Nose Turning Pink?

[Guest StriderDog]

I arrived home for the holidays to see that one of my parent's mutts (so mixed I can't even guess what she might be!) has a nose that is turning pink. I remember reading somewhere that this is an indicator of some health problem, but I can't remember what. They've made an appointment with the vet for a week from now (since she's not in any apparent distress) and I'd love to be able to tell them what to ask the vet to look for.

 

Does anyone remember what a pink nose means?

 

[Guest SoulsMom]

With Discoid Lupus the nose loses it's cobblestone appearance, and can turn pink and bleed. Soul's is only pink at the corners.

 

I had a Pom once that lost the pigment in his nose. Not a thing wrong with him, his nose just turned pink!

 

Unless the nose is smooth and/or bleeding I wouldn't worry too much.

[greyhndz]

I arrived home for the holidays to see that one of my parent's mutts (so mixed I can't even guess what she might be!) has a nose that is turning pink. I remember reading somewhere that this is an indicator of some health problem, but I can't remember what. They've made an appointment with the vet for a week from now (since she's not in any apparent distress) and I'd love to be able to tell them what to ask the vet to look for.

 

Does anyone remember what a pink nose means?

 

 

Might be discoid lupus, particularly if the nose is scaly, raw, and crusty. DL dogs may also have pad involvement, with a thickened, scaly appearance. The vet should be able to diagnose this by biopsy. This isn't the same as systemic lupus -- the only organ system it affects is skin.

 

ETA: Ruby

 

 

Edited December 22, 2008 by houndznigz

[patricia]

Boogie looses the pigment in her nose in the winter...it turns black again in the Spring. Her nose right now is a pale pink...

[Hubcitypam]

I'm pretty sure allergies can cause it. It happened to my heices dog and turned out it was because she had plastic bowls for food and water.

[Fiona3]

Bailey's nose turns pink every winter. We were told that it is called "Snow Nose" and happens to some dogs in the winter. In the spring the pigment in his nose begins to darken again. We can see the differences in various seasonal photos. Check with your vet to be sure that none of the other illnesses are the cause just in case.