Is it normal for my dog to get new spots on her skin as she ages?

This may be a normal aging change for her. As puppies lose their puppy coats the adult fur can change color and the skin pigment can darken also. If the skin looks normal with no sores I wouldn't worry about it. If she is itchy that may cause changes in the skin color. A veterinary visit is indicated if you are seeing abnormal areas on the skin.

The hair discoloration is from age. The skin discoloration can be from age or from an underlying allergy or yeast infection or low thyroid. If she does not itch, hair loss, or have a bad odor, then I would not worry about the discolorations on her skin. If you notice any of those signs, then your vet can do a skin sample and a blood test to check for a cause.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Gola. The dark spots on his belly appear to be normal pigment changes. This is common in white haired dogs. There will be multiple darker spots on the belly. The spots can grow, change and fade as the dog ages. They are flat with the skin, there is no redness and they do not bother the dog. If this seems to be the case for him, testing should not be needed. This is not a cause for concern. If the bumps are itchy or develop scabs, then this is different and could indicate an infection. I hope this information helps!

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.

There will be areas around the wound where the skin will die off, then new skin cells will move in. The grey is likely dying skin whilst the red is the new healthy skin. If the wound looks particularly red, or is smelly or pussy it would be necessary to visit the vet as antibiotics will be needed.

Hyperpigmentation of the skin/fur can be caused by a number of things, including trauma that is causing the skin or coat to need to repair itself (which can return to normal over time on its own), secondary to issues such as hypothyroidism or Cushing's disease, or in response to infections from bacteria, yeast, or fungus. If the area does not resolve on its own, seems to be spreading, or becomes itchy or bothersome, I would have your vet take a look. They can take a sample of the area to check for infections, and may recommend bloodwork to rule out metabolic diseases, however these disease are less common in younger dogs. In the meantime, keeping the spot clean and dry, monitoring it for any spreading, rapid changes, or new symptoms, and keeping Leo from rubbing or scratching at it may help it resolve.

It can be normal as a dog ages, or the underlying skin is more visible. If the area isn't irritated, red, itchy, or bothersome to Tanner I wouldn't worry. However if you are seeing rapid changes in the area, hair loss, irritation, redness, or swelling these can indicate something else going on such as an infection, parasites or allergic response, which should be checked out by your vet.