Fawn pug is turning increasingly black?!?

[6 Beautiful Pugs]

Same thing with Ozzy's (4 months old), but he has absolutely no other symptoms or problems that I have noticed. Poops are great, pees are regular, no itching, no hair loss, no lack of energy, no joint soreness, he is 10 lbs at 4 months and gaining appropriately, appetite is pug-like. The only negative I can think of is that he has the occasional stinky butt juice leak!
Does this still mean there is a problem somewhere?

I would be going proactively with him, both anal gland issues and darkening skin (even in the absence of any other symptoms) can mean there is something out of balance. I would get him on a really good diet, low carb, feed probiotics and enzymes, look at his vaccination history (vaccination is often when people first start noticing darkened skin because vaccines are very hard on the immune system, especially for small dogs), avoid unnecessary vaccines and booster shots, eliminate unhealthy treats or chews, and work to keep the weight ideal.

More than likely you will be able to correlate the darkening skin with when they got their puppy shots. Shots are a terrible assault on the immune system.

Take care,
Lisa

[frankoliverlucy]

I would be going proactively with him, both anal gland issues and darkening skin (even in the absence of any other symptoms) can mean there is something out of balance. I would get him on a really good diet, low carb, feed probiotics and enzymes, look at his vaccination history (vaccination is often when people first start noticing darkened skin because vaccines are very hard on the immune system, especially for small dogs), avoid unnecessary vaccines and booster shots, eliminate unhealthy treats or chews, and work to keep the weight ideal.

More than likely you will be able to correlate the darkening skin with when they got their puppy shots. Shots are a terrible assault on the immune system.

Take care,
Lisa

Very interesting Lucy's skin darkening did happen after 6 month shots and her first rabbies vaccine. I personally dislike vaccinations but have always kept my pets up to date because I am so scared of Parvo, Kennel Cough and Rabbies...
Do you think its safe not ot vaccinate, after 2 years or so?

[6 Beautiful Pugs]

That is a question only you can answer because it entails weighing risks versus benefits. I LOVE this article from a lab forum on shots:

Wing-N-Wave Labradors Vaccines, Infectious Diseases and the Canine Immune System

Take care,
Lisa

[sugarskullz]

Ozzy just had his 3rd booster shot today with bordatella. No rabies though, gonna wait on that. I asked Vet about his greyish skin and he didnt think there was a problem of any sort. Possibly he is not a pug savvy vet though. But, actually, yes, it seems that after his last shots, 1 month ago (including bordatella), that it went from really pink to slight greying.
Is the color change in itself, life threatening or a problem of any sort?
Like i mentioned before, he seems perfectly normal in every other sense. Vet says his anal glands were fine, but to firm it up more, he agreed that I could try the pysillium husks, so went ahead and picked some up. I also give him pumpkin.

[pugaddiction]

When Eddie came to us 1 1/2 years ago his skin was very black. But with a good no grain diet, and a food enzyme, I am happy to report that the black is receeding. He still has black specs but he smells and looks much better now. We have just recently got him on a pre/probiotic so I am hoping that maybe one day his belly will be white. Zoeys was dark in patches under her arm pits and her private area, but she now has the pinkest belly going, and very soft.

[6 Beautiful Pugs]

"Is the color change in itself, life threatening or a problem of any sort? "

Absolutely not!!! It is only a vague and early sign of some metabolic imbalance or issue.

Take care,
Lisa

[Melody]

Or perhaps no problem at all.

[sugarskullz]

Or perhaps no problem at all.

That's what i'm counting on/hoping for!!.
To add..................he also has no bad smells from mouth or body other than the occasional butt juice leak! LOL
I think for now I will wait and watch. If the only symptom he is showing is slight greying to his tummy and there are no other effects at all, than I would rather not start messing around with diet and such.

[BuggyPug]

Maybe, it is caused by genetics. The father and the mother's genes may have mixed to create a darker fur.