Content
- Vitiligo in dogs: what is it
- Vitiligo in dogs: causes
- Dog with vitiligo: how to diagnose
- Nasal Depigmentation in Dogs
- Vitiligo in dogs: treatment
O vitiligo in dogs, also known as hypopigmentation, is a very rare disorder in this species, and about which little information is available. Do you suspect your dog has vitiligo? In this article by PeritoAnimal, we will explain what it is, what the symptoms are and how the treatment is.
We'll also talk about the depigmentationnasal, since this is a disorder with which vitiligo can be confused, due to the similarity of its clinical picture. If you read on, you can find out if your dog has vitiligo, as it's important to get an accurate diagnosis.
Vitiligo in dogs: what is it
Vitiligo is a disorder that causes depigmentation of skin and hair, visible mainly at the facial level, especially on the muzzle, lips, nose and eyelids. dogs with vitiligo have all the normal pigments when they are born but as they grow, the color clears and the pigment that was black turns brown, due to the loss of intensity.
Vitiligo in dogs: causes
It is important to note that the causes of vitiligo in dogs are unclear. it is believed that antimelanocyte antibodies may be involved. These antibodies create defenses against their own melanocytes, which are the cells responsible for producing pigments, such as those that provide the characteristic coloration of a dog's nose. Due to their absence, when destroyed, they cause depigmentation.
Dog with vitiligo: how to diagnose
The diagnosis of vitiligo in dogs is obtained with a pathological anatomy study to confirm that we are facing this process. As we will see in the next section, vitiligo can be confused with nasal depigmentation. In fact, this may be a form of vitiligo in the dog. Remember that only one vet can confirm or rule out a diagnosis of vitiligo.
Nasal Depigmentation in Dogs
Nasal depigmentation can be confused with vitiligo in dogs, as we said. Although they are different processes, there are similarities between them, and that is why doubt can arise. This depigmentation is a syndrome that also has unknown origin.It especially affects the area of the nose that is devoid of hair. Some breeds seem to have a greater tendency to suffer from this depigmentation, such as the Afghan Hound, Samoyed, Irish Setter, English Pointer and Poodle, among others.
As in the case of vitiligo, these dogs are born with the black nose, without us being able to notice any difference regarding dogs without this disorder. Also, over time, the intensity of the color is lost until the black turns to a brown hue. 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 notice the lack of pigmentation in the nose area. This phenomenon is known as snow nose, or nose of snow, and usually occurs only seasonally, during the colder months, as the name implies. At this time it is possible to notice that the black pigment in the dog's nose loses intensity, although complete depigmentation does not occur. After the cold, the color recovers.In this case, we can say that it is a seasonal abnormality.
Vitiligo in dogs: treatment
Does not exist Vitiligo treatment in dogs. The lack of pigment is only an aesthetic problem. It seems that there are several home remedies to restore pigmentation, but none have been proven to be effective. Of course, if the dog has no pigments, the tutor must be careful and protect him from the sun, since otherwise he could suffer from burns. you can apply sunscreens, always according to your veterinarian's prescription.
Also check out this beautiful story about Rowdy, a dog with vitiligo, and a child with the same condition:
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.