Why is my dog’s nose sometimes pink?

Our question this week was:

Dr. Debra – I have a lab named Woody that I love. Can you tell me why his nose is pink? (he is a yellow lab). The black lab has a black nose.

Sydney

Answer

Hi – thanks for your email. You asked why your yellow lab’snose is pink. The yellow lab (as well as many light colored dogs) have minimum pigmentation on the gums, nose, pads, oral mucous membranes and tongue. When there is minimum pigmentation – then you can see the normal pink fleshy color. The pink is from the flesh tone and blood running in the tissues under it making it appear pink.

It is the same reason our gums are pink. It is a normal color for a yellow lab. However, some dogs have black pigmentation and their noses are black. This is normal for them. It is just that they have black skin.

Best of luck!

Dr. Debra

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