As we age, humans get gray hair, the age at which they appear depends on factors such as genetics, our diet, stress, or the existence of certain pathologies. Although you may not know it, dogs also get gray hair, often at an early age.
The color of a dog’s coat is determined by its breed and its genetics, with gray hair being more common in dogs with dark fur. Melanin is the pigment that gives coat its color – in both humans and dogs – but the amount of melanin produced by the body can be lost for various reasons, leading to gray hair.
The main reason why a dog gets gray hair is due to aging. The age at which its coat begins to show white hair is seven or eight years old, when a dog is already considered an old man.
Other manifestations of the aging of the dog is that you will see changes in its weight and its state of mind, showing itself to be more tired, apathetic and without energy. Surely you have less desire to play, as well as urinary incontinence problems. Also, their senses deteriorate, so their sense of smell will lose efficiency to track, they will hear your call worse and their sight will not be as avid.
Sometimes a dog has gray hair before it is seven or eight years old, then it is premature gray hair that has nothing to do with aging. One of the reasons why they appear even if the dog is not older is due to a poor diet, with a lack of certain nutrients, especially due to a lack of protein or certain vitamins. If you think that this may be the reason, it is convenient that you go to the vet to have an analysis done and that you check its diet, perhaps it is decompensated if it is homemade or it is a poor quality feed.
In case it is due to a bad diet, it will surely show other manifestations such as lack of energy, constipation, vomiting or diarrhea, as well as weight loss, hair loss and a dull and dull tone in the coat.
On the other hand, premature graying in a dog can be due to stress. Dogs also suffer stress for reasons such as separation anxiety, if they do not get enough physical activity, if they lack cognitive stimulation, if they do not receive too much attention or affection. Other causes may be changes in your routine such as a move, the loss of a loved one, or the arrival of a new member of the family, be it a baby or another pet.
You will know that your dog is stressed because there will be changes in its character, it may be discouraged, sad and apathetic, or it may be more nervous, reactive and even aggressive, with behavioral problems. Whatever the circumstance, it is best to go to the vet to check that he is healthy and to be able to remedy what is affecting him.
