• Question: Why are dogs noses black?

    Asked by danrumford to Cat, Daz, Holly, Johnson, Pamela on 21 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Pamela Lithgow

      Pamela Lithgow answered on 21 Jun 2011:

      Hi Danrumford,
      My first question to this one was are all dogs noses black? hehe. Apparently mostly they are, or at least dark. So then I went on to answer your question……apparently they are black due to an enzyme called “tyrosinase”. So that is how they are black and now for why? It is apparently to stop them getting sunburn, so they don’t have to wear suncream. Most of a dogs body is protected from the sun by their fur but their nose is vunerable so being black protects it.
      I hope that helps!
      Do you have a dog with a black nose?
      Pam 🙂

    • Photo: Cat O'Connor

      Cat O'Connor answered on 21 Jun 2011:

      Hi Dan,

      Not all dogs noses are pink, in fact my lab-retriever cross (Ziggy Startdust) nose goes from black in summer to pink in winter! Like Pam says the colour is caused by an enzyme called tyrosinase. As the enzyme is broken down, it creates the black colour. But in colder weather or as the dog gets older (sometimes, not always) the enzyme becomes less effective, and the nose turns a different colour. For most dogs this is perfectly normal but sometimes it can be a symptom of an underlying problem. Fo Zig….I think he’s just trying to live up to his crazy name 😀

      Hope this adds to Pams answer.

      Cat

      😀

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