Could dry food cause black spots on my Parson Russell's skin?

I would not worry too much about this slight change in skin color. Oftentimes if a dog is itchy and scratches a lot it can cause hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin) and sometimes skin infection. (Looking at the picture it does not appear that Sandy has a skin infection at this time). Keep an eye on the skin and if she does seem irritated by it then I wouldn't worry.

I would recommend reverting to his original food or a hypoallergenic diet and adding some omega fatty acids to promote skin repair and regeneration. If the diet has triggered these symptoms, they should regress over 6-8weeks. If he develops severe itching, antiinflammatory sprays or gels may be required from your vet. Seasonal allergies are also very common at this time of year and tend to develop in younger dogs (usually between 6mths and 3 yrs for first symptoms)

As long as the skin below is normal appearing (looks like it from the pictures, but can't be 100%), this would be a condition known as leukotrichia. The cause of this is a bit of a mystery, but the good news is that it is not harmful. I would want to check that the skin appears normal before saying for sure though. For this you'd have to have a vet examine her. I hope that helps and all is well with Maxi.

It’s difficult to know how to advise without a photo. Pets can get more dark pigment on their skin as they age. Other causes of pigmentation our inflammation, allergies, drama and minor infection’s. Try to get a photo and repost as this may lead to better advice. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It could be normal (meaning they are turning to a different shade of black) or could be cause by inflammation of the skin or hair follicles. I would recommend that you have a vet take a quick look at Chow to see if there is a medical concern.

Hi and thanks for your request. One of the most important reasons for darkening of the skin is a chronic type of inflammation. This is usually combined with more clinical signs (like other skin lesions, itch or alopecia). If no other signs are present then a metabolic or endocrine disease can be suspected. Please repost your question and give us more informations and ideally some pictures so we can give you more specific answers.

Skin darkening can occur due to natural aging, low level irritation from infection or allergies, a healed wound or changes in hormone levels from hypothyroidism. Your veterinarian may be able to determine the exact cause after a thorough physical exam. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.