Hi Rocky will be 12 weeks on Tuesday and has been great so far. This last week I've noticed that the skin on his stomach and his willie has started to change colour from pale pink to a mottled brown/black colour. He doesn't appear to be unwell - still full of energy etc. The last week we have been able to take him out also which he has loved. Is this colour change normal ? Thanks
My yellow lab who is just 18 weeks had the most delicate soft pale pink stomach. It has changed to a darker pink but with mottled brown/back bits on it.
Yellow Labradors are actually black Labradors with the addition of two recessive genes that remove the black pigment from their fur, leaving only red pigment (of varying shades of lightness). But black pigment remains in the skin - most noticeably around the eyes, nose, lips, and paw pads. Tummies can also have a bit of black pigment, producing a slightly mottled or grainy appearance. I'd say that this is what you're seeing - it's normal
Does your dog lick his skin? Licking can change the colour of the skin. It did with my dog. The vet said she could see just by his skin where he'd been licking. He has allergies and an itchy tummy.
That is so interesting! Is that why my dog has one random little 1cm circle of black fur on the side of his chest?
Yellows can often have a few black hairs here and there (my dog does). It'd be pretty rare to have a cluster or patch of black hair but it's definitely not unheard of! Not sure what causes that but the colour genes are definitely acting differently in that area - could be that the recessive yellow genes are switched off just in that spot.
