Have you noticed your dog’s nose changing color from dark brown or black to pink during colder months? If so, it could be a harmless condition called snow nose. Dogs can get other more serious conditions that look like snow nose, though, so it is important to know the difference. Integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby explains the cause and symptoms of snow nose in dogs and what else might be causing your dog’s nose to change colors.
My dear friend has a “granddog” named Bear. Each winter, Bear’s adorable Labrador nose turns from brown to pink. As we were talking one day, my friend happened to mention that she recently heard about snow nose in dogs, and it perfectly fit what happened with Bear each winter.
This conversation made me realize that snow nose would be a great article for pet parents!
What is snow nose in dogs?
Snow nose in dogs (seasonal nasal hypopigmentation) is a temporary, benign condition that causes a dog’s nose to change color during winter months. More specifically, the dog’s normally dark brown or black nose loses pigment and turns pink. Sometimes, snow nose affects most or all of the dog’s nose. Other times, it only affects part of it. You may even see a dog with a pink stripe down the center of the nose.
What causes snow nose in dogs?
No one has been able to determine an exact cause for snow nose in dogs. However, some believe a breakdown of tyrosinase is the culprit. Tyrosinase is the enzyme responsible for producing melanin, which is what gives skin its pigment.
Tyrosinase is sensitive to cold, so this may explain why dogs develop snow nose in the colder months. Interestingly, tyrosinase also breaks down naturally with age. This means you may notice some senior dogs’ noses turning light brown as they get older.
Though this is one possible explanation, it does have a flaw. Dogs that live in warmer climates also sometimes get snow nose during winter despite the lack of cold weather. This winter nose phenomenon is still a bit of a mystery!
Which dogs get snow nose?
Although snow nose can affect any breed, we see it more in some dog breeds than others. Snow nose most commonly affects Siberian Huskies, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and Bernese Mountain Dogs.
What else can cause a dog’s nose to change color?
Snow nose isn’t the only reason that a dog might experience loss of pigment on the nose. Some of the other conditions that affect the nose are far less benign than snow nose and do require veterinary treatment. They include:
- Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE): DLE causes loss of pigment on the nose as well as ulcerations and loss of the normal “cobblestone” texture on the nose. It can affect the skin around the eyes, ears, and lips, too.
- Certain types of cancer, including lymphoma: For example, cutaneous lymphoma can cause hair loss, pigment changes, ulcerations, bumps, and redness around the nose, eyes, lips, or other places.
- Pemphigus foliaceous (PF): Dogs with PF may have blisters, ulcerations, and hair loss around the face, ears, and body in general, as well as systemic signs like fever and being a lethargic dog.
- Dog nose hyperkeratosis: Dogs with nasal hyperkeratosis may have dry, crusty noses that sometimes have bumps or fissures.
- Bacterial skin infection (pyoderma in dogs): A specific type of bacterial skin infection, mucocutaneous pyoderma, can cause the nose and/or lips to be red, swollen, and crusty.
- Fungal infection, including ringworm: Dogs with ringworm may have red, hairless, scaly, or itchy patches on their muzzle near the nose.
- Uveodermatologic syndrome (VKH-like syndrome): Pigment loss near the mouth, nose, and eyes is common in uveodermatologic syndrome, as are painful and inflamed eyes.
How do you know if your dog should go to the vet for changes in nose color?
If your dog’s nose is changing color and you are trying to decide if you should head to the vet, keep these two facts in mind:
- Snow nose just causes the nose to change colors. If your dog’s nose has changed color and also has developed crusting or ulcerated lesions, there is probably another culprit. You should head to the vet.
- Snow nose is always limited to the nose. If your dog has changes in other parts of the body (eyelids, lips, paw pads, skin, etc.), then a vet appointment is warranted.
Note: Early on, some of these snow nose “look-alikes” can also only cause nasal depigmentation, so it is best to monitor your dog closely, even if you think it is just snow nose. Be sure to contact your vet if anything changes.
Additionally, if you have any other concerns, the best thing you can do is make an appointment with the vet.
How is snow nose diagnosed?
Snow nose is a diagnosis of exclusion. This means that there is no specific diagnostic test that will definitively tell us that snow nose is responsible for the loss of pigment in the nose. Rather, diagnosing snow nose requires ruling out other conditions that may cause dog noses to change color.
Your veterinarian will recommend diagnostics based on your dog’s symptoms and history. This could be a biopsy of the tissue, bacterial or fungal cytology or culture, or other tests.
What is the treatment for snow nose?
There is no treatment necessary for snow nose. It’s not painful and isn’t harmful to the nose or the dog. Plus, snow nose is temporary. Once winter ends, the dog’s nose usually returns to its normal color.
However, dogs who develop snow nose once are likely to have it again each winter.
Snow nose is harmless, but when in doubt, head to the vet
If you notice your dog’s nose color changing during the winter, he or she may have snow nose. Remember, though, that while snow nose is benign and self-limiting, there are other, more serious conditions that can cause color change in dog noses. If in doubt, speak with your vet.
Has your dog ever had snow nose?
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