The dog skin pigmentation process works exactly the same as ours, so for them the protein known as melanin also it is of great importance. Likewise, it is also normal to find spots, moles and even areas with depigmentation on your skin, some of which are caused by certain diseases or by an anomaly that does not necessarily imply the development of he alth problems.
When you notice that the dog's nose is discoloring, for example, it is not surprising to be alarmed and try to identify if it is a serious problem or, on the contrary, something natural. Therefore, in this article on our site we will deal with the most common causes of this irregularity and explain why your dog's nose fades
Dog nose depigmentation by Dudley nose
Dudley nose is known as the genetic abnormality that produces permanent discolorationof the dog's nose, and stands out as the main cause that explains why dogs' noses fade. In general, the dog presents progressive depigmentation, as it grows, until it shows a slightly pink nose. It produces no other symptoms and does not pose any he alth problems, so dogs with a Dudley nose can lead a completely normal life. Of course, special attention should be paid to this area during hot weather to avoid sunburn.
Depigmentation of the dog's nose due to autoimmune diseases
So-called autoimmune diseases are those in which the body produces antibodies that attack he althy cells; It detects them as foreign or malignant bodies and, therefore, tries to destroy or expel them. Thus, it is the immune system itself that, by working incorrectly, develops pathologies in the affected body.
In general, there are three autoimmune conditions that tend to produce depigmentation of the dog's nose as part of its symptoms:
- Uveodermatological syndromeIt is similar to the human Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome and is an autoimmune disorder that produces ocular inflammation, facial depigmentation mainly in the nose, lips and eyelids, scabs in some cases and lesions in the perianal area, scrotum, vulva or pads. In general, inflammation inside the animal's eye, along with depigmentation of the nose and other parts of the face, are usually the symptoms that lead the veterinarian to suspect the presence of this syndrome, and to carry out tests relevant to your diagnosis, such as skin biopsy, blood count, blood and urine tests, or antinuclear antibody test.
- Systemic lupus erythematosus This autoimmune disease can develop related syndromes as a result of its action on the body, such as hemolytic anemia, polyarthritis or alterations cutaneous. In this sense, they may present depigmentation of the nose, ulcers in the mouth, fever, decay or neurological signs such as difficulty walking, among others. To diagnose the disease, the antinuclear anticuport test is usually key, although the veterinarian can perform other skin and analytical tests.
- Vitiligo As a consequence, the uveodermatological syndrome usually develops vitiligo, this being another cause that can explain why a dog his nose is discolored. However, this condition caused by a pigmentation deficiency in certain areas of the dog's skin can not only occur as a result of this syndrome, since in many cases the origin is unknown. Thus, it is characterized by the presence of discoloration of the dog's nose, lips, eyelids and other areas of the body's skin, clearly showing the contrast between pink and dark (black or brown), as well as white spots on the fur.
Depigmentation of the dog's nose due to winter nose
Also known as "snow nose", winter nose occurs in the Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Siberian Husky, Bernese Mountain Dog and Flanders Mountain Dog mainly during cold weather. The lack of sunlight impairs the function of the proteins responsible for skin pigmentation and, therefore, produces a seasonal discoloration Thus, the aforementioned breeds tend to to show the black or brown nose during the hot seasons, and slightly pink during the winter. However, they are not the only ones that can suffer from winter nose, the mestizos of these dogs can also inherit it and, of course, other dog breeds can develop it, although it is less frequent.
Dog nose depigmentation due to allergy
Many are the dogs that present allergy to the plastic from which most of the feeders are made, showing a depigmentation of the nose and lips, itching, inflammation, redness or irritation of these areas and those that come into contact with the allergen.
If you suspect that this may be the cause that explains why your dog's nose is discolored, the first thing you should do is change the plastic bowl for one made of stainless steel, clay or ceramic. If the symptoms subside and his nose recovers its usual color, you will have finished with the problem and you will know that you should avoid contact of your dog with that material.
However, plastic is not the only thing that can cause hypersensitivity in the dog, and it is that cleaning products, paints or any other manufacturing material can generate an allergic reaction. Likewise, as a consequence, contact dermatitis may occur on the part of the body that has touched the irritating agent, causing the above symptoms, in addition to scabs or hardening of the the skin. Therefore, if the change of feeder does not work and an allergic reaction is still suspected, you should go to the veterinarian to find the allergen.
Depigmentation of the dog's nose due to skin cancer
Skin cancer is listed as the most common cancer in dogs, followed by breast cancer in females. Although there are several tumors or neoplasms that affect the skin, the most common and characterized by depigmentation of the dog's nose is Epitheliotropic lymphoma Thus, in addition to The aforementioned discoloration, epitheliotropic lymphoma, or mycosis fungoides produces nodules, localized hair loss, ulcers, exfoliative scaling, or lymph nodes, depending on the form and stage of the disease.
In general, epitheliotropic lymphoma goes through four clinical episodes:
- Exfoliative erythroderma, in which the sick dog shows skin depigmentation, hairless patches, scaling and inflammation of the skin. Although the erythema tends to be generalized, it is also true that the most affected areas tend to be the trunk and head.
- Mucocutaneous location, with the above symptoms, the presence of ulcers, the development of autoimmune or skin diseases, such as toxic epidermal necrolysis.
- Plaques and nodules, being possible to present a single tumor or several. In addition, during this episode the patient usually exposes scabs on the skin, much more extensive ulcers and the lymph nodes are affected.
- Oral mucosal disease, in which the gums, tongue and palate are damaged, developing ulcers, inflammation and depigmentation.
Depending on the episode in which the disease is found, the treatment to be followed will be one or the other, the most common being surgery, phototherapy and radiotherapy. Therefore, only the veterinarian can diagnose and treat epitheliotropic lymphoma, so we recommend going to the clinic as soon as possible if you observe any of the above symptoms.
The breeds of dogs most prone to this disease are Saint Bernards, Irish Setters, Boxers, German Shepherds, Cocker Spaniels and Golden Retrievers.
Other causes that explain why your dog's nose fades
Although the above reasons are the most common, they are not the only ones that answer the question why dogs' noses fade. As it is a pigmentation problem, it is logical to think that a poor diet, of low quality and without foods that stimulate the creation of melanin, this protein is affected negatively, producing a deficiency in the animal's body and consequent depigmentation of certain areas. To determine if this is the cause, it will suffice to review the diet offered to improve its quality and provide an adequate diet, with foods that favor the production of melanin, such as carrots, melon, pumpkin, spinach or papaya. These products are rich in beta-carotene, a pigment that is transformed in the body into vitamin A and is involved in the production of melanin.
On the other hand, as we said in the section dedicated to the winter nose, the sun's rays also influence on the production of melanin and, therefore, a dog that does not have exposure to sunlight can suffer from a deficiency of this protein and present hypopigmentation. Why? Very easy. In short, melanin is produced from cells known as "melanocytes" and its main function, in addition to determining the color of the skin, is to protect the body from the negative effects of ultraviolet rays, absorbing the radiation they emit. In this way, when the body receives the arrival of sunlight, it is activated naturally to stimulate melanocytes and favor the production of melanin. Without that signal, the immune system does not start this process. However, this does not mean that the animal should receive an overexposure if hypopigmentation is observed, since it could cause sunburn or other related skin problems.
Finally, it should be noted that lactating bitches may see their immune systems damaged, producing a clear depigmentation of the nose and lips.
