It is that time of year, where I notice my golden retriever’s nose is starting to fade from a dark brown to light mauve color. This is due to a somewhat mysterious condition called snow nose.
Snow nose, also known as “winter nose” or “hypopigmentation,” refers to a condition in dogs where the nose temporarily loses its pigment during the winter months, causing it to fade from its usual color to pink or light brown. Snow nose is commonly observed in certain breeds, such as the Siberian husky, Labrador retriever, golden retriever and Bernese mountain dog, among others. The exact cause of snow nose is not fully understood, but there are several theories:
Seasonal Changes: It is believed that snow nose might be related to seasonal changes, especially in response to sunlight exposure. Some dogs experience a temporary loss of pigment during the winter months and regain their original nose color during the summer.
Genetic Factors: Certain breeds seem to be predisposed to snow nose, suggesting a possible genetic component. Research suggests that the specific genes responsible for pigmentation might be influenced by environmental factors, including temperature and sunlight.
Hormonal Changes: Hormonal fluctuations due to changes in daylight hours during winter months might also play a role in the depigmentation of the nose. Melatonin, a hormone affected by changes in light, is thought to be linked to pigmentation changes.
Snow nose is typically considered a benign condition and doesn’t cause any health concerns for the dog. In most cases, the nose regains its normal color when the seasons change, although in some older dogs, the change might become permanent.
Now what I find intriguing within my own family group of doggy noses, consisting of three golden retrievers and a black Lab/Saint Bernard mix, is that half of them get a snow nose, and half do not. My Saint Bernard/Lab always has the sweetest little/big black nose that she puts up to greet use on a daily basis. Girl has to give everything a good sniff. Orno, my male golden retriever (pictured) gets a snow nose as mentioned before. Ruby, my parents’ female golden retriever, also gets a snow nose. But Teddy, my parents’ male golden, does not. Teddy’s nose stays very dark all winter. This leads me to lean towards the phenomenon of snow nose being a genetic factor, with seasonal influence, rather than anything else. But what do you think? And have you noticed your dog’s nose change through the seasons?
BY ADRIENNE WIX
