Nasal Spotting

AlexG2490 · 12-11-2007, 11:52 PM

Hello! I'm so glad I found this forum!

Missy, an Australian Shepherd Mix, is approximately 6 1/2 years old (we're not sure but when we adopted her the shelter thought she was about 4). Over the past couple of weeks, I have noticed that her nose has changed color. She has a very light spot on her nose that just appeared. Here she is on November 24:

And now on December 10th:

It's located mostly below her left nostril. Is this normal or is it time to call in the vet? She's not acting strangely, it doesn't seem to bother her to have it touched so it doesn't seem to be in pain, and it's not rough or dry... it's just changed color for no apparent reason.

Thanks in advance!

ChrissyBz · 12-12-2007, 09:35 AM

It can be an indication of a weakened immune system. When was she last at the vet? and what date were her last vaccinations. Which Vacs was she given together?

Although on closer look it looks more like complete loss of pigment than just a color change. any chance of a closer pic? It's kind of hard to see in these pictures.

I'd take her to the vet and have them take a look just to be sure.

AlexG2490 · 12-12-2007, 10:49 AM

Her last trip to the vet was a little over a year ago... she is due for her next one at the start of 2008. I'm afraid I can't tell you what vaccines she had... the person primarily responsible for her care at the time of the last appointment passed away eight months ago, and I haven't any idea where to get my hands on that information.

Now, closer pictures I can do. Here are the same pictures from last time cropped to the nose only.

Old:

New:

ChrissyBz · 12-12-2007, 01:44 PM

It actually looks like it was already beginning in the first picture and has progressed in the second pic.

I would definitely take her in to the vet. ASAP in my opinion.

Also in the second pic you can see fading from the top down through the center of the nose. My vet told me that that does happen to some dogs as the age but your dog isn't that old. I would also recommend an ehrlichia titer as a faded nose can sometime be one of the subtler symptoms of ehrlichiosis AKA tick fever. Lots of vets do something called a snap test but my vet says that in her experience that only shows positive in advanced cases when it's already too late. I have personal experience with tick fever and it's known as a silent killer as often by the time dogs are showing symptoms it's too late to reverse. If caught in time it can be treated with antibiotics.

Don't mean to freak you out or anything but better safe than sorry.

Two of my 6 have the faded nose and one of those has chronic ehrliciosis. All six have titered positive for E. Canis but there a many different species of ehrlichia that can affect dogs and even a couple that can be passed from dog to human or vice versa through infected ticks.

AlexG2490 · 12-13-2007, 01:45 AM

Thanks for your input, but I've looked at the symptoms for Ehrlichiosis and she doesn't present any of the others apart from the spot. She has no fever, isn't lethargic, hasn't bled or had bruises, there is no evicence she's been bitten by a tick (and she is on tick medication to help prevent just such an occurrence), her eyes are not glassy, there is no swelling or sensitivity in her stomach, she has not been coughing or vomiting, and there's no diarreah. She has not been drinking excessive amounts of water or urinating any more frequently.

I still intend to call the vet tomorrow and get their professional opinion on whether to bring her in or not, but she only matches the one symptom of all those that I have looked at. I love Missy a lot and I don't want to seem like a pet owner who isn't willing to work on having her treated if there is something wrong (like those you mention in the post here (Canine Health Emergencies and The Web)). But I have to be practical about money as well and I can't pay for tests for every disease under the sun that has nasal spots as a symptom. Remember, this home lost its breadwinner about 8 months ago and I can barely make ends meet as it is. It's a struggle for me to just put food on the table every day, so please don't think I'm just concerned about the time, a minor expense or a bit of inconvenience in my day. I love Missy a ton and I hate to even say this... but if it comes down to a choice between either getting her tested and treated or being able to feed my remaining human family... well, we'll just have to let Missy go.

ChrissyBz, I really appreciate your input, but I hope you won't take it the wrong way if I ask for a second opinion before I rush out. One will be from the Vet tomorrow over the phone, but in the meantime, isn't there anyone else who can weigh in on this?

