Why is my dog's fur turning red/copper from licking and itching?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The most common reason for the fur to be that color is from excessive licking. There is a pigment in dog saliva that stains the fur reddish brown. As for her urine being brown or red, that is not normal. I would collect a urine sample and have her seen by your Vet tomorrow. The most common reason for red-brown urine is blood. Bloody urine can be from a UTI. The Vet can diagnose an UTI from a urine sample and also address her excessive licking (allergies, skin infection or fleas are common causes). I wish Harlow the best!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! From the photos, the discoloration looks like it is caused by salivary enzymes from chronic licking. This can be due to an underlying skin infection or environmental/food allergies. Your vet can rule out these conditions with some skin samples and possibly a food trial. I hope this helps!

The pink discoloraction of the fur is usually a result of saliva staining from chronic licking. Often, there is an underlying reason for them to be licking themselves such as food or environmental allergies or an infection of the skin. Sometimes dogs can lick though even when there is no underlying disease in the skin causing them to be itchy. This compulsive licking could sometimes be referred to inanimate objects like couches. Ideally, I would have Molly's skin evaluated by a veterinarian to rule out any underlying disease/infection. Best of luck.

Hello and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It's difficult to say with certainty by just looking at the pictures but in general when we see a copper/pinkish color change like you are seeing here it is a sign of saliva staining from licking the area. Tosca may be licking around her tail for a number of reasons including fleas, allergies or anal gland issues. She may be licking around her foot due to allergies, skin irritation or from a nail disorder or infection. To ensure fleas and not causing this make sure you are using a good quality flea product like Nexguard, Vectra, Advantage, Frontline or Bravecto. You can do some medicated bathing to see if this helps reduce the irritation. A veterinarian will be able to help you decide if Tosca's anal glands are causing an issue by doing a rectal exam. Feeding a small amount of plain canned pumpkin can help with anal gland issues. If Tosca continues to have these saliva stained areas or develops more areas of irritation it would be a good idea to schedule an appointment with a veterinarian.

This looks like a normal change in hair color. This skin doesn't look infected or red. The fur can sometimes change from moisture or from the saliva if they are licking. I wouldn't be too concerned about this unless he starts to lick it obsessively or the skin starts to get red. I hope this helps!

Hello. The rusty colored skin is an indication that Bowie is spending a great deal of time licking his bum. Pigments in saliva will discolor hair once it is exposed to air & light. It is likely Bowie has allergies & this is causing his uncomfortable itchiness. He may also have an issue with his anal glands, which are located just inside the rectum, or he may have a parasitic problem, either internal or external like fleas. Your veterinarian can sort this out rather quickly & recommend any number of medications, supplements or therapies to make Bowie much more comfortable. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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!