Category: Dogs

Posts just about dogs.

Posted on

Snow Nose!

Last week I noticed that the end of Saffron’s nose looked lighter.  It’s normally black, but there was this lighter, pinker area in the middle.  Being a worrier, I started researching it and it turns out it’s something called Snow Nose or Winter Nose.  I went looking for a clear explanation of Snow Nose, but was unable to find an authoritative source.  So I started looking for a good explanation of melanogenisis (the production of melanin or pigment in tissue.)  But to understand that, I needed to understand tyrosinase (an enzyme that regulates melanogenisis).  Guess what I learned?!  Melanogenisis and tyrosinase is some seriously complicated shit! (Be sure to scroll & scroll & scroll down if you want to learn more.)

So what’s the skinny on Snow Nose?  It’s a harmless, seasonal lightening of the pigmentation of the rhinarium in dogs. (The rhinarium is the moist, hairless part at the end of a dog’s snout.)  Pigmentation is increased with exposure to ultraviolet light, increased temperatures, and friction, so the short cold days of winter cause the pigment to fade, but when summer comes, the longer days and warmer temperatures cause the pigment to darken again.

If your dog’s nose doesn’t darken again in the summer, visit your vet to see if anything is amiss.  And there are other reasons a dog’s nose color can change, so if your dog’s nose loses all it’s pigment, has any crust or scabs, looks like it itches or hurts, or has any swelling, get your pup checked out by a vet.

Posted on

People Buried In Pet Cemeteries?

Monument in the Cimetière des Chiens (Dog Cemetery) in Paris. Photo via Owen Phillips. Check out more of his striking images at The Magic Lantern Show.

 Before our 2 cats died years ago, I would have thought we’d just bury them in our back yard when the time came.  But, when they did die, I couldn’t stand the thought of putting them in the cold, wet ground of the Pacific NW—especially at a house I knew we’d be moving from at some point.  So we had them cremated and now have their ashes in little urns.  The urns aren’t placed anywhere special, but I feel better knowing they’re inside our house.  Kind of weird and not really logical.

Further along this continuum of attachment to our pets after death, is the growing number of people who want to be buried beside or with their pets.  It’s possible in some areas to do just that.  Recently, New York State reversed a decision and now allows people to be buried with their pets in pet cemeteries.  Other states also allow it and one way to find out if your state does is to contact local pet cemeteries.  As of 1995, people in Britain are also able to be buried with their pets.

Humans have buried themselves with their pets for thousands of years all over the world.  In Peru, Tunisia and Egypt, archaeologists have found humans buried with dogs in graves thousands of years old.  It’s well known the Egyptians buried cats with humans, but archaeologists in Cyprus have found a grave with a cat and a human that predates Egyptian finds by 6,000 years.  Those are some pretty old traditions!

Proudly powered by WordPress