Question
Pippa
My PJR bitch was 5 last December. She has a white muzzle, brown round both eyes and ears. I have suddenly noticed that she is going white round the face really fast: a brown 'spot' on her upper lip has disappeared, and she has got a noticeably huge amount of white hair in the 'mask' of her face, right up over her eyes. This little dog is my life (she really saved my life after my partner left) and I am petrified she is going to age & die prematurely. She is my first PJR - my last dogs were gundog crosses and they didn't get white chins till about 10. Healthwise she is fine, active, not overweight. The only other change is that she is less tolerant of other dogs. Was spayed at 5 months, but had 2 major abdominal ops at 8 & 9 weeks (swallowed the teats off babies' dummies) - I got her from the Rescue Home at 13 weeks since when she's been pampered to the nth degree. No problems with her digestion, or anything else since then, we see vet annually for vaccs, health check, etc. She is pretty excitable - like all PJRs - but is however the sweetest natured dog imaginable. I discovered as a puppy she matured very fast, but I am worried that at only 5 this isn't normal. I've lots of books about PJRs but they concentrate on puppies, nothing on what to expect later on. Many thanks for your help.
AnswerHello Glenda,
Just because her hair has turned gray doesn't mean that she is aging internally. Like humans, some of us just go prematurely gray. (Phil Donahue, Bill Clinton, ) Premature graying in dogs does not mean the aging process has sped up. I'm sure it's surprising and unnerving to see her little face with gray markings, but it's really only superficial and caused by genetics. One or both of her parents probably grayed early too. I love the picture, very very cute. You take excellent care of her and I don't see any reason you should worry that she won't live another 10 years. Try to relax.
Good luck with Pippa!!
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