NewGrey2017 Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 Okay, perhaps purple is a strong choice. I'm not real good with colors but a brownish/light purplish hue. He's a 3.5 year old red fawn male that we have had for 5 months. We finally won a 4 month battle (not the war) with hookworms and are just now getting to the point where every poop he takes is not diarrhea. His butt hair has mostly grown back from his track days. All good things. Over the past few months, his "undercoat" has been darkening. It is easiest to see it on his belly. His belly used to be mostly white. The "purple" is creeping down from the sides. He now has some speckling and the strip of white on his belly has become narrower. Many of his nipples have darkish rings around them, whereas they used to be hard to find. His legs seem darker than before. Meanwhile.....if anything, he seems healthier and happier. I've had some powerful vet bills since adoption to get him healthy, fully vaccinated, dewormed, etc., so I don't want to haul him to the vet for another load of tests to find out that....yep, he's purple. So, I'm inclined to do nothing, nickname him Barney and take a wait and see approach. But, I don't want to be one of those owners who ignored their dog's transition to muppet until it was too late. Anyone have a similar experience or able to comment that my dog will probably explode if I don't get this looked at? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racindog Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 I have had some hounds change color as well. Goldie was a brindle whose brown part of the brindle became deeper and reddish rust brown and brighter, beautiful really, after I put him on Seameal. Before it was a pale buff color. I have also had several hounds whose belly skin got really dark, almost black, in the spring and summer I think from possibly laying in the sun etc. They were not sun burnt ever but the skin still darkened. So in the absence of other symptoms I wouldn't worry about it. IMO it probably means better nutrition is bringing out the best in him hehe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EllenEveBaz Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 Nothing to worry about, IMHO. I've had a few hounds whose skin color changed dramatically but not consistently with the seasons. One was a red fawn whose butt and belly skin would turn a dark grey-purple, then a lighter pink-purple. One of my current red brindles will turn darker on his face and legs in the winter. Kinda like a striped bay horse or a German shepherd. Very handsome. Enjoy your purple boy! Quote Ellen, with brindle Milo and the blonde ballerina, Gelsey remembering Eve, Baz, Scout, Romie, Nutmeg, and Jeter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbotaina Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 Does he like to sun bathe? That will definitely do it I've seen a lot of fawns with purple-ish skin coloring. Quote Meredith with Heyokha (HUS Me Teddy) and Crow (Mike Milbury). Missing Turbo (Sendahl Boss), Pancho, JoJo, and "Fat Stacks" Juana, the psycho kitty. Canku wakan kin manipi."Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." - Voltaire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewGrey2017 Posted April 4, 2018 Author Share Posted April 4, 2018 Does he like to sun bathe? That will definitely do it I've seen a lot of fawns with purple-ish skin coloring. Thanks to all for responding. Though we do have a fenced yard (3.5 foot picket), I don't let him out there to lounge. Between the hookworm and the diarrhea, I monitor his outside activity 100%. Also, we haven't had a whole lot of sun since we got him and they are calling for snow again this weekend. This is the south for pete's sake! I'm transitioning to the 3rd different kind of dog food (IAMS green bag) and perhaps that is having an impact. Also, I switched from Interceptor to Advantage Multi (topical) to battle the hookworms, so that could have an impact as well I suppose. But so far the consensus seems to be let purple dogs lie, which is what I was hoping to hear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerilyn Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 Don’t worry, I don’t think your dog is turning into a muppet. My Lila is a red fawn who came to me with light pink skin on her underside. It started turning grey/purple in the summers to eventually being dark all the time. Maybe it’s just a function of ageing. Quote Jerilyn, missing Lila (Good Looking), new Mistress to Wiki (PJ Wicked). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeofNE Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 My Buck is very purple. It's because his skin is actually so pale that the purple is the blood beneath the surface. Nothing to worry about. Quote Susan, Hamish, Mister Bigglesworth and Nikita Stanislav. Missing Ming, George, and Buck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTRAWLD Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 As long as it doesn't look like bruising - which could be a sign of low platelets! Quote Proudly owned by:10 year old "Ryder" CR Redman Gotcha May 201012.5 year old Angel "Kasey" Goodbye Kasey Gotcha July 2005-Aug 1, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palmettobug Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 Yep, Johnny is a red fawn boy who loves to sunbathe--and thus he is purple-bellied in the summer! Even through the glass of the door and all the hair he grew this winter. Quote Current Crew: Gino-Gene-Eugene! (Eastnor Rebel: Makeshift x Celtic Dream); Fuzzy the Goo-Goo Girl (BGR Fuzzy Navel: Boc's Blast Off x Superior Peace); Roman the Giant Galoot! (Imark Roman: Crossfire Clyde x Shana Wookie); Kitties Archie and Dixie Forever Missed: K9 Sasha (2001-2015); Johnny (John Reese--Gable Dodge x O'Jays) (2011-19); the kitties Terry and Bibbi; and all the others I've had the privilege to know Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinw Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 I had a guy who used to turn purple every summer. Quote Xavi the galgo and Peter the cat. Missing Iker the galgo ?-Feb.9/19, Treasure (USS Treasure) April 12/01-May 6/13, Phoenix (Hallo Top Son) Dec.14/99-June 4/11 and Loca (Reko Swahili) Oct.9/95 - June 1/09, Allen the boss cat, died late November, 2021, age 19. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramonaghan Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 Add Sweep to the list of sometimes-purple-bellied fawn hounds. Definitely gets darker in the summer. Quote Rachel with Doolin Doodle Dooooo, boss cat Tootie, and feline squatters Crumpet and Fezziwig. Missing gentlemen kitties Mud, Henry, and Richard and our gorgeous, gutsy girlhounds Sweep and Willa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleptogrey Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 Felix is a red fawn and we see increased pigmentation every spring. Then wait.....he may also get the shaven chest look as well. Don't worry.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FiveRoooooers Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 I think we need a photo Quote Old Dogs are the Best Dogs. Thank you, campers. Current enrollees: Punkin. AnnIE Oooh M, Ebbie, HollyBeeBop (Betty Crocker). Angels: Pal . Segugio. Sorella (TPGIT). LadyBug. Zeke-aroni. MiMi Sizzle Pants. Gracie. Seamie . (Foster)Sweet. Andy. PaddyALVIN!Mayhem. Bosco. Bruno. Dottie B. Trevor Double-Heart. Bea. Cletus, KLTO. Aiden 1-4. Upon reflection, our lives are often referenced in parts defined by the all-too-short lives of our dogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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