My dog's nose skin is discolored and darkening. Should I see a vet?

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It could be due to acne development or other local allergic or inflammatory reaction. As long as this area is not painful and is not bothering your dog, you can monitor her at home for the weekend. However, if the area is sore or is bothering your dog, you should take her to your local vets tomorrow.

This could be a skin condition like skin infection or allergies. I would take Milo into the vet to get this checked out. The vet can diagnose what is causing it, and how best to treat it. Best of luck.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The little area of discoloration is not necessarily anything to worry about. I see this commonly with time with dark skinned animals. As long as the skin does not seem irritated and the discoloration does not happen on the nose itself, I am inclined to just continue to watch it. Apply a dab of children’s sunscreen lotion before she goes outside to protect that area from sunburn. Best wishes to you and Luna!

I would have that checked out by a vet. This lesion is concerning for certain fungal and parasitic lesions that can get much worse if left too long. I also worry about skin cancer in white-faced dogs, so it will be good to have this ruled-out as a potential cause. No need to panic, just get it checked out in a day or two. For now, you can keep the wound clean by blotting it with a cloth soaked in warm water. Do this twice a day and avoid scrubbing.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Princess. This discoloration and redness could be due to an injury, allergies, or infection. Without seeing her in person, I can't say what is going on. I'd have her seen by a vet in the morning. Best of luck.

A dog's nose changing color can be related to aging, or it could be due to winter nose. This is when a dog's nose turns lighter in the winter months due to the lack of sunlight. You are correct, however, that there could be a medical cause behind it, and you can have your dog seen by a vet to rule that out.

I recommend to have Gary examined by the veterinarian. Lesions like this can be related to allergies or benign hyperplasia. Unfortunately, something more serious like an autoimmune condition is also possible. I recommend to play it safe and have him examined. The vet may try treatment or may recommend a biopsy based upon the physical exam. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.