Why is my white poodle's fur turning orange? Is it normal aging?

Thank you for your question about Aspen. Dogs can occasionally have changes in the appearance of their hair/change in hair color over time. If Aspen is acting normally otherwise I would just continue to monitor her. Be sure she isn't licking herself because licking leaves saliva on the fur which can then change the color of the fur to a rust color. If she is licking then this can be a sign of allergies or other skin irritation. Look closely at her skin under the fur for any signs of redness/bumps/scratches. If she has any changes in her appetite, energy level, water intake, or bowel habits notify your veterinarian.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! That color indicates saliva staining so she has been chewing at it. This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. Other possibilities such as mange need to also be considered and a physical examination and basic diagnostics should help sort that out. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

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.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Bruno. I'm not really sure what is going on with him but hair coats can and do change over time in dogs and cats. I don't think this has to do with any premature aging as you hinted to. I would just continue to monitor this and if it spreads or worsens, have your veterinarian evaluate him. Your vet can gather a history and perform an examination to look for causes of this. But honestly, I think this is just a small area of coat color change. Good luck

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is likely a normal pigmentation change though it is hard to know based on a picture as it is blurry. I would continue to monitor her for now. If this is not associated with a skin lesion, itchiness or a skin discharge, I would not be too concerned about this. If she does develop any of the above, I recommend you have her evaluated then. Good luck!

HI, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Actually dog saliva has a pigment in it that can cause the hair to turn a brownish red color. My guess is that the reason their fur is changing color is from them licking not from the urine. I recommend seeing your Vet to figure out why they are scratching and licking first. It could be from fleas, allergies from environment or food), or an infection. Then after you see the Vet go get them groomed! I hope this helps!

This could be salivary staining if he has been licking the area around his anus. It might also be staining from feces. If the anal area looks normal and he doesn’t seem bothered (no licking or scooting) it may not be anything to be concerned about. Posting a picture could help us better determine what’s going on as well.