I bet you love your golden retriever’s adorable whiskers and wet nose but have you ever wondered why your dog’s nose changes color?
If your golden retriever’s nose turns pink or light brown, particularly during the cold winter months, your furry-friend might have hypopigmentation, a condition commonly known as ‘winter nose’ or ‘dog snow nose’ in some circles. This is a fairly common condition that causes a dog’s nose to lighten in color.
As a pet owner, you may be concerned when your dog’s nose changes pigmentation from its natural darker color to light brown or pink.
Read on to find out what causes it, what to do, and when to have a vet take a look at it.
The color your dog’s nose changes to usually depends on their natural shade. If your golden retriever’s nose is naturally brown, his or her winter nose will take a light brown shade. On the other hand, it may turn pink or a darker shade of brown if your dog’s nose is normally black.
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Hypopigmentation
The actual cause of hypopigmentation is not fully known, but most veterinarians and pet experts believe that low temperature or frost may have something to do with it. That’s because this color change is mostly seen during winter. Some vets think certain enzymes may also be a potential culprit for hypopigmentation.
While golden retrievers bear the biggest brunt of winter nose, it isn’t the only dog breed that’s affected by this condition. Winter nose is also quite common in Siberian huskies, Labradors, Bernese mountain dogs, and other breeds with light-colored or white coats. The dog’s nose becomes lighter after pigmentation loss that usually happens during winter when there’s little or no sunlight.
Your golden retriever’s nose can turn pink/brown either permanently or temporarily. And there’s a wide range of other reasons why this occurs:
Aging
The color of your dog’s nose is determined primarily by genetics. However, your golden retriever’s nose may go from its original brown or black color to light brown or pink as your four-legged friend ages. In this case, it’s just a normal part of the aging process.
Enzyme Breakdown
Ever wondered why your dog’s nose changes only during cold weather or winter months? This is thought to be caused by the breakdown of a pigment-producing enzyme called tyrosinase.
Tyrosinase plays a big role in the production of melanin, a pigment that’s responsible for the dark beautiful color of your dog’s nose. Turns out, this enzyme is very sensitive to cold and therefore works optimally in warmer weather. When it gets too cold, tyrosinase falters and the nose starts to shed its dark shade.
Illness
For the most part, a winter nose is just a cosmetic thing. It normally doesn’t affect the nose function and health. However, you may have a reason to get concerned if the color change is due to an illness, which may range from an autoimmune disorder to an infection. This is especially the case if it occurs suddenly, often accompanied by worrying symptoms like bleeding, cracking, or flaking.
That’s right; sometimes the dog’s nose will become lighter when your doggo is not well. For instance, if she suffers from a scratch, abrasion, or scape to her nose, your golden retriever’s nose will go light brown or pink as it heals. Lucky for you, the nose will change back to its default black color once the healing scab goes away.
Vitiligo
Another common disease that may cause the nose of your golden retriever to go pink or brown. This is an autoimmune condition in which the disease-fighting immune system mistakenly attacks pigment-producing nose cells. It’s a serious health issue that should be checked out by the vet sooner rather than later. Your dog’s hair may turn white or develop white patches, as well.
Allergic reaction (contact dermatitis)
In some dogs, contact dermatitis may cause their nose to go lighter and lose some color. This is an allergic condition that often affects areas where the skin has less or no hair, hence not properly protected from irritation.
Some golden retrievers are allergic to water bowls, plastic treats, and other potential irritants. If they come into contact with these items repeatedly, their nose may turn pink in color over time. You may also see rashes, runny nose, bumps, swelling, and other signs of inflamed skin.
Should I Be Worried About My Dog’s Winter Nose?
The dark adorable nose is one of the most loved features of a golden retriever. When your dog’s sniffer turns pink or brown, it is only natural to get concerned, especially if you’re a first-time dog parent. This begs the question: should you be worried about your dog’s nose losing its darker cute color?
Most golden retrievers’ noses go lighter during cold weather, and that’s not unusual. In the vast majority of cases, you don’t have to worry about winter nose because it’s a pretty cosmetic thing that won’t harm your pet’s health or nose function. It usually is nothing more than a color change that’s temporary as the nose will return to its original darker shade once it gets warmer.
As your golden retriever ages, the pink or light brown color may stick around longer and eventually becomes permanent. Even still, the dog’s nose is healthy and functions normally, only that it’s now less-pigmented than it used to be. However, there are some cases where a winter nose is a sign of a more serious underlying health issue.
If you notice that your dog is showing telltale signs of an illness — such as wheezing, sneezing, nasal discharge, sores, or crusts, you’d be better off seeing your vet. A dry nose or unpleasant smell could indicate an infection, autoimmune disease, or tumor. This is usually true if the pigmentation loss is sudden and aggressive.
If your dog has a tumor or nasal polyps, a winter nose usually appears along with noisy breathing, excessive mucus secretion, and bloody discharge from the nose. Sometimes an object may be lodged in your dog’s nose, which causes them to paw at the nose or experience nosebleeds, as well as develop nose pinking.
In any or all of these serious cases, you should consult your veterinarian immediately.
Can Winter Nose Be Prevented or Treated?
As we’ve established hypopigmentation is generally not a health concern, unless it’s linked to a serious underlying condition. It’s mostly a cosmetic or temporary issue that’ll rectify itself. But can your dog’s snow nose be prevented or treated?
The exact reason why dog’s noses turn pink or brown from their darker color is still a mystery. Unfortunately, that also means there’s little you could do to treat or prevent this from happening. There are no known ways to treat it, and, luckily, there’s no need for one.
How Should I Take Care of My Dog’s Winter Nose?
You probably wonder if the pink nose is going to affect your pooch’s quality of life. How should you care for a dog whose nose has recently turned lighter?
Whether your golden retriever’s nose has turned brown/pink either permanently or temporarily, it’s paramount that you apply some sunscreen to protect your furry-friend from nasty sunburns during hot weather. It’s crucial that sunscreen draws a veil over every pink part of the nose during summer.