Hey everyone

So we are settling in well aside from a few teething problems with the house but our dog whilst happy has sore jowls on one side!

She is a black lab and one side of her mouth has lost it's blackness and is pink. Is this due to the change in weather? any suggestions? vaseline? or just leave be? It's not even that cold!

Don't know if this is normal or not? She seems totally fine in herself. Coped amazingly well with the flight and was just her normal self once we picked her up - aside from drinking 7 bowls of water that night - she's happy as a clam.

Have you been to a vet?

Also when you say "lost its blackness" do you mean fur?

No - only been here a week and she has only been here a few days.

No I mean her lip itself has gone pink. The bit that doesn't have fur. Looks like a cold sore would on a human - that type of spread - as in a couple of bits on the lumps on her lips have gone pink. It's not scabby or anything - just changed colour.

It could be as simple as vitiligo. But I'd suggest popping along to a vet just to make certain as soon as you are able

I know I'm no expert but I haven't heard of that sort of thing because of the cold and, like you say, its not even that cold. The only thing we noticed with our dog when she first arrived was that she suffered as a result of the dryness. She kept scratching and had what appeared to be dandruff. It took her a couple of weeks to acclimatize and then she was fine after that. I'd be inclined to take your dog to a vet too just be sure its nothing to worry about.

Hope pooch is OK.

Could it be a change of diet thing or is she on the same food as before?

It could also be the change in water?

It could be just a natural occurance. All three of our labs had the same pink spots about their lips. As they got a little older some areas on their lips had pink showing. It looks sore but I don't think it is a problem. If you are in doubt go to a vet.
Labs are not afraid of getting cold. Being outdoor types, used to all kinds of weather, they just thrive here.
As long as they have a warm bed and lots of cuddles they are just fine.

I wouldn't have thought it was the cold, I mean, didn't labs originate in one of the most volatile, frigid and miserable climates in the world: that of Newfoundland?

On second thoughts, perhaps their paws evolved into webbed-paws to enable them escape/swim to somewhere warmer...

take the dog to the vets to rule out any infections or illnesses, but chances are the pooch has either chapped lips (jowels) or some other kind or irritation that has made him sore...

Best bet is to try vet first (because if nothing else getting them reg with the vet is a GOOD idea,) and if it is just chapped jowels you can then slap on the vaseline to soothe the irritation. and if it isan infecdtion causing it, it will most likely just need an antibiotic cream to sort it out or oral antibiotics... again an easy fix.

Ours had some trouble with his lip when he was younger, vet said it was some kind of infection that young dogs with poor immune system can get, maybe if yours is new to the country it doesn't have the immunity. Ours had pink patches and eventually wart like growths - not pretty. Went away without the aid of medicine, last growth was removed during a particularly boisterous play session with a doberman.

Go to the vet, if nothing else, it will get you used to "consultation fees" so that you don't suffer from sticker shock when something serious happens

I say this as a dog owner.

Try and find a vet that others recommend. There are much cheaper outside of Calgary than within the city limits.

Will msg you with my friends vets details. Shes awesome and in town here....so you can drop in for a cuppa!LOL
See you soon
x

LOL! Any excuse!

Yes please send me the details as I need to get her re-chipped aswell. The number she has is a British chip and I want a Canadian one in there aswell.