Have you been noticing more grey hairs than usual on your furry friend? If so, you might be concerned, especially if your dog isn’t that old. The pet care specialists at Dan’s Pet Care have seen plenty of dogs develop premature greys, and we know finding a reason isn’t always simple. But let’s take a look at a few of the top reasons why a fairly young dog might still have a greying coat.
Your dog’s breed might be prone to early greying
Some breeds are genetically more prone to early grey hairs than others. Dogs that don’t shed are often more prone to this condition.
Six dog breeds that tend to go grey, especially early include:
Weimaraners
Poodles
Collies
Sheepdogs
Greyhounds
Schnauzers
In addition, keep in mind that premature greying is a dominant gene in dogs. This means that even if your dog is a mixed-breed, it may have inherited the gene from a purebred ancestor.
Your dog might be stressed out
A study found that premature grey hairs on young dogs (under the age of 5) may be linked to psychological distress. Just like humans, dogs can suffer from stressors that decrease their quality of life and shorten their life span.
Four common causes of stress in dogs include:
Boredom
Frustration
Fear
Anxiety
If you suspect your dog might be stressed out, look for other signs that might be present.Your dog might have nervous habits, like pacing, shaking often, or breathing heavily. They might also lose interest in daily activities, like eating or playing. Your vet can assess your dog for signs of stress and offer solutions, including medication and lifestyle changes.
Your dog might have an undiagnosed health problem
Grey hair can be a sign of several health problems in dogs. While liver or kidney disease might be involved, the most common culprit is hypothyroidism. This condition can cause a range of different symptoms in dogs. Since the thyroid is responsible for regulating your dog’s metabolism, insufficient thyroid hormones can lead to signs like:
Fatigue
Weight gain
Aversion to cold temperatures
An unhealthy-looking coat that’s slow to grow
In some cases, your dog’s underlying health conditions can be treated by a daily pill. Proactive veterinary care is one of the best steps you can take to increase your dog’s quality of life.
How concerned should you be about premature greying?
No matter why your dog is going grey, you might be wondering whether it’s time for you to take action. Should you contact your vet to try to get to the heart of the matter? It depends on a couple of key factors.
Is your dog’s greying actually “premature”?
First of all, it’s important to determine whether your dog’s grey hairs are actually “premature.” Small breeds are considered “senior dogs” when they reach 7 years old, while large dogs are considered “seniors” at only 5 years old. In general, the larger the dog, the more quickly they will age.
Why do dogs age so quickly?
On average, most dogs can be expected to live between 10 and 13 years. Genetics, diet, lifestyle, and many other factors play determining roles. One key reason why dogs age so much more quickly than humans? Their metabolisms are much faster, which means that many bodily processes, such as heartbeat, are simply occurring at a faster rate, and wearing out faster as a result.
This also helps to explain why large dogs tend to age faster than small dogs: their metabolisms tend to be even higher. Interestingly, your dog’s higher metabolism even means that they perceive time and process visual stimuli at a faster rate than you do.
Is your dog’s greying associated with a medical problem?
Regular vet visits are important for many reasons. One reason is that they allow your vet to spot changes in your dog that happen gradually over time. If your vet is concerned about your dog’s grey hairs or sees other signs of trouble, they may want to do bloodwork or discuss ways to lower your dog’s stress levels. However, in many cases, there’s nothing you can – or should – do about your dog’s grey hairs.
Meet the experts at Dan’s Pet Care
Wouldn’t it be great to work with pet care specialists who care as much about dogs as you do? At Dan’s Pet Care, our fully trained pet care experts love to learn new information about dogs – and they’ll put their expertise to work for you. Give us a call today at (516) 551-1613 and tell us about your pet care needs – we offer a full range of services to meet all of them!
