Hi everyone, I've noticed over the last few months that my 14-month-old Golden Retriever Naya's nose has turned from a standard black to pink over quite a large area. The breed standard clearly states that the nose should be black. What could be causing this loss of pigment?
She seems perfectly healthy, and the area doesn't look infected. Does anyone have any advice? Should I be worried, or is this fairly common in the breed? Thanks in advance.
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In the winter, my Golden’s nose changes from almost black to a chocolate brown. My Aussie has patches that are somewhere between light brown and pink, and in the winter his nose gets even lighter, almost pink. Their vet said it was perfectly normal! 🙂
Lol, actually there’s still a bit of room for anthropomorphism (sort of): our noses change colour sometimes too, they go all red when it’s cold. 🤭😉
(Tibidou is such a cutie! ^^)
You're right, this change in colour can indeed be seasonal: a dog's nose often lightens in the winter and regains its pigment in the summer.
However, it would be best to see your vet for a specialist dermatology consultation. Depending on the cause of the pigment loss, the vet can then decide on the most appropriate treatment.
Also, bear in mind that most types of nose discolouration make the skin much more sensitive to the sun. During the summer, you'll need to make sure you protect it to avoid sunburn by applying sunscreen—ideally a gel, as it absorbs more quickly and is harder for them to lick off.
It might be what's known as 'snow nose'; this loss of pigment often happens in winter, which is where the name comes from. As long as there’s no sign of infection, itching, or discharge, just wait a few months. If the discolouration is still there once the weather warms up, you'll definitely need to get it checked by a vet.
My girl has the exact same thing. She’s originally from Réunion, and I noticed her nose started fading in November. We’ll have to see if it darkens up again when the sun comes back out.
Haha, the sun in Guadeloupe must be better then! Nono’s nose is still jet black!
It could be what’s known as "snow nose"; this loss of pigment often happens in winter, which is where the nickname comes from. As long as there aren’t any signs of infection, itching, or discharge, I’d just wait it out for a few months. If the discolouration is still there once the weather warms up, then a trip to the vet might be necessary.
My dog has exactly the same thing. She’s originally from Reunion Island, and I noticed her nose started losing its black colour in November. We’ll see if it darkens up again when the sun comes back.
Hi there, I have some friends with a Golden Retriever, he’s about 9 or 10 years old. A few years ago, their dog developed the same symptoms as yours. It started with his nose, then he got dandruff and the skin on his body began to turn black. On top of that, the dog started to smell quite bad. After a trip to the vet, the verdict was... Golden Retriever Ichthyosis. It’s a genetic condition that can’t be cured, but dogs live perfectly well with it. They switched his dry food and he doesn’t smell bad anymore.
It could be what’s known as "snow nose" – this loss of pigment often happens in winter, which is where it gets its name.
As long as there are no signs of infection, itching, or discharge, I’d suggest waiting a few months. If the colour hasn’t returned by the summer, you'll need to take them to the vet to get it checked out.
