Vitiligo in Dogs

Many pet parents take great pride in the condition of their dog’s coat, so if they suddenly notice large patches of it losing its natural color — especially at a young age — they can be forgiven for being alarmed.

Vitiligo is often the explanation for this drastic change in a canine’s appearance. While the condition is certainly uncommon, the good news is that it’s rarely a sign of anything serious happening inside their body.

In this introductory summary of all things vitiligo, you’ll learn that:

• Vitiligo in dogs is more often than not nothing to worry about
• The condition is more common among certain breeds
• Your vet will still run tests to rule out other illnesses
  
  

What is Vitiligo in Dogs?

Vitiligo is a condition in which the skin and hair lose their natural pigment, leading to white or gray patches on the body. While these depigmented areas can look unsettling to pet parents, they’re not generally considered dangerous to your pet’s health.

That said, it’s still recommended to take your pet to the vet if you spot it happening. This is because there might be an underlying cause that requires further medical attention for the sake of your dog’s wider health.

Not only can dogs get vitiligo, but humans sometimes suffer from it, too. The disease isn’t contagious, however.

Just because a dog’s coat has changed color as a result of vitiligo, a parent should still try and keep it healthy-looking — it’s easy to keep up a good grooming regimen with a wellness plan

When it comes to vitiligo, there really is only one symptom — the discoloration of parts of a dog’s skin or fur.

There are two main types. The first is facial vitiligo, which can be a white spot on dogs nose or around the eyes. There’s also generalized vitiligo, which produces patches all over the body. This looks particularly striking on black or brown pets. The spread of the discoloration normally stops after three to six months.

Once the fur or skin loses color, it rarely reverses and re-pigments — just ask any parent whose hair is going gray!

Which Breeds Are More Likely to Develop Vitiligo?

There are certain dog breeds that have been seen to be more susceptible to vitiligo. These include:

• Belgian Tervurens
• Dachshunds
• Doberman Pinschers
• German Shepherds
• German Shorthaired Pointers
• Golden Retrievers
• Old English Sheepdogs
• Rottweilers
• Siberian Huskies
• Yellow Labradors

Vitiligo is widely considered to have a genetic basis in most cases. However, there are other instances that are potentially immune-mediated, meaning a dog’s immune system may, for some reason, start producing antibodies that destroy pigmentation. Stress can also play a role.

Toxic exposure is another possible explanation. This might destroy or inhibit the cells that produce melanin, the substance in the body that determines the color of hair, skin and eyes.

Seeing your dog suddenly start to change color or become patchy can be concerning at first. Even if it doesn’t look to be causing your dog any pain and they remain their usual healthy self, it’s still wise to book a check-up with the vet as there may be health issues causing the vitiligo. 

A vet will evaluate your dog’s condition and run diagnostic tests to establish the cause. This includes taking skin scrapings from the site of the fading and possibly blood tests to rule out other disorders such as a hormonal imbalance or hypothyroidism.

They’ll also look out for signs of stress and anxiety.

In the vast majority of cases of vitiligo in dogs, treatment isn’t required. That’s because rarely is vitiligo dangerous for dogs and there are usually no negative effects on their health or mindset. Parents should see a diagnosis as a way in which their dog is even more unique.

Some vets will recommend exposing a dog with vitiligo to more sunlight with the hope of stimulating melanin production and preventing new loss of color from occurring.

Others might give dietary guidance to promote the healthy function of the immune system — some even propose the use of Vitamin C or Omega-3 supplements.

This largely hands-off approach only differs when vets think that vitiligo might be linked to another medical condition. For example, if your dog looks to be stressed, it’s recommended to pinpoint the source of this worry and make lifestyle or environmental changes to get them settled once again.

Likewise, if your vet suspects an immune disorder behind the vitiligo, they’ll look to treat this to prevent further secondary conditions from developing. Again, this is extremely unlikely to bring back the color to your dog’s coat, but it will make them healthier.

Dogs can’t recover from cases of vitiligo, which sounds a lot more serious than the reality. Yes, color most likely won’t return to patches of fur from which it’s disappeared, but this won’t have any negative effect on your dog’s health. 
The only things parents can do is keep an eye on the spread and follow the advice of your vet. You’ll soon adjust to your dog’s new look — and may even grow to love it!

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