Why do Maltese s nose turn pink

What Causes Maltese Nose Discoloration?

Have you ever noticed little changes in the color or texture of your dogs nose? It may have gone from a black to a pink or brown hue and even become dry and cracked.

But is Maltese nose discoloration a cause for concern? While its true that some changes in your dogs nose can be completely harmless, others may indicate an underlying health issue.

Heres what you need to look out for.

What color is a Maltese nose?

In case you didnt know, A Malteses nose is typically black. The black nose is the most common and preferred color according to breed standards. However, variations in pigmentation are not unusual and can occur naturally within the Maltese breed.

Causes for Maltese nose discoloration

Below are some of the reasons why your Malteses nose changes color, whether or not its cause for concern, and what you can do about it.

Weather and temperature

Maltese may experience a phenomenon called snow nose or winter nose where their noses fade in color during winter or colder temperatures and then go back to their previous color when the weather warms up again.

This is completely normal, doesnt hurt your dog, and absolutely nothing to worry about.

Sunburn

Your Malteses nose can get sunburned just like yours, which can be very painful.

Use a sunscreen thats specially formulated for dogs if youre going to be spending a lot of time outdoors with your dog, such as a day at the beach or a hike in the mountains.

Some dogs with very sensitive noses may need sunscreen every day, especially if they love to lay out in the sun. When applying, be careful to avoid getting sunscreen up in your Malteses nose or eyes.

Age

Some Maltese have noses that will change color as they age, similar to graying hair. Theyll naturally have dark noses when theyre younger that fade and lighten to a pink color as they get older.

This is due to an enzyme called tyrosinase, which is responsible for producing melanin. In senior dogs, the production of this enzyme decreases, resulting in a loss of pigment and a lighter nose color.

Tyrosinase also works better in warm temperatures, so its possible that its responsible for snow nose color changes.

Genetics

Similar to humans, dogs inherit certain traits from their parents, including nose pigmentation. If a Maltese has parents with lighter-colored noses, its more likely that the dog will have a lighter-colored nose as well.

This is because nose pigmentation is controlled by a gene called TYRP1, which determines the production of melanin the pigment responsible for color in skin, hair, and eyes.

Sometimes, even if both parents have black noses, a dog can still have a lighter-colored nose due to the presence of recessive genes.

Contact dermatitis

Maltese noses can change color as a result of contact dermatitis, which is basically an allergic reaction to something your dog has been exposed to.

This can be temporary, such as a reaction to a certain food or chemical, or it can be a chronic condition that requires ongoing management.

The harmful chemicals in plastic bowls, for example, can not only change your dogs nose color, but they can also have other detrimental effects on their health, such as causing a severe bacterial infection on their nose.

In this case, consider switching to stainless steel or ceramic bowls to avoid any potential allergic reactions.

Foreign object or trauma

If your Maltese has some sort of obstruction in their nasal cavity, you may notice their nose changing and swelling or discharge coming out of one or both nostrils, and they may have trouble breathing.

You can use a flashlight to check if you can see the obstruction and gently remove it yourself, but its always safest to take your dog to the vet so you dont make the mistake of accidentally pushing the object in deeper or causing further harm.

A scrape or cut on your Malteses nose can cause swelling and pink discoloration, too. However, if the wound isnt deep or doesnt seem to be causing any pain or discomfort, it should heal on its own and the nose should return to normal within a few days.

Bug bite or sting

Has your Maltese ever come in from playing outside with a sad look on their face and a big red, swollen nose? This is likely because they were bitten or stung by an insect.

Rinse the affected area with water (careful not to get any up their nose) and leave it alone to heal. Avoid putting any topicals meant to treat sting bites in humans, such as aloe vera, unless instructed otherwise by your vet.

If needed, you can give your dog a very small dose of Benadryl to help alleviate symptoms of an allergic reaction.

Typically, the amount of Benadryl for dogs is 1 mg per pound of body weight, administered up to three times per day. That said, its best to check this with your vet first, especially if your dog is old, a puppy, or sensitive to medication.

Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a hereditary autoimmune condition that attacks the cells that are responsible for producing the skin pigment.

