Dog Community

pink skin and freckles

Posted : 5/20/2013 4:48:29 AM

Sadie is mostly white, with freckles I can see through her fur. Will I always see these freckles, or will it change when her adult coat comes in? (She's about 18 weeks.) I know pinkish skin CAN be a sign of allergies. Her skin is pink, but I don't see her scratching much. What I do notice though is that at times, her skin gets pinker. For example, she was playing with another dog yesterday, and she looked very pink. Is this just from being active, or if her skin isn't a consistent color should I worry about allergies?

Freedom

Posted : 5/20/2013 7:47:17 AM

Bichons have pink skin with "cow spots," as we call them. Areas of pigment. For this breed, the more pigmentation, the less likely the dog will have allergies. A bichon from a poor breeding line (puppy mill, backyard breeding) will have very few cow spots, and these bichons tend to have many allergies, not only food allergies but also environmental. For bichons, the amount of pigmentation does not change with age.

I only know the bichon breed, with regard to this issue. So I do not know if it is something which is breed specific, or not.

Oh, and white dogs tend to get many more skin issues with age. In old age, white dogs (bichons, maltese, American Eskimo) get many lumps, bumps and diddlyumps, as I call them, lol. Skin cysts are common. Most are benign and we only deal with them if they are in an area which means they get rubbed often (with grooming, for example). I'm talking about over age 10, for these skin issues.

SadieLady

Posted : 5/20/2013 3:27:51 PM

She is a "hound mix" with lots of cow spots. So, is it normal for the kin to change color due to activity?

denise m

Posted : 5/20/2013 4:09:01 PM

You may notice the spots darkening and increasing in the summer - just like human freckles.

JackieG

Posted : 5/20/2013 6:11:12 PM

Yes, skin will darken with increased blood flow from activity. It's more noticeable on dogs with a lack of pigmentation like your dog. It's nothing to worry about when you see it during or after exercise.

SadieLady

Posted : 5/20/2013 7:13:18 PM

Even her "knuckles" get pinker which I know also happens with allergies.

calliecritturs

Posted : 5/22/2013 9:55:58 AM

Tara -- HOPE HOPE HOPE you are not seeing allergies at this time. Don't stress over this -- typically they are about 2 before allergies begin showing up -- you really really do *not* want to "go there" with allergies this young. It's not like human kids who have allergies worse as children and then 'grow out of' them -- with dogs, allergies show up far more as they age.

SadieLady

Posted : 5/23/2013 4:41:11 AM

Exactly Callie. That's what I've been reading and it has me thinking if she does have allergies, it can only get worse. She really seems fine. No tummy issues or anything. I think her coat is just really light at this point. I am giving her fish oil.