ChrissyBz · 12-13-2007, 01:49 PM

Of course I wouldn't take offense. I would expect you to get a second or even a third opinion. I didn't really understand that it was someone in your immediate family that passed. Perhaps there is someone else here who can help you more. Good luck with Missy and keep us updated with whatever happens.

AlexG2490 · 12-13-2007, 07:40 PM

Alright, I spoke to the vet today and it was her opinion that it's not tick disease. It did concern her a bit how fast the pink spread and she does want us to keep an eye on her. If she gets worse we're to rush her in. Otherwise, she has an appointment a week from saturday and they'll have a look then.

The vet also said that dogs can begin to lose their nose pigmentation at a younger age and it may simply be that; every dog, like every person, ages differently, she said. She also mentioned that it was possible that the shelter's age estimate for her was well wrong and that she could be much older than we think she is.

Anyway, I'll be watching for lethargy and lack of appetite (the two symptoms the vet most strongly associated with tick fever) but if they don't appear then I'm just going to keep the appointment for 9 days from now. From the way this dog bounds around the house, jumping clear over the back of the couch and running at top speed to get someone, anyone, to please open the back door so she can chase squirrels... I can definitely say that lethargy isn't an issue at this time.

I'm still looking for opinions here, of course, because the more theories I have to present to the vet the more we can narrow things down. Most of all I thank you all for understanding the delicate situation I'm in. Like I said, there's no way to say it without sounding like I don't feel my dog is part of the family, but when it comes to a choice between her welfare or that of my remaining parent and siblings, the choice becomes clear. My father's insurance costs covered his funeral and everything else; now we just need to find employment for someone in the family. Then it wouldn't be an issue.

ChrissyBz · 12-13-2007, 08:49 PM

Alex, I'm glad you talked to your vet and the thinking is positive. 9 days doesn't sound too long to wait from your description of the energy levels. Your vet also has history on Missy and so is better equipped to gauge the possibilities.

I'm so sorry you lost your father, It's a devastating thing to go through. Welcome to the Dead Dads Club. My father died 2 & 1/2 years ago and I miss him every single day still. It's a very hard thing to understand until it happens to you but still we all have to go through it sooner or later. I still think later, MUCH later would have been better and my dad was 82 with the fullest life imaginable.

Good Luck with Missy and please keep me updated.

Ps. sorry if I sound flippant about death but I've found that Black Humor is the best way for me to deal with the sometimes macabre situations I've encountered in my life.

AlexG2490 · 12-22-2007, 12:20 PM

Just an update for you all:

Missy just got back from the vet. She had a temperature of 103 (normal being 102 according to the vet) which the doc said was probably due to Missy being so wound up and excited. She got a car ride and treats and other doggies to smell/bark at, so 'excitement' was a reasonable diagnosis.

Based on my pictures of the nose that I posted here and showed her, coupled with the fact that most of the coloring has gone back to black in the 9 days since we took the picture (there is a clear contrast between the picture and now), she thinks that Missy just banged her nose up on something and it was scarring over. With infection, she said that the white areas are usually crusted over (we noticed none of that) and that the dogs get crusties inside their mouths along the lower jaw. She didn't do any bloodwork, but she seemed fairly confident that Missy is doing fine... although she does need to go on a bit of a diet!

Thanks for all your help everyone. I imagine I will be back to the forums in the course of due time. In the meantime, this is where I get off. Merry Christmas!

ChrissyBz · 12-22-2007, 03:16 PM

That's wonderful, Merry Christmas to you too.

IslandMutts · 12-22-2007, 03:31 PM

I'm glad your dog is better

The pics of her nose turning pink reminded me of something I saw years ago...

My friend and I drove to the middle of nowhere in West Virginia to go camping. We found a campsite and set up there, but all of the down wood we found was wet and we needed firewood (it was March). We drove around until we came across a farm with a little general store and we asked this old man if we could buy some firewood. The man had a collie who had a problem which caused his nose to turn almost completely pink. He told us he colors the dog's nose with a black magic marker, so the dog wouldn't be "embarassed" around the other dogs, and so his nose wouldn't get sunburned

I definitely wouldn't reccomend that anyone do this... just relating a funny anecdote.