Snow Nose-Hypopigmentation

[Cha Cha]

So, I was reading all the threads today on white/silver color and the Standard/Parti colored threads, when I rememberd I was going to google why my Mylee's little black nose is turning to a brownish color. Nothing serious, just got my curiosity going and work is slow. Turns out she may have snow nose. So, it says it occurs mainly in light colored breeds. Yorkies are not considered light colored "breeds", but she is light colored. It will be interesting to see if it turns back to black in the summer. She already gets a high quality dog food (fed in a ceramic bowl).

SNOW NOSE OR WINTER NOSE IN DOGS - Chinaroad Lowchens of Australia

SNOW NOSE Technically called "hypopigmentation" (or snow nose, winter nose) it results from loss of sunlight, and causes the nose to fade to brown in winter; normal colour returns as summer approaches. Snow nose occurs mainly in light-coated breeds; the colour change can become permanent in older dogs. It is not associated with disease.

Another reason for this condition is a deficiency of B vitamins, PABA in particular.


Get rid of plastic food bowls and replace them with metal or ceramic bowls since some pets may be allergic to plastic. Plastic dish dermatitis can occur if the dog eats or drinks out of plastic or rubber bowls. It is triggered by a reaction to an antioxidant found in the dishes.

Vitaligo causes black depigmentation in the nose and sometimes the lips to fade to brown.

PABA

PABA is the shortened name for para-aminobenzoic acid that is often thought of as only an ingredient used in sunscreens, while it is in actual fact a nutritional ingredient as well. Since it is a moiety of PGA, a form of folic acid, some health professionals do not consider it a vitamin, but only a B-complex factor.

PABA is used to improve the protein used in the body, it relates to red blood cell formation as well as assisting the manufacture of folic acid in the intestines. Para-aminobenzoic acid is used in sunscreen preparations since it can help protect the skin against ultra-violet radiation.

It has been linked to hair growth as well as reversing the greying of hair, but these results are disappointing. People suffering from vitiligo, over - pigmentation of skin, or without pigment in some spots, have reported an improvement of the skin after more PABA was ingested.

Best used with Vitamin C and the B group vitamins, plus Folic Acid are best taken with PABA.

PABA is found in liver, kidney, brewer's yeast, molasses, whole grains, bran, yoghurt, mushrooms and spinach, and can be made by intestinal bacteria.
TIP A new herbal remedy for animals is called Chorela. It is supposed to stimulate the immune system and has proven helpful in treating dogs that lose pigment from their nose, and also dogs that have the nasty habit of eating their own droppings. Seek advice on this product from your vet or a naturopath.

SNOW NOSE "REMEDY"

Another suggested "remedy" is:
B Complex With Choline, Inositol & PABA

Vitamin C, Calcium Ascorbate powder

Megamino Amino Acids

The Vitamin C works together with the B to help absorption. Give just before meals. One B Complex tablet in the AM and one in the PM. The Vitamin C is given by body weight. ½ tsp. for each 50lbs of weight. The Amino Acid tablet is given in the AM only.

Vitamins B and C are water soluble and once the body has absorbed what it needs, it will eliminate the rest. These vitamins are not stored in the body. They are also helpful with stress (for you too) and for the skin in general. In case you don't know it, the B vitamins that brighten our dogs' coats and darken their pigments work on us too. The B vitamins are necessary for our skin and for our hair colour. If your hair is prematurely grey, it may be a simple Vitamin B deficiency. There are documented cases where grey hair turned back to its natural colour after supplementing with the B complex vitamins.

It is very probable that the success you will have in returning your dog's pigment back to black will be directly related to the diet you feed - in addition to the above supplementation.

[bchgirl]

Both of my yorkies' noses lose pigment over the winter months...and it returns to normal once warm weather comes. A little doggie nose tan.

[Rhetts_mama]

Is that what it is? I was wondering why Rhett's nose is turning lighter in the center. At first I thought he had been digging in the dirt, but it wouldn't wipe off.

Funny, seeing as how he is the darker of my pups and Scarlett who is going to be a blondie has her nose as dark as ever.

[yorkieusa]

Their noses will turn a bit of a brownish-color in winter when they don't get enough sun. That's all it is.

[Patti]

Roxie's stays that way all year long. But she isn't out in the sun much. I will have to get her out more this summer.

[MiasMomandDad]

Is there a particular brand of supplement that you would recommend?

[Carmeow]

I was just googling info about why Rosie's nose might be getting lighter in the center, a light Brown almost pink color, and saw this thread. Very interesting. Is Mylee's nose still light, 3 years later?

[Marhcarter]

I had a yellow lab with a pink nose that would turn black in the summer when he was outside more. I figured he was just getting a tan!
Carmen, maybe Rosie just needs a good sunbeam spot to lay in daily?

[Cha Cha]

Originally Posted by Carmeow

I was just googling info about why Rosie's nose might be getting lighter in the center, a light Brown almost pink color, and saw this thread. Very interesting. Is Mylee's nose still light, 3 years later?

Last night it was still coal black, but it usually turns pinkish as winter sets in and she's outdoors less. So we will see.