Snow nose?

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#1
So I was researching snow nose...as Chili has proved to have one, I was thinking it was som'thing that perhaps certain breeds carried, so I was hoping to learn about the genetics...

during my rooting around, I kept finding small references to this being a problem, as in it was an indicator of thyroid problems, vitamin deficiencies and so on.


the only thing that made sense to me was that it would come and go with sun exposure, and that perhaps it was a dominant trait in dogs...


anyway, any antedotes, research, experience welcome. Iam curious now.

EDIT. I wanted to add that he has the same thing on his feet pads...pink in the winter, black in the summer.
 

MicksMom

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#2
Hmm, interesting about the thyroid thing. I have my doubts, tho. Our Siberian/GSD had a snow nose, and no health problems what so ever- other than hearing loss as he aged, and losing his sight after a stroke at 16 1/2.

...the only thing that made sense to me was that it would come and go with sun exposure, and that perhaps it was a dominant trait in dogs...
Caleb has a snow nose, too. Something I noticed this past summer about his was that his nose got lighter after cooling off in his pool and darkened back up again after coming inside. Same thing this winter- his nose is very pink when after he's been outside, but gets darker after he warms up.

There are some Lab people who swear that adding kelp to their dogs' diets has improved the pigment. Also, so people make it a point to sit out in the sun with their snow nosed prone Labs.

Something else I've experienced, first with the Sibe/GSD, and now with Caleb- each winter, the nose is pinker than the year before, and takes longer to turn dark in the spring/summer. Our Sibe/GSD started out with just a little pink stripe up the middle of his nose. Each winter, the stripe got longer and wider, and the dark pigment on the sides lighter. The summer before he died, his nose was grey, not black. Caleb's nose gets more pink each year, too.

Dec 2006 (5 months)


December 2007



December 2008



And earlier January of this year
 
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#3
I did read som'thing about kelp...since my dog is a mutt anyways, I don't really care about the look, I noticed alot of people in the articles having mini freakouts, I guess because its a fault in som' breeds?

The thyroid thing seemed far fetched to me too, but i wasn't sure.

Chili just kinda has a strip in the center that is pink...that and his pads are all pink.

Your dog's a cutie pie...i love the santa hat. :)
 

MicksMom

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I did read som'thing about kelp...since my dog is a mutt anyways, I don't really care about the look, I noticed alot of people in the articles having mini freakouts, I guess because its a fault in som' breeds?...
I don't know about other breeds, but I know you can show a Lab with a snow nose (I questioned it when I saw a picture of Buzz, one of the top winning Labs a few years ago, with a snow nose), so it's definitely not a DQ. Considering all the winning Buzz did, I can't picture it being a fault, either.
Caleb's snow nose has actually extended to the bottom lid of his eyes, too.

...Your dog's a cutie pie...i love the santa hat.
Thank you. He's something else, that's for sure, and so much fun!
 

bubbatd

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Ollie's black nose is still a snow nose for over a year . My other Goldens alway went back to black .
 
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#6
You can add walnut oil to your dogs food, it helps with the pigmentation! It's not good if komondorok don't have dark pigment around eyes,nose,bridge of the nose, lips & pads.

 

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