Do dogs get age spots?

@bunnybon7 (50975)
Holiday, Florida
March 7, 2009 9:58pm CST
i know this is a strange question. i may have to ask the vet next visit. when i first got Coconut my chihuahua papillon mix, she was 9mths old. she still had all pink belly, feet,etc, anything under hair. shes mostly white except for a brown spot on one eye and tiny ones on her ears. she is now about 5yrs old or so. her belly and all the pink places have slowly gotten dark patches like a spotted dog would have. she still acts the same .doesnt seem to hurt,which made me wonder if they also get age spots
2 people like this
9 responses
• United States
8 Mar 09
I can't see why not. Our cat, Hearns, was about 10 years old and even though cats don't have many places on them where you can see their skin he started getting dark splotches by his ears. I was concerned also and the vets office said that it was something animals get when they get old. So, I guess they can and do get "age spots" just like they get gray hair.
2 people like this
@bunnybon7 (50975)
• Holiday, Florida
8 Mar 09
thanks. im feeling a lot better about it now. so, i guess it wasnt as strange a thought as i figured.
1 person likes this
@athinapie (1150)
• Philippines
8 Mar 09
My dog has been with us for more than five years and is very old. He has freckles in his ears that weren't there before. And mind you that we cleaned them and they didn't come off. I think that those are age spots. It is a possibility.
@bunnybon7 (50975)
• Holiday, Florida
8 Mar 09
it does seem possible since it doesnt seem to be hurting them
2 people like this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
10 Mar 09
I noticed that with my Maltese/Silky doggy. She had lots of those dark spots on her belly. Her fur was all white and she was the only all white pup in the litter. I put it down to the fact that she wasn't a pure breed. I assumed that if she had been a pure Maltese Terrier and all white that she would not have had the spots.
@bunnybon7 (50975)
• Holiday, Florida
11 Mar 09
thats possible. coco is mixed with papilon
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
8 Mar 09
yes, now these aren't quite the same as people get age spots, but the spots grow and increase more like freckles, espcially in chihuahuas that are light colored and with thin coats
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50975)
• Holiday, Florida
8 Mar 09
thank you! i didnt think it was anything to worry about. just wondered.
2 people like this
8 Mar 09
Hi bunnybon7, I don't really know much about dogs, but it just maybe her colouring or something but if you are not sure ask the vet, they will put your mind at ease. Love a hugs. Tamara
2 people like this
@bunnybon7 (50975)
• Holiday, Florida
8 Mar 09
yes just for that reason im going to make a note of it.next time,
2 people like this
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
8 Mar 09
My Tukay (my avatar) hasn't gotten any age spots that I can see. However, as she's gotten older (she's 10 now) she's getting lots of moles. The vet says they aren't anything to worry about, so I don't. Let us know what the vet says, ok?
2 people like this
@bunnybon7 (50975)
• Holiday, Florida
8 Mar 09
thanks. shes/hes so very cute. i'll let you know when i can get around to taking her.
2 people like this
• United States
9 Mar 09
im not sure but i do know that as they age their hair will turn white in some areas
@bunnybon7 (50975)
• Holiday, Florida
9 Mar 09
yes my older dog got white hair around his mouth, like a beard.lol
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
8 Mar 09
Hey bunny! That's a good question! I think that they actually do! I'm not totally sure about it, but I do believe that dogs can get some kind of age spots too! I know that I have seen dogs get darker spots in places that were white or pink as they got older so I don't think it's that uncommon! But, I would ask the vet anyway.
@bunnybon7 (50975)
• Holiday, Florida
8 Mar 09
yes i think i'll put it on my list. thanks opal
@jazzsue58 (2666)
8 Mar 09
All I know is, an animal's skin can be pigmented underneath to match the hair on top - my rabbit is like this, his white bits have pink skin, whilst his brown bits have dark skin. I guess you could call it age-spots as both are caused by Melanin, but in animals the pigmentation tends to be absent when young and develops as they grow older (you see it in horses too) The only animals I know with a complete lack of pigmentation are albinos. PS I only recently noticed the colour change in my rabbit, and he's now 'getting on a bit' too - guess we'll both discolour together! Either way, it's normal - nothing to worry about.
@bunnybon7 (50975)
• Holiday, Florida
8 Mar 09
thank you. you have the scientifics down pat