Maltese black nose

Question
My Maltese has slowly lost her beautiful balck nose.
We live in alaska and she doesn't get out that much, but at least an hour a week and she goes on alot of vacations with me to warm sunny areas.

She doesn't drink out of a plastic bowl, she is not in heat, her diet has not changed much...has always been good quality bulk race dog food.  She began losing her nose pigment at about 2 or 3 years of age.  She is now 5.

Is there anything else I can do to help get her pigment back?  She has beautiful dark eye halos.

Answer
Hi Jane,

An interesting and unique characteristic of the Maltese breed is its color-changing nose. The nose can change from coal black to a light brownish color or even pink depending on the amount of sunlight the animal is exposed to. The nose of a female Maltese may change color when she goes onto heat.
It could be that even though you try to take her to warmer sunny areas, your dog simply isn't getting enough sunlight.

Unfortunately, there may not be a lot you can do to restore your dog's nose to its more normal black color.

Some breeds of dogs can have a hereditary problem called vitiligo. In this condition, antibodies are formed against melanocytes, which are the pigment-containing cells that give the nose its color. The antibodies destroy these cells, resulting in the pale nose color. Your veterinarian can perform a biopsy of the affected area to confirm this diagnosis if needed.

Best of luck,
Patti