Puppy muzzle turning pink???

[Tigger-Roo]

Tigger's muzzle has been completely black since we bought him. His chin has white with an ADORABLE pink area in the center. We went on vacation for a week and when we came home, noticed that he now has some pink on one side of his muzzle. It just looks like small bits of pink skin just like his chin and much like many boxers have pink on their muzzles. Is it normal for a black muzzle to all of a sudden have some pink? He's almost 9 months old.

Thanks!

 

[gmacleod]

I'd say that was pretty unusual. It's not unusual for white areas around the muzzle to become black over time, but I don't think I've ever heard of it the other way round. From what you describe though, it sounds a little more like an irritation of some kind, probably accompanied by loss of hair (which would be why you're seeing the pink skin). Could it be acne, sunburn or an allergy or is it really a change in pigmentation?

 

[Tigger-Roo]

muzzle turning pink...

I don't know, I'm going to try to get a close shot of it tonight and post it. It doesn't look like acne or irritated. You have to look closely, which hubby and I always do, to notice. We both noticed as soon as we picked him up from our vacation. I too have always heard and seen pink areas, such as the nose turn black over time but not the other way around. Also, since his muzzle is black, should he lose hair, shouldn't the skin beneath be black, not pink?
I'll post again when examined MORE closely and post a picture as well.

 

[gmacleod]

Yep, I'd have expected black skin. Will be very interested to see a pic

 

[JulieM]

When my bitch had her first litter, she licked the puppies so much that her upper lips turned pink; the black came back after awhile. If he was crated/kenneled and licking the door etc. while you were gone, that could be what caused it....

 

[Tigger-Roo]

I think it IS from rubbing or licking...

Thanks for the last reply. I haven't taken a picture and posted it because it seems to have almost gone from a slight area that's faded pink to more noticeable and more white than pink. It looks as though he was rubbing on his crate door a lot and it may have been rubbed pink and is now just white. He is not sensitive at all in the area though and doesn't appear to be rubbing it any more.

Thanks again,