Black Lab Turning White

I know (or maybe I think) that thyroid conditions can cause fur bleaching.

She does have a thyroid condition. Her owner's vet didn't think that was the cause, but maybe she's wrong.

Maybe a second opinion?

She is on thyroid medicine now( the do, not my friend.) I don't suppose it's reversible. She looks kinda cool, though. Do you know if there is a name for this condition?

Motley Pooch????

Couldn't help myself, Sorry.

Your friend should have the dogs thyroid levels checked again and it possible get her to a specialist. It might not be anything, but dogs are very stoic and don't get clues if they are not feeling well. Sometimes you can't tell until a disorder if far down the line. But they should do a complete blood work-up and check the dogs vitals. If nothing is wrong, it would be cool to have a broad speckled pooch.

I'm sure that my friend has had every possible test done on her dog. she's anal like that. The mottled look is very chic!

swimpy...really strange. i am living in japan at the moment..and just watched a program where someone here had a black lab that had turned completely white. the producers of the show brought in an animal psychic (yes thats right) from california. apparently, according to the psychic, the dog was suffering from depression because the dogs owner died a year ago. the wife of the owner did not take the dog out to play anymore and therefore it was depressed. so the psychic told her to play with the dog etc...and by the end of the show the dogs hair had begun to change.

anyway, i thought it was all bizarre, so i did a web search to learn more about it..and found your question. id go with the thyroid answer.....

Weird! Thanks for the info. I don't think this dog is depressed, she seems very normal.

Re: Black Lab Turning White


I had a friend who owned a doberman about 5 or 6 years old. It turned pure white just before it died. He never found out why his dog turned white!

Oh Victor! I hope that's not the case with my friend's dog. she's such a good dog.

To update: My friend started giving the dog zinc supplements. She got on some vet discussion board and found that some dogs responded to the zinc therapy and their black hair grew back in. I saw here recently and I think she's at least stopped getting whiter.