I was little worried when I noticed my golden retriever’s nose changing color. At the time, she was my first golden and I wanted to get everything right. I did some research and found that it’s very common for a golden retriever’s nose to change color over time.
Your golden retriever’s lighter nose may require a natural sunblock to avoid sunburn or skin cancer. However, it’s typically not a cause for concern if your golden retriever’s nose is changing color (losing pigment) and becoming a lighter brown or pink. The change in color can be temporary for the winter season, or permanent for some aging golden retrievers.
A change in nose color is often referred to as “winter nose” or “snow nose” but doesn’t have anything to do with the fluffy white stuff. Often a golden retriever’s nose will change from black to light brown or pink.
What Can I Do To Prevent My Golden Retriever’s Nose From Changing Color?
Some golden retriever’s noses will lighten up in the winter months and there’s not much you can do to prevent this. You may start to notice some lighter spots that turn into a lighter strip in the middle of your golden retriever’s nose. The edges of the nose usually stay darker, especially in younger golden retrievers.
Although you might not be able to prevent your dog’s nose from getting lighter, you can take some steps to ensure your golden retriever’s nose is protected during this time.
- Your golden retriever’s lighter nose puts him/her at higher risk for sunburn or skin cancer down the road. If your dog spends a lot of time outdoors in the sunlight while they have this lighter snout, it’s important to protect their nose with a natural sunblock. Several options can be found on Amazon, but this one is my favorite. If you’re in a pinch, your own personal natural sunblock works just as well. Just ensure it’s truly natural and not filled with chemicals your golden retriever could ingest if they were to lick their nose (which is likely), or react to if they have sensitive skin.
- In addition, I found some information suggesting a link between your golden retriever eating and drinking from plastic bowls causing the loss in nose pigmentation. Some golden retrievers are sensitive to plastic and can experience contact dermatitis, a type of allergic reaction. In addition, the petroleum in plastic can cause loss in pigmentation. In general, I recommend staying away from plastic bowls due to the bacteria that can harbor in the cracks. You are better off using higher quality food bowls made of stainless steal or porcelain.
Why Does My Golden Retriever’s Nose Change Color?
There is limited research to explain this occurrence since it’s not harmful to the dog and appears to be only cosmetic. However, there may be a genetic link to this phenomenon, as it tends to occur mostly in a handful of dog breeds, including golden retrievers.
More and more golden retriever breeders believe “snow nose” to have a genetic component. Some have even started adding pigment as a breeding factor and have had success breeding golden retrievers that are less likely to experience seasonal changes in nose color.
Some believe that reduced sunlight during the colder months is thought to impact the change in color. However, “snow nose” or “winter nose” has also been found to occur in the warmer months and even to golden retrievers that live in tropical areas.
Could Changes In My Golden Retriever’s Nose Indicate a Health Concern?
If the only change you see in your golden retriever’s nose is a loss in pigmentation (changing from black to light brown or pink), this alone does not indicate a health concern. It is common for a golden retriever’s nose to change color in the winter months, and sometimes even in warmer months. This change can even be permanent. Although it can occur with any dog breed, it is most common with golden retrievers, labrador retrievers, siberian huskies, and bernese mountain dogs.
Similar to humans with lighter skin, a lighter nose could put your golden retriever at increased risk for sunburn or skin cancer. You can use a natural dog sunblock or even a sunblock of your own (assuming it’s natural) if you expect your golden retriever to spend increased time in the sun. It’s important to find a natural sunblock since your golden is likely to lick some off with their tongue and you want to reduce their exposure to chemicals. Many goldens also tend to have sensitive skin and can have skin reactions easily, which highlights the importance of natural options.
Although not likely, I found some information linking a golden retriever’s reduced nose pigmentation with an underlying thyroid condition. If you have other concerns related to thyroid levels, it may be worth talking to your veterinarian and mentioning this additional symptom.
Also, if you notice more than just a color change in your golden retriever’s nose please consult your veterinarian. Changes in texture, such as cracks, sores, dryness, bleeding, or excessive smoothness could be related to other health concerns.
Will My Golden Retriever’s Nose Change Back To It’s Original Color?
All golden retrievers are different but generally most of their dark nose color will return in the warmer months, especially when they are younger. As they age, the pigmentation is less likely to recover fully. Embrace their new lighter snouts.
While scrolling several different golden retriever forums, the general consensus says that if your golden retriever’s nose has not changed seasonally by the age of 3, they are likely to keep their black nose long term. However, if you’ve started to notice your golden retriever’s nose color getting lighter prior to the age of 3, you can expect this loss in pigmentation seasonally, and maybe even permanently as your golden retriever ages.
I loved my golden retriever’s black nose and was sad to see it lighten. Luckily, in her younger years I found her nose returned to it’s dark color in the summer. As she aged past 5, the coloring returned less and less each year.
Each golden retriever is different and the loss and return of color is unique to each one. Our second golden retriever is now 3 years old and her nose has yet to lose any color. This may be a sign she will keep her black nose in the future.
How about you? Has your golden retriever’s nose lightened over time? Has it return to it’s original color? If so, has this been consistent every year?