Features
August 2011 Issue
Pigment loss on your dog’s nose is not generally a health problem, though some dogs with light noses may suffer sunburns. Using a sunscreen formulated for dogs is recommended to give a pink nose protection from the sun.
Identifying and Treating Skin Conditions that can Affect Your Dog
Numerous conditions, some quite painful, that can affect your dog’s feet and face.
Yikes! What happened to Fido’s nose? And what’s wrong with Fluffy’s paw pads? The possibilities are many, and a surprising number of nose and paw pad problems are related. Because illnesses in this category often have similar or identical symptoms, a veterinarian’s diagnosis can be important. The following overview will help you identify, prevent, or treat these disorders. The most frequently asked questions about dogs’ noses concern color. Dogs have black or dark noses and paw pads because of melanin, a pigment that darkens skin. When melanin production slows or stops, the skin lightens uniformly or in patches. The term nasodigital refers to both nose and toes. A thickening of the outer layer of skin (hyperkeratosis) at the edges of the nose or paw pads can develop into painful cracks, fissures, erosions, and ulcers.
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