Why is my young rescue dog getting gray hair? Is it from anxiety?

Yes, young dogs can get grey muzzle hair. That’s not uncommon. If you have questions about her age, her teeth and behavior are the best estimates. It’s not exact thought. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Some dogs will experience graying at an early age. This is common on the face and muzzle but can be seen on the legs and abdomen as well. If this is been an abrupt change or if it is accompanied by any changes in the skin such as crusting or redness, I would recommend an examination with your veterinarian as it could indicate an infection, mange or autoimmune issue. If it is just white or gray hair that is occurring gradually over time, it is likely just a genetic predisposition particular to your dog.

Yes, she does appear to be going grey! Although pictures can be deceiving i do not see any areas of inflammation or depigmentation (pink spots) which can be an indication of skin issues but more a widespread lightening/greying

This do tend to grey as they age and is definitely something I wouldn't worry about. Keep in mind that a dog is considered a senior around seven years of age. However, this does appear more leukotrichia, which is a disorder where the hair turns white. It's not harmful, but could continue to progress and cause Alfie to have a whiter face. If you are happening to notice any problems with his skin, then it would be best to have a vet examine him, because the hair can change color with damage to the skin. I hope that helps and all is well with Alfie.

Some dogs do start getting grey hair much earlier than others. I had a lab mix who started getting grey hair around 2 and 1/2 to 3 years old, but she lived to be 15 and was very healthy her entire life. There is no set age that's "normal" to start seeing greys, and no need for concern. Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Gray hair is normal in a middle aged dog. As for the dandruff, sounds like Marley has some dry skin. Try giving him some fish oil supplements to see if that helps. He can have 1,000 mg fish oil containing 300 mg of EPA/DHA combined for every 30 pounds of body weight. I hope this helps!

Hi there and thanks for posting your question on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Older dogs sometimes have hair coloration changes just like people do when they get older. Lighter colored hair- sometimes grey or white can occur on parts of the dog as they get older. Sometimes the entire coat color may change, other times only parts of the dog's body changes hair color. If you are referring to hair thinning around the hips, then there can be a few medical causes to this such as hair mites, fungal infection, or an endocrine disorder such as cushing's disease or hypothyroidism. If the later is happening, I would recommend Laney sees her veterinarian to help rule out the above possibilities. I hope this help and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!