In humans, it causes white or pink patches of skin all over the body and face. In dogs, it causes the nose to turn pink. Usually, its accompanied by other symptoms as well, such as patches of white hair in the dogs fur.

Like snow nose, this isnt a health threat, but it does make your dog highly susceptible to sunburn. Luckily, Maltese dogs arent as prone to developing vitiligo as some other breeds, yet, its still something to be aware of.

Other autoimmune disorders like pemphigus and discoid lupus can cause loss of pigmentation in the nose as well. In addition, they may cause your dogs nose to become red, crusty, and scabbed.

Contact your vet to help determine if an autoimmune disorder is causing your dogs nose problem, and whether or not treatment is necessary.

Nasal solar dermatitis

This condition doesnt affect every dog and is also known as Collie nose because its more common in herding breeds like Collies, Shelties, and Aussies. Dogs with this condition, when exposed to sunlight, develop a rash on their nose and muzzle.

At first, the nose will look irritated, and if left untreated, it will cause the hair around the area to fall out.

Then, if the dog is continuously exposed to sunlight, the skin on and around the nose will break down, and the nose may become a big, oozing sore that never heals.

Additionally, nasal solar dermatitis can cause skin cancer in advanced stages. Its very painful and uncomfortable and definitely needs professional treatment.

Dudley nose

Dudley nose is a condition caused by a genetic mutation that results in a lack of pigment in the nose causing it to look pinkish. However, this is not a sign of disease and doesnt affect the health of your dog.

Certain breeds, including Labrador Retrievers, Poodles, Doberman Pinschers, and Irish Setters, are more prone to developing dudley nose.

Zinc deficiency

Zinc-responsive dermatosis is a nose disorder that causes a scaly rash on the nose and face, and it most commonly affects breeds like Great Danes, Huskies, and Doberman Pinschers.

Although this condition is easily fixed by adding a zinc supplement to your dogs diet, its highly important to discuss this with your veterinarian first and get a professionally confirmed diagnosis.

Zinc toxicosis (or dangerously excessive levels of zinc) is more common than zinc-responsive dermatosis, as owners incorrectly assume their dog needs the supplement or give them too much of it.

Cancer

Cutaneous lymphoma is a rare type of cancer that can cause the nose to lose its pigment.

If you ruled out all other reasons or notice a change in the color or appearance of your dogs nose, along with other symptoms such as swelling, bleeding, or a sore that doesnt heal, seek veterinary attention as soon as possible.

In summary

Maltese noses go through many subtle changes, most of which are perfectly normal and harmless and caused by things like weather, allergies, and even genetics. However, it could also be a sign of a medical issue.

If youre concerned about the color of your dogs nose, its best to contact a veterinarian who can evaluate and diagnose the underlying cause.

Maltese Dog Advice

Maltese usually have black noses which contrast against their white fur but sometimes a pink nose can develop. A pink nose on a Maltese dog is due to a pigmentation loss in the skin on its nose and is usually not a problem. There are a few reasons why a Maltese puppies nose can turn pink and if you are worried you should check with your vet the next time you are in for a checkup.

I have listed the most common reasons on why a Maltese dog can have a pink nose below. Usually the loss of color on a dogs nose is not a concern but in some rare cases it can require a medical checkup with your veterinarian.

Reason 1: The weather can cause a pink nose on a Maltese.

Cold weather has been known to turn a dogs nose pink when they have light colored fur, such as the Maltese dogs white coat. This is a well documented occurrence and always happens in the winter and is sometimes referred to as snow nose or winter nose. Interestingly the condition usually only affects dogs which have light colored fur. During the winter the loss of pigment in the nose us due to a breakdown of the enzyme tyrosinase. Tyrosinase is an enzyme which has been found to be temperature sensitive and is responsible in a Maltese dog for producing melanin. Melanin is a skin pigment which gives color to the hair, skin and eyes. A reduction in the melanin pigment changes the color of the Maltese dogs nose. The good thing is that this is not permanent and as soon as the weather warms up the Melanin production will increase and the Maltese dogs nose will return to its former black shade. If it is winter, you can expose your dog to more sunlight and try and keep them warm. This can boost Melanin production and keep your Maltese puppys nose black. An alternative is to turn to supplements which are available to ensure that the tyrosinase enzyme is at adequate levels.

