What causes a cat's white fur to turn brown under its front leg?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is most likely just saliva stain just meaning that he has been licking at it. It does not seem irritated so there is no need at this time to seek veterinary care. However, if at some point the skin underneath becomes irritated, bleeds or develops a discharge, have him evaluated by your veterinarian. Good luck!

That is probably saliva staining from excessive grooming. Where the overgrooming is happening is consistent with where flea-allergic cats tend to concentrate their efforts. I recommend getting her in to see your vet for an exam to try to determine why she is grooming so much and how best to treat it.

The brownish-red discoloration on your dog's face looks most like salivary staining. The enzymes in the saliva interact with the fur, causing this type of reddish-brown staining. Salivary staining generally occurs when a dog licks a particular area excessively, like the paws or groin, or when they drool a good bit. It's especially noticeable in white dogs, like your adorable pup. Some dogs may drool excessively if they're nauseous, so keep a close eye on your dog for changes in their appetite, vomiting, or lethargy, as these could be signs of a medical issue. If your dog is otherwise doing well, allergies are often to blame (particularly this time of year). You can try bathing your dog with a gentle oatmeal shampoo. It's best to seek veterinary attention if you see this discoloration elsewhere on the body, as this indicates that your dog is itchy if they're licking a lot, and would likely benefit from additional treatment. I hope that everything goes well!

Hello, it may be associated with an aging change depending on how old your pup is. This could also happen with frequent licking and chewing as saliva has enzymes that stain fur. Other causes such as bacterial or yeast infections could also stain the fur. If Maxx is licking his paws frequently, he could have allergies with a secondary infection that may require medications to control. Have him seen by a veterinarian if he is licking, otherwise, you can continue to monitor him for any other changes with his coat. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Usually this color change is a result of licking. If Bella has been licking the area she may have allergies causing her to lick and stain her fur a brown color. You can try using a gentle shampoo like Douxo calm to bathe Bella once or twice a week to see if this helps. I'd also recommend Bella be on a quality flea preventative like Bravecto or Vectra to prevent itching due to fleas. If Bella continues to have the color change it would be a good idea to have her examined by a veterinarian to ensure she does not have any skin infection or inflammation. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

That discoloration is a porphyrin staining. Dogs have this stain in their saliva normally. Curly is obviously licking his paws most likely due to an underlying allergy. Seasonal and non-seasonal environmental and food allergies can cause a pet to lick or chew on the feet, knees, or other body parts. Inflammation can also be caused by items embedded in the skin, painful joints, flea bites, etc. The staining around the mouth is most likely due to a dental infection. More saliva is produced in attempt to rid the bacteria from being absorbed through the gums into the bloodstream. I would recommend you try this shampoo: https://www.target.com/p/veterinary-formula-clinical-care-hot-spot-itch-relief-pet-shampoo-16-oz/-/A-50298965#lnk=sametab Really though, Curly should have a vet exam so his mouth can be evaluated and the allergies can be addressed (if it is allergy related). I hope this helps. Best wishes.

Thank you for posting your question! Judging from your description, it sounds like Sunshine has been licking her paws causing the hair to change color. The balding spot could be due to several causes. Have you recently changed the type of litter? Due to the feet being one of the main areas she is licking, this could be due to a contact allergy. If she is strictly indoors, I would suspect this to be related to the litter or carpet cleaner in regards to allergies. Another possibility is arthritis. Sunshine is an older cat and as animals age, the joints become arthritic with time. She may be licking her paws and the back of her neck due to arthritis. For both allergies and arthritis, omega-3 fish oil is a great product and Welactin for cats is something that I would recommend. If you would like to try Benadryl first to see if that improves Sunshine's symptoms, you can administer 1/2 tablet of a 25mg Adult Benadryl. If there is no improvement, then I would suggest scheduling an appointment with Sunshine's veterinarian to discuss this further. Please feel free to contact me in regards to any further questions / concerns you may have!