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My 3-month-old Samoyed puppy has dark spots on her skin. Is it normal?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Samoyed | Female | unspayed | 3 months and 20 days old | 11 lbs

Hi, my Samoyed Puppy has slightly darkened spots on her skin. She’s now 3.5 months old and didn’t have them when I got her. She doesn’t appear to be bothered by them. Should I be concerned? Take her to the vet immediately or can she was til her appointment in two weeks? Can I treat them? She’s not neutered yet.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Dr. Dayna, DVM, CVA

Answered By Dr. Dayna, DVM, CVA

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Published on December 3rd, 2017

The pictures are pretty blurry so it is difficult to see the spots well. However, young puppies can develop little freckles or increased pigment as they get older. I suspect this is what is going on. If they are crusty, itchy, or have hairloss then they should be looked at soon. Otherwise I think it is probably fine to wait until your appointment. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.
Vote Icon2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Dr Stafford, BVetMed, MRCVS

    Veterinarian

    Published on June 27th, 2022

    As a lot of puppy grow the pigmentation in their skin can change significantly. It is quite common to see pinkish skin with black patches throughout. If the skin is completely smooth and flat and the oy change is the colour then this is most likely natural pigmentation and nothing to worry about.
    If the areas are raised or rough, or there is redness or anything else out of the ordinary such as a smell then it could be signs of an issue such as infection. This would require a vet appointment.
    To me it sounds like normal pigmentation but if you are still concerned then you could ask your vet to check it the next time you are in.

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    3Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

New Pet
Is it normal for my puppy to have widespread spots on its skin?
Thanks for your question. Unfortunately the picture that was attached is quite blurry and makes it difficult to see anything when it is enlarged. In the smaller image, all I can see appears to be normal pigmentation spots. If there are smaller spots that aren't visible in this photo you may want to try to post a new picture.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
My puppy has black spots on his tummy. Are they normal and harmless?
Without images or a physical exam, it can be difficult to determine definitively what is on your pup's skin. That said, many puppies have patches of [darker skin](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/pigment-changes-of-the-skin-and-coat/) on their bellies. If these areas are flat, smooth to the touch and not bothering him, then it is probably just his skin coloration. If the areas are itchy or raised, then it would be a good idea to have them checked out by a vet since this may indicate a [skin infection](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/staphylococcal-pyoderma-1/) or some other problem.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
My puppy has a belly rash and brown spots. Are they normal? Advice?
I’m not sure if the lighting makes the skin look normal in your picture, or if the rash you are describing is faint enough to not show up on the picture, but her skin appears fairly normal to me. The brown spots I see are normal pigmentation variants. Often times mild skin problems in young dogs are bacterial and bathing in a shampoo that has chlorhexidine or salicylic acid can be helpful. These can be found in the human shampoo aisle in the dandruff area. If it does not seem to help then I would encourage you to have her evaluated by your veterinarian soon. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
New Pet
Are new pigmented spots all over my 5-month-old Maltese puppy normal?
Thank you for submitting your additional pictures regarding Kion. He is adorable! I still believe that the pigment spots are normal for his breed. They appear flat, not red and I do not see any scabs present. I do not think they should be anything to worry about for him. I hope this information helps!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
My dog has new dark spots on her skin after grooming. Is it normal?
Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Many dogs normally have darker pigmented areas of skin under their fur. In some dogs, this does pigment can increase with age. It is impossible to tell only from a photograph however if this is normal pigment. She would need to be assessed by a veterinarian with a physical exam to determine if there is cause for concern.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
New Pet
Why does my puppy have brown spots on her back? Should I be concerned?
Your pictures aren't coming in clear on my end. It could be normal pigmentation of the skin (even white dogs can have non-white skin), flea dirt, or signs of inflammation. To be sure, you can have your vet take a look.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Grooming
My puppy has brown spots on his tummy after shampooing. Is it normal?
Hello. Those really look like pigment or freckles. It is common for dogs to have areas of pigmentation. Sometimes they darken as thenpuppy ages, but these look completely normal. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach
Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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