Supports lean muscle, for dogs who prefer smaller kibble
Supports healthy joints, lean muscle, and beautiful coat for large breed dogs
Supports lean muscle and beautiful coat for adult dogs
Grain free, easy-to-digest food that is gentle on the stomach. Nourishes skin & promotes lustrous fur.
With delicious chunks in a decadent gravy
With delicious chunks in a decadent gravy
Learn why nutrients like antioxidants & amino acids can help improve your pet's immune system, as well as top antioxidants to look for in pet food.
Learn what a pet's microbiome is, how it contributes to your pet's gut & overall health, and why nutrition is important in maintaining healthy microbiomes.
Concerned about your pet's environmental impact? Learn how sustainable pet food can help you care for the planet without compromising pet nutrition.
Erin Ollila
|February 16, 2020
You just noticed that your pet has some spotting on their body, and your veterinarian informed you that it's from vitiligo. But what is vitiligo in dogs and cats? Here are all the basics.
Vitiligo is a rare skin condition that some humans may develop, but so can cats and dogs. A human or animal with this condition experiences depigmentation, which occurs when the skin loses its natural pigments. The skin will turn white (or light pink) in patches and hair in those spots can also turn white.
Tri-County Animal Hospital in Wayne, New Jersey reported that vitiligo is a "condition characterized by symmetrical lack of pigment in the skin and white hair coat, especially involving the face and nose."
Is vitiligo something that can be "caught" from another animal with the condition? Simply stated, no. Austin Veterinary Emergency & Specialty (AVES) confirms that vitiligo is not contagious. However, this condition is often hereditary, so if a previous generation experienced depigmentation, your cat or dog is more likely to develop this uncommon skin condition. It's not clear why vitiligo occurs, but it's believed that it happens when something interferes with the body's melanin-producing cells.
If you're worried that your dog or cat might develop vitiligo, don't be too concerned, especially if you haven't noticed any white skin or hair spots. This skin condition is quite rare, though there are some breeds that are more likely to get it than others.
Tri-County Animal Hospital noted that vitiligo is common in dog breeds such as "Belgian Tervuren, German shepherd dogs, Doberman pinschers, rottweilers, German shorthaired pointer, Old English sheepdog, and dachshunds." Siamese cats may be predisposed as well.
Young pets may need several visits in their first year for vaccinations. Adult pets generally benefit from annual check-ups, while senior or special-needs pets might require more frequent visits.
If you know your pet's bloodline and there haven't been any other cases of vitiligo in previous generations, you don't need to worry. However, pet parents who don't know their animal's family history of skin conditions might want to point out any of their pet's skin changes to their vet.
Since most cases of vitiligo in dogs and cats occur when they're young, depigmentation at an older age may require a visit to the vet. It may be easy to confuse going gray (a natural sign of aging) with losing skin pigmentation due to a medical condition. Hypothyroidism, stress, and kidney and liver disease may be the culprit behind depigmentation, according to AVES.
Vitiligo in cats and dogs is nothing to fear. Vitiligo in pets is painless and do not act any different as a result. Your pet will still live a happy life with some special spotting. Just make sure to discuss any skin changes with your vet!
Erin Ollila believes in the power of words and how a message can inform—and even transform—its intended audience. Her writing can be found all over the internet and in print, and includes interviews, ghostwriting, blog posts, and creative nonfiction. Erin is a geek for SEO and all things social media. She graduated from Fairfield University with an M.F.A. in Creative Writing. Reach out to her on Twitter @ReinventingErin or learn more about her at http://erinollila.com.
Supports lean muscle and beautiful coat for adult dogs
Advanced nutrition to support hip & joint health from day 1
Supports lean muscle, for dogs who prefer smaller kibble
Supports healthy joints, lean muscle, and beautiful coat for large breed dogs
Learn how the science of predictive biology plays a role in formulating your pet's food to interact and work with your pet's biological process.
Concerned about your pet's environmental impact? Learn how sustainable pet food can help you care for the planet without compromising pet nutrition.
Learn why nutrients like antioxidants & amino acids can help improve your pet's immune system, as well as top antioxidants to look for in pet food.
Learn what a pet's microbiome is, how it contributes to your pet's gut & overall health, and why nutrition is important in maintaining healthy microbiomes.
Our low calorie formula helps you control your pet's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavorful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.
Our low calorie formula helps you control your pet's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavorful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.