white and tan shitzu

Question
I have a 3 yearold male shitzu with skin allergies.  The allergies are being treated but his fur has changed to a rust color, especially on his stomach and his paws.  My groomer says there is nothing that will change the color of his fur back to its original color.  I was wondering if you might have any suggestions.

Answer
Hello Helen,

This discoloration is caused by your Shih Tzu's saliva.  Saliva contain small amounts of pigments called porphyrins that turn the hair brown or red, in your dog's case - rust color. Your groomer is correct in a way.  There are many products on the market that claim to remove the stains, but in my experience none of them are particularly effective.  The one's that do, take a long time to bring the color back , however by this time, your groomer could have shaved the affected hair down and in a several weeks time, grown back.  

There is a supplement that will help with your Shih Tzu's skin allergies and keep the stain from occurring that in 100% natural and safe.  If you would like more information you can go to my website.

Susan Potts  
Professional Groomer & Pet Food Adviser
440-254-3606
www.spottsgrooming.com Pro Groomer USA
www.pipschoice.com  www.frrco.com/120855 Holistic Foods
http://spottsdogcare.blogspot.com The Healthy Dog
www.nuvet.com/42299