Why does my terrier's skin sometimes get darker without other issues?

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.

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.

Thank you for your post! Is there an odor to the skin? When skin changes color like this, it can be due to a skin infection or allergies. Some breeds have darker skin and this can develop later in life. If you are concerned about this I would schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to ensure there is no infection present that needs to be treated. Please feel free to contact me with further questions / concerns.

Hello, and thank you for your question! Darkening of the skin should not be a problem, in the absence of any scratching or irritation. However, terriers such as westies can be prone to skin allergies, so I would keep a close eye on Britta for any licking, biting or scratching of her skin. If so, this irritation could cause darkening ("hyperpigmentation"), and if so, I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam of her skin. On the topic of westies with sensitive skin, I would stick with bathing her no more than once a month, using a gentle aloe and oatmeal based shampoo. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water. This will help to prevent overdrying and itching of the skin. I hope this helps, and that Britta is doing well!

The pictures look like it could just be normal pigment change. As puppies mature their pigmentation can as well. If the skin is raised, thicker, crusty, or itchy then I would be concerned. If you have any concerns then I would encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian. If there is a concern then a biopsy could easily be done at the time of his neuter. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

The darkening of the skin is due to a chronic inflammation, and the darker hair regrow could be completely normal. That could be completely response after the skin ''injuries'' you described. If she is not showing any other sign I would not be worried about it.

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.