If you notice areas of your dog’s skin have become darker or thicker, it could be an indication of hyperpigmentation.

What causes hyperpigmentation in dogs can be a number of different things – we’ll look into potential causes later in this guide. However, hyperpigmentation is not considered a disease, nor does it typically warrant emergency treatment and intervention.

Hyperpigmentation in dogs can be an indication of an underlying medical condition though, and your veterinarian should be consulted for further advice and to discuss possible treatment, if deemed necessary.

In this guide, we’ll explain more about hyperpigmentation in dogs and what causes it. We’ll also detail likely treatment methods.

Hyperpigmentation in dogs is usually reasonably easy to identify, because the common symptoms are visible.

Skin is either clearly different in color – this can be anything from light brown to black – or thickened and hairless. Or, you could see evidence of both in your dog.

There could be more subtle physical signs, too. There could be small patches of rough skin, or areas of the body that appear red around the edges. Look out, too, for areas of hair loss or anything about your dog’s coat that looks different to usual.

Hot spots for hyperpigmentation in dogs are in and around the legs and the groin, but if the cause isn’t identified and treated, the areas affected can easily spread to other parts of your pup’s body, including the stomach, ears and neck.

So, to recap, symptoms of hyperpigmentation in dogs can include:

It’s important to understand that, before we get into what causes hyperpigmentation in dogs, there are two different types of this condition: primary and secondary.

Primary hyperpigmentation in dogs is relatively rare, in that it’s breed specific and not caused by any kind of medical issue. Not only that, but it’s most typically associated with Dachshunds and the symptoms are usually identified by the time the affected dog is one year old. There isn’t a cure for primary hyperpigmentation in dogs but, often, no treatment is needed anyway as it’s just a cosmetic condition, not a medical one.

Secondary hyperpigmentation in dogs is different. This is triggered by an underlying cause, which will need to be diagnosed by a veterinarian, and treated, to improve.

Possible causes include:

Dog breeds that are considered at risk of getting hyperpigmentation are therefore those that tend to be diagnosed with these health conditions.

This includes, but isn’t limited to, Labrador Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, Pugs and Rottweilers (obesity); Irish Setters, Doberman Pinschers and Miniature Schauzers (hormonal abnormalities); German Shepherds and Jack Russell Terriers (allergies) and Border Collies, Great Danes and Dalmatians (contact dermatitis).

Hyperpigmentation in dogs isn’t a disease in and of itself — instead, it’s a reaction to something else going on with the skin. 

The causes of hyperpigmentation vary greatly and are typically signs of larger medical concerns your dog is experiencing.

A veterinarian needs to diagnose hyperpigmentation in dogs — only then, when the condition has been confirmed and the cause identified — can a course of treatment be implemented.

Your veterinarian will want to perform a full physical exam and history. Gentle scrapings of your dog’s skin may be taken to determine any underlying causes such as parasites or infections. If allergies are thought to be the culprit, food trials may be done to attempt to isolate the cause of symptoms. 

sure your veterinarian has identified the underlying cause of your dog’s symptoms.

Is hyperpigmentation in dogs dangerous? The good news is no, not typically. Depending on the root cause, it can usually be successfully treated – though if the hyperpigmentation is primary there is no cure.

However, when caught early enough the signs can be managed with shampoos and steroid ointments. Other medications can be used as signs increase or get worse. In the event that there are any other infections, those will be treated as well.

When the diagnosis is secondary hyperpigmentation your dog’s skin will return to normal once the underlying issue is taken care of. It will be important to also treat any bacterial or yeast infections that he has as well as the hyperpigmentation.

Antibiotics and antifungal medications can be used to treat yeast infections and bacterial infections of your dog’s skin. Medicated shampoos may also be utilized to help your dog’s skin. Treatment is applied 2-3 times a week, but be warned; progress may be slow. Relapse of hyperpigmentation will only be high if the underlying cause of the symptom is not taken care of correctly.

In cases of hyperpigmentation in dogs, treatment may take some time to be effective – so make sure you persist.

As identified above, progress can be slow and it can take weeks or months before your dog’s skin appears normal again.

Your veterinarian will discuss any need for follow-up appointments for your pup. In many cases, follow-up will be needed to continue treating the underlying cause of hyperpigmentation in dogs.