Like humans, dogs tend to go gray as part of their natural aging process. And just like us, as dogs get older, the pigment cells responsible for color (specifically, melanin) stop being produced; this causes the strands to come out at a lighter shade, like gray or white.
Gray hair on a dog's face and around his muzzle is a natural occurrence as he ages — just like turning gray is a natural occurrence for humans. Because dogs age faster than humans, they turn gray sooner than their pet parents. And just like humans, some dogs turn gray much earlier in life than others.
Many breeds have coats that change over time. Puppies will generally be a different color than the adult dog. Medications, sunlight, nutritional status and skin disease can all be factors in changing and dog's coat color.
On average most dogs start going grey around 5 years old, though some start going grey before the age of 2. Greying in dogs can occur anywhere, but it tends to be most prominent on their muzzle.
Like humans, dogs tend to go gray as part of their natural aging process. And just like us, as dogs get older, the pigment cells responsible for color (specifically, melanin) stop being produced; this causes the strands to come out at a lighter shade, like gray or white.
Vitiligo is a rare skin condition that some humans may develop, but so can cats and dogs. A human or animal with this condition experiences depigmentation, which occurs when the skin loses its natural pigments. The skin will turn white (or light pink) in patches and hair in those spots can also turn white.
Hair is bleached by the sun, and it's completely normal. Shades of brown may turn to light hazel and even blonde. Black may turn into brown, and red into an orange shade. If you've noticed these lighter shades in your puppy's or dog's coat color, it is likely due to the sun.
Why is my brown dog turning blonde? Yes, dogs can change colour as their coats 'blow'. Blowing means that hair strands get old and start to shed, often lighter in shade, e.g. gingerish on a brown dog, but the new coat would be usually darker and shinier.
Yes, during the coat change the puppy coat is being replaced by the thicker adult coat, and coat texture and colour may change too. It may become less or more curly or wiry, the coat colour may darken or lighten, and the rate of shedding may change.
Poodles have a gene that is called 'Progressive Graying', called the G locus. When a black, blue, or brown dog has the mutation in this gene, they gradually fade in color as they grow. Not all black, blue, or brown poodles have the mutation, but some do.
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Dogs of any age, gender or breed can experience pigment changes of their skin and coat.
They're hard to come by
There are very few true albino dogs. For a dog to be considered albino, he or she must lack the genes necessary to produce melanin, the pigment responsible for skin and hair coloring. There are other coat patterns that can be confused for alibinism, however, such as merle and piebald patterns.
When a black puppy changes colors, it's much more likely that they become lighter with age, rather than their coat faded to a light brown like the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. It's not something that should be expected with all black puppies, but is common with certain breeds and mixes due to their genetics.
Puppies lose their puppy coats between 4-to-6 months of age, although this time frame varies widely from breed to breed and can start at 12 weeks or wait until they're one year old. You might not notice your puppy shedding, especially if she is a shorthaired breed, or the change could be dramatic.
The only way to know the true genetic color of these dogs and the potential coat color of the puppies they could produce is to do genetic testing. There are several resources on the Internet that can help you understand color inheritance in your dog, including poodles and other breeds.
However, the process occurs slowly and doesn't happen overnight. It often takes nine to 12 weeks, starting from this point, for a puppy's eye color to settle in and “stay.” The permanent eye color change can even happen as late as 16 weeks in age.
Causes such as skin allergy in dogs, scratching, skin infection due to bacteria, skin inflammation due to skin parasites, and self-trauma by dogs with activities such as scratching, rubbing, licking, and biting at their own skin are commonly seen in dogs with skin problems. These all can lead to hyperpigmentation.
Like humans, dogs' hair can grey in their senior years. The older your dog gets, the less time their body devotes to maintaining intense pigments, so the color will naturally fade. This is totally natural and nothing to be worried about. After all, who doesn't love an adorable grey face!
Brown coloration may fade to gray or white in mature poodles, especially around the nose, chin, and eyes. Hair may also grow more coarse or wiry with time.
Your dog's skin should be pink or black, depending on the pigments common to their breed or their individual genetic history – both are entirely normal. It should be free of crusting, itching, scaling, black or white spots, and infected or hot and inflamed areas.
Care for Puppies With Fading Puppy Syndrome
If you suspect fading puppy syndrome, take your puppy to the vet immediately. A veterinarian can administer fluids, help regulate their body temperature and give them proper medication if bacteria or a virus could be at fault.
Most experienced shelter workers will tell you that black dogs are often adopted less than any other coat color. Be it black Labrador Retrievers, Shepherds, Rottweilers, etc., they are often passed over by potential adopters. This discrepancy in adoptions is referred to as “Black Dog Syndrome.”
If a Poodle's color is going to change, it will usually occur within the first two years of their life. At this point, they will have come into their adult coat. Black puppies could fade into blue, charcoal grey, medium grey, or silver. Brown puppies can become lighter brown, café au lait, silver beige, or cream.