What Is Snow Nose in Huskies?

Snow nose is a benign cosmetic condition that affects many dogs during the winter months. The pink streaking known as snow nose is also observed in female dogs in season or immediately prior to whelping a litter of puppies. Siberian huskies aren't the only breed that is affected by snow nose, but the condition is fairly common in this breed.

  1. Snow Nose in Siberian Huskies

    • Siberian huskies with snow nose have normal pigment for most of the calendar year. During the colder months, however, affected dogs have a streak of pink pigmentation down the center of their nose, dividing the normal pigmentation into two vertical halves. Snow nose is unrelated to the type of pigmentation that the dog displays: dogs with black noses or ̶0;self-colored̶1; chocolate or blue-gray noses are all equally affected.

    Detrimental Effects

    • No known detrimental effects are associated with snow nose. Some owners may consider snow nose to be unattractive, becoming distressed when it appears. The condition is entirely cosmetic, however, and has no effect on the dog̵7;s ability to detect scents. Snow nose is not particularly sensitive to sunlight and is no more prone to sunburn than any other nose of that color. The American Kennel Club, the United Kennel Club and the Kennel Club (UK) don't consider snow nose to be a health concern and don't list it as a fault in their standards.

    Causes and Similar Conditions

    • It has been proposed that snow nose is caused by the drop in winter temperature or that it is caused by the reflection of sunlight off snow. However, according to the White Swiss Shepherd Dog Club of Australia, vets have found cases of snow nose in dogs living in warmer areas. Plastic dish dermatitis, which occurs from a dog's facial contact with plastic or rubber dishes, creates a similar loss of pigment in dogs̵7; noses. Vitiligo is another condition that causes loss of pigmentation; however, unlike snow nose, the pigment fades in localized areas on the dog̵7;s nose and lips instead of merely a pink strip down the center of its nose. Dogs with vitiglio may develop white fur as well.

    Treatment

    • Little can be done to treat snow nose. It might be possible to reduce the incidence of snow nose by keeping the dog in warmer temperatures. Left untreated, the pigment might return to the dog̵7;s nose as days lengthen and temperatures grow warmer. Feeding your dog vitamin E or kelp may have some limited effect on nose pigment. Visit your veterinarian to determine an appropriate dose of kelp, however, before supplementing your dog's food with this product. Adding too much kelp to your dog's diet can cause thyroid problems that are far more dangerous than the wholly cosmetic snow nose.