons.
Why does my dog get gray hair? - Aging
Just like in humans, aging is the leading cause of gray hair in dogs. They begin to manifest between seven or eight years old, so if your dog is at this stage of his life you have nothing to worry about.
The whitish fur starts to appear starting on the animal's face, especially on the snout and around the eyes. From there it slowly spreads to the rest of the body. In addition to this sign, other signs of old age in dogs can be the following:
- Your senses begin to fail.
- Shows urinary incontinence.
- He seems tired and doesn't feel like playing.
- Weight changes.
Premature gray hair in dogs due to stress
There are many ravages that stress can wreak on your dog, and among them is the appearance of gray hair, being one of the most common reasons. Stress can be triggered by multiple causes, such as loneliness, the feeling of abandonment if the dog does not get used to you leaving the house every day, the death of a loved one, the arrival of a baby or another pet, among others. other things that stress dogs.
A stressed dog shows reluctance, sadness or anxiety, thus causing the appearance of premature gray hair. On the other hand, dogs also perceive the stress levels of their owners, infecting their mood.
Premature gray hair in dogs due to poor nutrition
This is another important factor with regard to the appearance of premature gray hair in dogs, occurring when the diet supplied does not satisfy their vitamin needsVarious are the triggers of poor nutrition, and it is necessary to review the diet to offer the most appropriate.
Originally, the dog was a carnivorous animal, however, with the domestication of the species and over the years, its system has adapted to such an extent that, today, it is considered a omnivorous animal. However, meat remains the fundamental pillar of their diet and, therefore, if they offer a homemade diet, it is necessary to seek this food in its proper proportion. Some people try to substitute it with grains and vegetables, but this is not enough for the dog's system. It is advisable to introduce a variety of meats in its diet, in this way, the dog will get all the nutrients and proteins it needs. Approximately, a he althy dog needs to eat 70% meat or fish and 30% fruit, vegetables and grains
This doesn't just happen with homemade diets, some low-quality processed foods can also contain ridiculous amounts of the nutrients a he althy dog needs, so we recommend you pay attention to the components offered by each Comercial House.
Premature gray hair in dogs due to consuming contaminated water
This is one of the causes of premature gray hair in dogs that requires more care, and it has to do with the quality of the water the dog drinksIt has been shown that the appearance of gray hair can be due to the existence of high levels of chlorine or fluoride in the water, especially when you fill the dog's bowl with water directly from the tap. The presence of these chemical components in the vital liquid results in a significant lightening of the coat, as well as serious he alth problems in general, such as kidney failure, kidney stones, etc. For this reason, it is best to offer the dog weakly mineralized bottled water, as recommended for us humans.
My dog is turning white - Genetic disorders
Dogs with black and dark coats are more likely to show gray hair at an early age than dogs with lighter coats. This does not mean that light-haired dogs do not have gray hair, but it is more difficult to perceive them since they do not contrast with the rest of the body.
If you suspect that this may be the reason why your dog's hair is turning white or why your dog is going gray, you should not worry, it is a natural process that does not requires treatment beyond adequate nutrition.
Why does my dog go gray when he is young?
Gray hair in young dogs under five years old, or early whitening, is a possible sign that something is wrong. The causes are various and can be found in those already mentioned, such as stress or inadequate nutrition, but they can also be others, such as fear or anxiety. Thus, if you notice the appearance of gray hair at an early age, we recommend you go to the vet immediately to detect any he alth problem or even an emotional disorder in time. Premature aging in dogs is not normal and therefore must be attended to and treated to prevent its condition from worsening.
At what age do dogs have gray hair?
Under normal conditions, gray hair begins to appear around seven or eight years old, the age from which the dog goes from be adult to senior or elderly. Although for us he remains the same energetic and active dog as always, from this moment on his body and mind will begin to experience the changes of age, so we must pay much more attention to his behavior and offer him the best care. This does not mean that it begins to deteriorate, far from it, since each dog is different and some show signs of old age from 10-12 years old, but it does indicate that we must be vigilant. In this sense, we recommend consulting our article on "Care for elderly dogs".
If gray hair appears before this age, it is necessary to review the causes mentioned to know if we are dealing with premature aging in dogs, a case of stress, anxiety or another problem that requires adequate treatment.
Can I dye my dog's gray hair?
Currently there are dyes on the market specifically designed to modify the color of the coat of dogs, however, what we really must ask ourselves is if this act is suitable for him, andthe answer is no The appearance of gray hair is something natural that dogs do not see as negative, however, an artificial change in their color can alter their smell and this can seriously harm their relationship with other dogs, among other consequences.
