Black Dog Turns White Due to Rare Medical Condition; What Is Vitiligo?

In a rare case of vitiligo in dogs, a black dog ended up becoming completely white two years after getting diagnosed with the rare medical condition.

Black Dog Turns White

It appears that the rare medical condition that famously affected Michael Jackson also affects animals as well. One dog owner can attest to this, as their pet dog Buster, a four-year-old black dog from Oklahoma, ended up turning completely white because of vitiligo.

Matt Smith, Buster's owner, has shared photos of Buster, comparing his black and white appearance over the years. Smith shared on Reddit that Buster completely went from black to white in a span of 2.5 years due to a skin condition known as vitiligo.

Smith initially observed that there were white patches near the mouth and chin of Buster. This was before the white color eventually spread across the dog's body and face. The pet owner shared that Buster would lose black fur and that new white fur would eventually come, adding that there was a time where Buster was balding in some areas of his body.

What Is Vitiligo?

Vitiligo is a medical condition wherein skin pigment cells get destroyed in certain body parts. The condition may affect hair, fur, and skin. With vitiligo, the discolored areas typically get bigger as time passes.

Hair and skin color is normally determined by melanin. Vitiligo happens when the melanin-producing cells stop functioning or altogether die. Though the condition may affect people of various skin types, it is more noticeable among individuals with Black or brown skin.

The condition can also be related to or caused by genetics, an autoimmune condition, or a specific trigger event.

The case of Buster shows that animals, specifically dogs, also experience the rare medical condition. The good thing is that in pets, vitiligo does not cause pain. Buster also appears to not experience any discomfort or suffering.

The condition is also quite rare, as it is thought to occur in under 1% of dogs. There are certain dog breeds, such as the Dachshund, German shepherd, Old English sheepdog, and Rottweiler, that appear to be more prone to having the condition compared to other breeds.

Vitiligo typically shows up during young adulthood and almost always begins at the face of the dog, most especially the nose. It then progresses to reach the dog's foot pads and other body parts before leading to painless patches of white hair and skin.

There are available vitiligo treatments to repigment that affected fur and skin of the dog, though veterinarians suggest getting more exposure to the sun in order to boost the development of melanocytes. However, the condition itself does not lead to discomfort. Cats or dogs with the condition can just live their lives with it.

Nevertheless, pet owners are recommended to take their pets to a veterinarian to see if the condition could be caused by an underlying medical issue.