vitiligo in dogs, also known as hypopigmentation, is a very rare disorder in this species and about which little information is available. Do you think your dog has vitiligo? In this article on our site we are going to explain what it is, what its symptoms are and how it is treated.
We will also talk about nasal depigmentation, since it is a disorder with which vitiligo can be confused due to the similarity of its clinical picture. If you continue reading you will be able to discover if your dog suffers from vitiligo, since it is important to get an accurate diagnosis.
What is vitiligo in dogs?
Vitiligo is a disorder that causes depigmentation of skin and hair, which is mainly visible on the face, especially on the muzzle, lips, nose or eyelids. Dogs with vitiligo when they are born do have all the normalpigments, but as they grow, the color lightens and the pigment that was black turns white. brown color, due to a loss of intensity.
Causes of vitiligo in dogs
It is important to note that the causes of vitiligo in dogs are not clear. It is assumed that anti-melanocyte antibodies may be involvedThese antibodies create defenses against their own melanocytes, which are the cells responsible for producing pigments, such as those that offer the characteristic coloration of the dog's nose. Due to its absence, when destroyed, it causes depigmentation.
How to know if a dog has vitiligo?
The diagnosis of vitiligo in dogs involves the performance of a pathological anatomy study that can confirm that we are facing this process. As we will see in the next section, vitiligo can be confused with nasal depigmentation. In fact, perhaps this is a form of vitiligo. Remember that only a veterinarian can confirm or rule out a diagnosis of vitiligo.
Nasal depigmentation in dogs
Depigmentation of the nose can be confused with vitiligo in dogs, as we say. Although they are different processes, they bear similarities between them, hence the doubt may arise. This depigmentation is a syndrome that also has an unknown origin It especially affects the hairless area of the nose. Some breeds seem to show a greater tendency to suffer from this depigmentation. They are the Afghan greyhound, the Samoyed, the Irish setter, the English pointer or the poodle, among others.
As with vitiligo, these dogs will be born with the black truffle, without us noticing any difference with respect to the dogs without this disorder. And also related to the passage of time, the intensity of the color is lost until the black becomes a shade of brown. In some cases there is a total depigmentation and, instead of brown, the area becomes pinkish white. In some dogs, the pigmentation recovers, that is, the nose spontaneously darkens again.
Another, more common case is that of breeds such as the Siberian Husky, the Golden Retriever or the Labrador Retriever, in which we can see a lack of pigmentation in the area of the nose. This phenomenon is known as snow nose and usually occurs only seasonally, during the coldest months, as its name indicates. At that time we can see that the black pigment of the dog's nose loses intensity, although complete depigmentation does not occur. After the cold, the color recovers. In this case we could speak of a seasonal abnormality.
How to treat vitiligo in dogs?
There is no treatment for vitiligo in dogsThe lack of pigment is an aesthetic problem. It seems that different home remedies are circulating to restore pigmentation, but none have been proven effective. Of course, if the dog lacks pigments, we must be careful and protect it from the sun, since, otherwise, it could suffer burns. We can apply sunscreens, always following our veterinarian's prescription.
