NOSE discoloration - Page 1

I have a 5 month old GSD, and for the past two months I started noticing discoloration on the tip of his nose. my assumption is due to  cleaning the kennel. everytime he would pee , I would clean it with pinesol or any other brand and left it there to dry. could that be the reason why he's nose has lost color? can the color of his nose come bakc to normal??? i have been putting vitamin E on the tip of hs nose. can anyone let me know.thanks!

iif his nose is pale its a condition called winter nose a lack of pigmentation. there are products that can help this in the uk theres one called pigment plus that is excelent!

 Just leave his nose alone unless there is an obvious sign of infection or injury. This loss of pigment is not generally something to worry about, is not uncommon and the pigment should return.

I have a GSD right now with "snow nose" some call it.  So I would not worry about it.  However, when you said that you clean the kennel with Pinesol - that is a worry.  Never use a chemical near a dog or with a smell like PINESOL.  I was told by a vet that you can actually burn the nares and if you ever expect to track or do search and rescue with him or her you want her nose solid as a rock and healthy.  They claim that the chemicals that you use in lawns can also burn the nares and impair the olfactory system.  Anybody out there hear of that.  I am passing on information that I have heard - so I hope it is somewhat true. 

thank you sooo much for your replies, it was very helpful!!! especially not ever again cleaning the kennel with cleaning chemicals =0P

alex, also plastic water/food bowls can cause the nose to go pink....

Winter nose is said to be lack of vitamin D ( sunlight ) . The pigment should return with no problem in the summer unless the rest of the dogs pigment is poor.

Trailrider- interesting you mention that, I use metal bowls and while we have had a very long, cold, bitter winter here my dogs have no sign of winter nose.

Some believe "winter nose" to be a sign of chronic illness - specifically a thyroid deficiency.  Some also believe it to be a nutritional deficiency, so get the dog on a proper diet.

I wanted to add one thing.  Is your dog itching himself/herself - digging the nose into the fur?  If so that can cause the nose to discolor.  ie like itching with his/her teeth into the fur (I may not be explaining this right) but dogs with allergies tend to dig into the fur and nibble with teeth.  It discolors the nose and also cause the gum line to hyperpigment.  So I always suggest you check the gum line if pink (great) if you notice darkness (hyperpigmented) they may be doing that.