Reason 2: Your Maltese is getting older

As a Maltese dog gets older the enzyme tyrosinase is produced less and this means there will be less Melanin. Just as colder weather can restrict tyrosinase production, age will slow it down to a point where your dogs coat will be less shiny and its nose will turn a shade of pink. Extra sunlight and using supplements can help replace missing Melanin and the tyrosinase as it slows down with age. Your veterinarian can give you advice on the best foods and supplements which will help replace the lower level of enzymes.

Reason 3: Trauma and Injury to your Maltese Nose

If your Maltese scratches its nose against something and removes a layer of skin it is likely a pink area will show. The black pigmentation is only surface deep and a scratch or abrasion which cuts into the nose will expose the soft pink flesh of the nose. If it is a small scratch then there is no need to worry and just can an eye on it to ensure it does not get infected. If the scratch is very deep or it looks like it might be infected then you should get your Malteses nose check out at the vet. Providing there are no complications the pink area of the nose will heal itself and the black pigment will return to the affected area of a few days or weeks.

Reason 4: Infections can cause pink noses

If the pinkness of your Maltese dogs nose is also accompanied by inflammation, a crusty appearance or just looks weird and unwell in appearance then there could be an infection. The best advice for a nose that does not look right, in that it looks like its infected, is to take your Maltese puppy to the vet to get its nose examined. A vet will be able to properly diagnose the situation and make the best recommendation to fix the problem. They may prescribe medication or creams to use on your Maltese puppys nose to fix the infection. Usually once the infection clears up the Maltese puppys nose will return to a black color.

Reason 5: Allergic reactions

If your Maltese has an allergic reaction to something its stuck its nose into or against then the Malteses nose will become inflamed, itchy and may become lighter in color. usually this will not progress to a pink nose but it will turn a lighter grey. The allergic reaction could be to something in the garden such as a flower or weed. More commonly a reaction to a chemical in plastic is the cause and this is why a stainless steel bowl should be used for feeding and drinking bowls. If your dogs nose does look like it is inflamed or lighter in color try switching to a stainless steel bowl and see if that helps.

Reason 6: Stress can cause nose changes

Stress happens even in a Malteses life even though you would think they do not have that much to stress about. They could have anxiety issues and separation issues which cause them to stress about life. Stress can affect both humans and dogs in a variety of ways and one of those is by reducing the tyrosinase production. With reduced tyrosinase, there is a reduction in the melanin pigment causing the nose to turn pink. In order to reduce stress you should ensure your Maltese is well fed, has a safe place for it to rest and sleep and is exercised each day. Exercise is a great way to reduce stress in a Maltese dog.

Reason 7: Thyroid changes can affect the Maltese dog nose color

Thyroid changes can affect your Maltese nose and may cause it to change color. Maltese are known to be susceptible to a thyroid condition called hypothyroidism. This is there the Malteses thyroid does not produce enough of the thyroid hormone. The usual symptoms of this health condition are dry skin, dry coat, hair loss, weight gain, aggression and behavioral changes. With the skin affected there is a chance that the Maltese nose will be affected and it may change to a lighter grey, brown or pink.

Reason 8: Plastic Bowls can turn a Maltese nose to pink

This one is related to the allergic reactions in Maltese but it has been signaled out specifically as a stand alone reason. Plastic bowls have been identified as the cause of changes in a Malteses nose. It is recommended that you use a stainless steel bowl for both the feeding bow and any drinking bowls. An alternative to stainless steel bowls is to use a ceramic bowl. Regardless of whether you think this is the cause it is always better to not use a plastic bowl. Think about it this way, if its affecting the color of a dogs nose then what else could it be doing to your dogs health. Stick with a stainless steel or ceramic bowl.

