HAIR COLOR

Question
MY SHIH-POO IS BLACK & WHITE,JUST RECENTLY HIS FUR UNDER THE BOTTOM HALF IS BROWN.IS THIS NORMAL? HE'S 2 YRS.OLD

Answer
Hi Donna,

Starting with the obvious, have you tried to wash off the brown color that has appeared in your dog's coat?

Has your dog been licking the area where the color change is happening? The saliva can stain an area that receives a lot of licking to a reddish brownish color. Have you checked to see the condition of the skin in the area that's having the color change? Is it red, inflamed, is there any scaliness, does he have sores or pustules? Is there any itching?

If only the fur is involved, then I recommend you begin with the breeder or rescue shelter you got your dog from, and see what they think about the current changes in your dog's coat. If, under closer examination you find that there is a problem with the skin in that area, your dog should be examined by your veterinarian.

It's not uncommon for a dog's coat color to change as it ages. If there are no other symptoms such as licking or skin problems that would point to your dog is having a problem, then your dog probably isn't having a medical problem. In that case, there are special whitening shampoos which might help.
Brands to look for are: Espree Ultimate Whitening Shampoo for Dogs, Bright Magic Whitening Dog Shampoo, Cardinal Gold Medal Blue Diamond Shampoo, PETCO Whitening Shampoo for Dogs, to name a few.

Best of luck,
Patti