Why Do Labrador Noses Change Color?

Why has my yellow labrador's nose recently changed pink? It used to be deep black. My friend's dogs also have pink noses. Why do they change color? (Daphne Harris - United Kingdom)

To be perfectly honest Daphne, we have no idea why this occurs. And, to our knowledge nobody knows. In some cases, it can be due to an irritation, but in this case the nose would look agitated and the dog might scratch it. We do know that in some cases the color will return, and in others it will come and go. If this is the case, you should determine if it happens at the time of molting. A mineral or vitamin supplement may be helpful, so you could discuss this with your vet.

For dogs that have pink noses, the possibility of getting sunburn is strong. Be sure to apply some sun-screen if the weather is hot. It has been known in some cases for dogs with pink noses to be tattooed to restore the color!