5 replies to this topic

[tualizzy]

Any thoughts as to what causes discoloration of fur around the mouth & ears?

When Brassy was first rescued, she had a reddish brown stain around her mouth, ears, and if I am remembering correctly a little on her front legs. Since being rescued, she has been eating a healthy raw diet (both at her foster home and here with us). After about a month with us, the stain faded away and her pretty white fur looked beautiful. Now, a year and a half later the stain has returned, but only around her mouth.

Anythoughts?

She'll be 16 sometime this year (don't know her b-day date, but know she was 14 when we got her), and her annual check-up a few months ago was awesome. I think I'll make an appointment and take her in, just to be safe (or paranoid). She's started to loose fur on one back leg (just a small patch), and I have recently noticed that one elbow is bald . Its the elbow she uses to lay down and get up. She's very stiff making that movement and crashes to the floor when she wants to lay down. Poor old gal. I wish I could turn back the clock for her. She's such a happy, sweet dog. Still loves a good game of fetch. And if Jak gets in her way when she's running for the frisbee, look out, she'll body check him.

Thanks!

[Sue R]

I have noticed that funny color between my dogs toes sometimes, too. I think that discoloration by the eyes (you see that a lot in the little white Maltese and other while terriers, spaniels, and such) and maybe the mouth may be due to an enzyme, protein, or something that is present in teardrops and saliva. I've never noticed it so much in larger dogs as in little dogs, and I wonder why. I'll be curious to see what people have to say about this.

As for her front legs, our old Mac used to lick his front joints when he was older and I'm thinking it's because those old joints were a bit achy and it felt good to lick them. When he did, the fur there would get that reddish-brown stain to it so I assumed it was the saliva that caused it. He, too, would sometimes get a bit of coloration near his mouth and tended to have a wetter mouth with his advanced age, as his lips got a little slack. Maybe that's why it's showing up again in your old girl.

As for elbows, most of my dogs have had a bare elbow or two, that tends to get sort of rough and callousy. I know that in our dairy goats, whose kids were born with knees that had hair on them, that the front knees would get bare and coarsely-skinned (like the dog elbows) with a little time and age. I think it's just a callous of some sort and nothing to worry about, but I'd wonder if using carpets and dog beds (and padding in crates) wouldn't avoid it in the first place for most dogs. We have carpet in this house and pads in the dog crates, and these are the first dogs in my life that don't have these callouses. However, the one who tends to lump up her bedding and sometimes lie/sleep in the bare spot in her crate also seems like she may be developing a callous on one elbow.

[MrSnappy]

Awww man. I can't answer your question, though I can contribute that Piper likes to "eat" one of her own paws and she stains that one when she does it, so I guess it has something to do with saliva.

But mostly I can't believe BrassyPants is going to be 16ish! She just keeps on ticking doesn't she? Good girl! She is amazing.

RDM

[Tracer]

Funny you mention this, Scout has the same coloration around his mouth and ears. His dad was a red and white while mom was balck and white, we just assumed that the coloration was a result of dad but our trainer said that alot of that is from the food they eat.

[juliepoudrier]

Yep, the pink staining is usually saliva or tear staining (if the pink is near the eyes). In fact, one of my first clues that Farleigh was surreptitiously licking his front legs was the appearance of a pink stain there.

Dogs who routinely lie down on unpadded surfaces will also get elbow callouses. Unless the callous is cracked or bleeding or otherwise showing signs of irritation, I wouldn't worry about it.

For the staining around the mouth, is it possible she has been drooling/salivating more than normal? Maybe a tooth issue?

J.

[Lenajo]

old dogs sleep really deeply and as a result often have drool stains.