Grey Hair In Dogs

[daisymay]

This is probably a stupid question but I am going to ask it anyway. Does anyone know if there's anything which can restore or or prevent my dog's hair going grey? I was shocked at the vet's the other day when we met a dog of the same breed only two years younger than mine but with no grey fur at all. Mine started to go grey on her face about a year ago, but she's only eight. Although it gives her face character, with pronounced eyebrows, I'm concerned that the food I'm giving her might have something to do with it. Any ideas?

[woofgang]

A dog of the same breed doesn't mean a dog of the same colouring heritage. My dogs are coming up for six (you don't say how old your are) and their faces have greyed round the muzzle over the last six months. They are happy and lively with an expected life of around 14 years so by no means old. Honestly if your dog is happy and lively then I wouldn't be worried. I know humans who have started to go grey in their teens which equates to 18 months for a dog.

[ladybirder]

My daughter wet grey at 45 and I'm still not grey.

I think dogs with grey muzzles look GORGEOUS. Love your dog's grey muzzle and treasure her as she is daisy:-)

[boxtops]

No - it's natural, just leave it. The other dog might be different colouring, all sorts of reasons. The other dog might be grey in 2 years' time.

[daisymay]

My dog is eight. She's a Fauve - I know there's a lot of variation in the colouring of this breed but usually they're a rich ginger, as was she when she came to us four years ago. She's not grey on her muzzle but on the top of her head and her eyebrows - I do treasure her as she is but the contrast with the other dog was so shocking and if I'm doing something detrimental to her by what I'm feeding her I want to change it. The food she has at the moment contains Yucca, something I've never given to any of my dogs before, so I'm just wondering - I said it was a stupid question . . . I'm not planning to give her highlights boxtops :-)

[boxtops]

LOL - have you googled her food brand, to see if there are any side-effects.

[devilspawn]

My dog has been grey since I got her at 7 years old. She is nearly 16 now and has not got any greyer.... just slower. I did know someone who used Just for men on their alsatians face, just combed it in then washed it off. But you must be careful they dont lick it, so not worth it in my opinion, imagine the vets fees trying to explain why your dog has been poisoned!

[boxtops]

The dog doesn't mind, either, she doesn't know she's got grey patches :-)

[woofgang]

Basset Fauve or Grand Fauve? Either way if she carries the dilution gene (Like weimaraners) then her face could be paling out, not going grey as in greying with age.

[B00]

Think I read somewhere that their muzzles can discolour through it constantly being in their food bowls and that you can get special shampoo- I think?

Not sure whether your dog's really is discoloured, or actual grey fur. If its the latter as with the others, i'd leave it alone, it sounds kinda sweet and adds character :-)

[daisymay]

I think you're right Wolfgang, she's a Basset Fauve and so she probably carries the gene - comes from the Petit Basset Griffon Vandeen, one of the breeds used in the recreation of the Basset Fauve. However, I have also seen online just now that premature greying could be caused by stress on her liver or kidneys by inappropriate food - she does like her raw vegetable titbits when I'm cooking and she does eat a lot of grass. Apparently, it could also be a sign of thyroid problems. She's a lazy beast but I've always put that down to just being a hound but maybe I'll take her to the vet for a blood test, just to make sure. Thanks for your input everyone, I appreciate it.

[woofgang]

raw veg and grass shouldn't stress her liver and kidneys, but yes a thyroid panel might be a good idea if she is a little sluggish.

[jomifl]

Grecian 2000 works for old dogs :-)