Do dog's white markings change, making them look like another dog?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I can see that the markings on the faces of the dogs are somewhat different. These markings may change slightly with age, but typically stay the same. I recommend having the dog you have been given seen by a shelter to check for a microchip. If one is present, and Laci had been chipped, then you can easily confirm that it is the same dog. If there is no microchip but Lacy had one, and vice versa, then unfortunately, it may not be her. I hope this helps and that all works out!

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!

If no skin lesions are present, that could be completely normal being part of the aging process. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Tupac. It is difficult to say without seeing a picture. You are welcome to submit your question again including pictures of his face and coat. It is likely not a problem that his face is turning white. If he is losing hair or has scabs on his face though this can be a sign of a disease. If the hair color is simply changing, this may happen as he grows and develops. I hope this information helps!

It is difficult to tell in these photos, but if your dog's fur itself is turning white/color fading away without loss of the hair itself it could be a condition called vitiligo. This causes loss of the pigment of the skin and hair. Often it is a harmless condition but can sometimes be seen with some autoimmune disorders so it is recommended to have an exam done by Tyson's vet to be on the safe side.

Depigmentation can be normal, but if the skin is also thick or crusty or there are other skin lesions it might also be a sign of an autoimmune skin disease. If Iker has scabs or crusts on his paw pads that aren't obvious in the picture, if he seems itchy or if he has other skin problems I'd recommend having your vet take a look.

There are breeds of dogs that are prone to a seasonal lightening of the nasal planum (the hard, tough, hairless end of their nose). Sometimes referred to as “Snow Nose” these dogs (Siberian Huskies, Labradors and Golden Retrievers) can have darker noses in the summer months and lighter noses in the winter. These same breeds plus German Shepherds, Samoyeds, Afghan Hounds and Dobermans (among others) can also experience a gradual or waxing and lightening or fading of their nose color over time. This condition is known as “Dudley Nose." Vitiligo is a progressive disease in which the melanocytes are gradually destroyed causing unpigmented areas on the skin. They develop pigment loss from their skin or hair on their heads, but it can occur in other locations too. In some cases, antibodies against melanocytes have been identified in the serum of infected dogs indicating an immune component to the disorder. And skin biopsies of the affected areas will typically reveal a total lack of any remaining melanocytes. What all three of these causes for depigmentation have is common is the fact that they are not a disease that can bother or hurt your dog at all. There is no reason to worry about them and there is nothing to be done to ‘correct’ them. The depigmentation is purely cosmetic. Some depigmentation is cause for concern. For instance, any contact dermatitis/irritation can cause depigmentation as can certain chemicals in rubber that can affect the production of melanin pigment where the rubber touches the skin. The administration of certain drugs like ketoconazole, procainamide, and vitamin E have been reported to cause generalized changes in coat color in dogs, and injections of other drugs (glucocorticoids, for instance) can cause localized loss of pigment. Additionally, hormonal disorders (imbalances of thyroid, adrenal or sex hormones) can alter pigmentation as can bacterial and fungal infections and even cancers (neoplasias). Immune-mediated diseases also occur in dogs where the dog’s own antibodies attack different parts of the skin resulting in depigmentation. I recommend getting your dog seen by your vet just to be safe. She is young for some of these conditions to occur, but nothing is impossible.