{"id":191572,"date":"2021-12-02T22:51:53","date_gmt":"2021-12-02T20:51:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fendaf.ee\/uncategorized-et-en\/pigmentatsioon-ning-kas-seda-on-voimalik-taastada\/"},"modified":"2026-10-31T01:18:15","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T23:18:15","slug":"restoring-pigmentation-in-dogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fendaf.ee\/en\/products\/restoring-pigmentation-in-dogs\/","title":{"rendered":"Restoring pigmentation in dogs: can diet help?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Can pigment lost from a dog's nose or coat come back? It's a question I hear quite often. I began thinking about it seriously because of Oscar. Even when he was young, his nose leather started turning pink, and at around one year old his paw pads were still very pale. But what worried me most wasn't the colour. After a walk of about one kilometre, his paw pads would quite often start bleeding.<\/p>\n

In a situation like that, you can't simply shrug and say, 'some dogs have pink noses in winter'. A change in colour may be cosmetic, but pain, broken skin or inflammation is a different matter. At the same time, I've seen for myself how noticeably some dogs' coats and skin can change alongside changes in their diet.<\/p>\n

First, work out where the pigment is changing<\/h2>\n

Pigmentation in a dog's black or brown coat isn't exactly the same issue as pigment in its nose leather. Coat colour depends largely on genetics and melanin in the hair, and nutrition can influence melanin production. But when a nose or paw pad becomes lighter, we also need to assess whether the surface and structure of the skin are healthy and whether there is inflammation, thickening, cracking, crusting or ulceration.<\/p>\n

Some dogs' noses temporarily become lighter in winter. The so-called 'snow nose' can be harmless, and the colour may return. In other cases, possibilities include vitiligo, an immune-mediated skin disease, infection, sun damage, a problem involving zinc metabolism or another condition. A single picture of a pinker nose cannot establish the cause.<\/p>\n

The Merck Veterinary Manual describes several diseases of the nose area that may involve loss of pigment followed by redness or ulceration. That's why cracks, bleeding, ulcers or changes around the eyes need veterinary assessment. It's not wise to watch such changes at home indefinitely while relying solely on a pigmentation supplement.<\/p>\n

Can food influence coat pigmentation?<\/h2>\n

Yes. At least for coat colour, there is research involving dogs. In a 2018 study, 24 black Labradors received one of two diets with different levels of phenylalanine and tyrosine for 24 weeks. The coat became measurably darker in the higher-intake group, with less reddish and yellowish colouring. This suggests that the amount of these amino acids can influence how black coat pigmentation is expressed.<\/p>\n

What doesn't it prove? That every dog with a pink nose needs tyrosine, or that a particular brand can restore pigment in all dogs. The study examined black Labradors under specific conditions, not ulcerated paw pads, vitiligo or autoimmune disease. The work was linked to a manufacturer's research centre. That doesn't invalidate its findings, but the scope of the results and their independent replication still need to be considered honestly.<\/p>\n

Other nutrients, including copper and zinc, are also linked to pigmentation, but that doesn't mean we should supplement them 'just in case'. Too much of a mineral, or upsetting the balance between minerals, can cause additional problems. If the diet is inadequate, we need to assess the entire ration rather than guess which single 'pigment vitamin' is missing.<\/p>\n

Oscar's story: what I saw and what I can conclude<\/h2>\n

When Oscar's pigmentation was fading, he was absolutely mad about nori seaweed sheets. I started giving him some and saw his pigment improve. In autumn 2019, I noticed him getting lighter again. Around that time he switched to WINNER PLUS food, and after a while the pigmentation returned without supplements or nori sheets.<\/p>\n

That was an important experience for me. It raises useful questions about the role of food changes and an individual dog's nutrient supply. But we weren't measuring every variable under controlled conditions, so I can't prove that nori, one specific ingredient or the switch to WINNER PLUS was the only reason the pigment came back. The season, his general health or something else may also have changed.<\/p>\n

Another important detail: nori and other seaweeds are not interchangeable. Their iodine content can vary enormously. That's why I don't recommend adding large quantities of seaweed to restore pigmentation, especially if a dog has thyroid or heart problems or is already getting sufficient iodine from its diet.<\/p>\n

What have I noticed with supplements?<\/h2>\n

I've also tried WINNER PLUS B-Plus Pro with Faddu. To my eye, the black fur along his back became deeper in colour, and perhaps the brown shade looked a little richer too. That's a personal observation, not a controlled trial or a guarantee that the same product will darken every dog's coat.<\/p>\n

We've heard experiences involving biotin supplements with carrot, seaweed tablets and Tobias oil as well. For example, the owners of one young German Shepherd described an improvement in its greyish back coat after using Tobias oil. Stories like these are useful starting points for questions, but they don't establish a general dose or treatment recommendation. It's particularly important to distinguish a change in coat colour from recovery from an actual skin disease.<\/p>\n

A supplement can be a sensible supportive choice when the goal is clear and we know what the dog already receives from its diet. But supplementation doesn't always have to be temporary, nor does pigment necessarily fade again when it stops. If the underlying problem was temporary or the diet is now appropriate, the issue may not recur. If the cause is genetic or autoimmune, no food or supplement may be able to correct it fully.<\/p>\n

When is it reasonable to watch, and when should we investigate?<\/h2>\n

If the nose is simply and evenly lighter, the dog feels well, and the skin is smooth, healthy and pain-free, it may be reasonable to track it with photographs and see whether the change is seasonal. But cracks, bleeding, crusts, redness, pain, ulcers, damage to paw pads or symptoms around the eyes mean we need to ask what's really happening in the body. That is no longer simply a cosmetic pigmentation question.<\/p>\n

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FendaF\u2019s practical pigmentation checklist<\/strong><\/p>\n