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SGTJOE's avatar
SGTJOE
Explorer II
Apr 24, 2016

Hair Turning Reddish Brown

My 9 year old Shih Tzu, Rocky, licks his one paw and leg a lot at night and now the hair in that area has changed from white to a reddish brown. His food has remained the same over the years, he does get a greenie or dentastix once a day and also for several months he is given a 5mg tablet of Famotidine for stomach acid. The color is only in the hair, the skin is normal.

Any thoughts as to what is causing this? Anyone else experienced this with there furkids?
  • rockhillmanor's avatar
    rockhillmanor
    Explorer
    Apr 25, 2016
    X2 on the above posts regarding licking to coat color changes.

    AND licking with a small breed dog often it related to teeth problems. When these small breed dogs have problems with their teeth they lick and lick and lick. At his age this could very well be the problem. Have you vet check it out.
  • Little_Kopit's avatar
    Little_Kopit
    Explorer
    Apr 25, 2016
    Sun

    My dogs have been chocolate brown Cheessies for about 7 dogs. I let them have lots of outside time. They are lighter and redder in warmer months. During the 3 months I spent in Australia,(Sept. to Dec.) where they were kenneled and got two 45 minute outings per day, they came back to chocolate again.

    C'est la vie or the ways of planet Earth.

    ;)
  • Chiefcpo's avatar
    Chiefcpo
    Explorer
    Apr 25, 2016
    AbbieGayle has the redish tear stains, we use Angel Eyes to clear that up. It might help or clear it up but please ask your Vet.
  • CA_POPPY's avatar
    CA_POPPY
    Explorer
    Apr 24, 2016
    One of our dogs did this and the vet said it was just the chemistry of her saliva & tears and not to worry about it. The licking feet or legs is a habit that is hard to break. I had a friend who showed poodles and she told me about a grooming product that helped the eye staining cosmetically. It is probably still available online, if your vet decides there is no medical issue.
  • dturm's avatar
    dturm
    Moderator
    Apr 24, 2016
    Saliva and tears will discolor the hair. Often we use the discoloration as a road map as to where the problem is.

    Doug, DVM
  • SGTJOE's avatar
    SGTJOE
    Explorer II
    Apr 24, 2016
    Thank you for the info, I'm going to take him in to his Vet this week.
  • downtheroad's avatar
    downtheroad
    Explorer
    Apr 24, 2016
    It is my understanding that the constant licking of an area will cause fur discoloration...brownish red like you described.

    From experience with our dearly departed Dalmatians is that this licking is the result of an allergy of some kind...could be environmental, could be food, could be even something in the water.

    Our vet tried a couple of different meds. Finally go one that worked and after a month or two it cleared up and we stopped giving the med.

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