Reason 9: Sun burnt Maltese Nose

Severe sunburn can turn a Maltese dogs nose into an inflamed, raw pink color. Sunburn can occur if your Maltese puppy has no shade during the day. If this occurs day after day the consistent exposure to the sun can burn your dogs nose. As it becomes more pink the nose will be more susceptible to further sunburn and can become raw and inflamed. The best solution to this is to provide shade and water for your Maltese if they are outside all day. That way they can move out of the sun and into the shade when they have had too much sun exposure. Another option is to apply a specially designed dog sunscreen. These sunscreens will protect the sensitive parts of your dog and are generally safe to use even on the nose. Read the instructions closely before applying. Do not use sunscreen designed for humans as these can be dangerous to ingest or use on a dogs nose.

Reason 10: Your Maltese was born with a non-black nose

Genetics will usually play in favor a black nose on a Maltese but there can be variations and a Maltese may just naturally have a pink nose. This will be a rare situation and would not be seen on many dogs due to black points being a big consideration for show quality Maltese. If your Maltese naturally has a pink nose from birth then the nose needs to be protected from sun exposure.

Reason 11: An immune disease called Vitiligo

The immune disease called vitiligo can turn a Maltese dogs nose pink but this is very rare in the Maltese breed. It is more likely to happen in Dobermans, Rottweilers and German Shepherds. With this disease the immune system attacks the pigmentation in the skin. This would require a veterinarian diagnosis and it is so rare that it is unlikely the cause of a pink nose on a Maltese in most cases.

What is a Maltese Snow Nose?

A snow nose is a term referring to a condition which affects dogs with a lighter colored coat. The condition refers to a reduction in Melanin pigment in the nose which causes the nose to change to a lighter color and the nose may be brown, light grey or pink. There will be no other change in your dogs health condition which accompany the nose color changes so it is usually nothing to worry about. If you are concerned seek out a veterinarian advice. The reason it is called a snow nose is because it is much more likely to occur in winter and in colder climates. This is because the cold can affect the levels of tyrosinase which affects the production of Melanin and as has been stated, low levels of Melanin means a change in the pigment in your dogs Nose and hence a color change. If you are concerned there are some foods and supplements which can be given to your Maltese in order to keep the level of tyrosinase in your Maltese which continues to make Melanin pigment. Alternatively, if your Maltese dog has snow nose then you can just wait for the weather to warm up in Spring and Summer and the Maltese pink nose will change back to a black nose.

How do you treat Maltese pink noses?

Depending on the cause of the pink nose there are a few options for treatment. This may include

• medication and creams for infections and abrasions or other health conditions such as thyroid problems.
• Changing any plastic bowls to stainless steel or ceramic bowls.
• Providing shade for protection for sun exposure
• Changing the diet to include foods which will help with tyrosinase levels.
• Adding supplements and creams to aid in tyrosinase levels.
• Providing special dog sunscreen to protect your Malteses nose from sunburn.

If your dog does have a pink nose due to any of the above conditions you should look to protect their nose with a dog sunscreen to avoid any further complications from sunburn. A pink nose on a Maltese puppy does not have enough Melanin to protect it from burning under the suns UV rays.

You can Tattoo your Maltese Nose Black!

This is not recommended but some veterinarian and owners will discuss this option. It is usually suggested where your Maltese lives outside full time in direct sunlight. The tattoo will help protect it from the sun exposure. This is an extreme step and will be done as an operation under anesthesia. While it is an option it should not be taken lightly.

Keep an Eye on your Maltese Nose

A good owner will check over their dog every so often to ensure that their eyes, ears, mouth and nose and feet are all looking as expected. Inspecting the nose for any cracks, abrasions and the color will help identify any symptoms of nose related issues. Inspecting it regularly will allow you to know what is normal and what is unusual. If you notice anything like discharge, cracks, mucus or loss of pigmentation you should consult your local veterinarian in order to get a proper diagnosis.

So what did you think of the article?

If your Maltese puppys nose is turning pink or has turned pink recently but you think they are still healthy and there are no other symptoms of any issues then more than likely there is nothing to worry about. Its likely a short term change and is temporary. However, if you are worried or you see other concerning signs like inflammation, pus or a change in your Maltese puppy then you should see out veterinarian advice on the best course of action. hopefully this article has helped with any concerns you had about why your Maltese has a pink nose and has provided enough guidance so you know what the next steps are that you can take. Has your dog had a pink nose? Did you find any other reasons it turned pink? If so let us know in the comments as we would love to hear about your Maltese puppys nose.