Do Cockapoo Puppies’ Noses Change Color?

Many kinds of dogs face many different kinds of physical changes as they get older. 

Some breeds have changing coats, changing eye colors, and some even have changing nose colors. 

Do Cockapoo Puppies’ Noses Change Color?

For the cockapoo puppy, its nose will change color throughout its puppy time. Its nose color will change from a pale pink to standard black in a matter of weeks.

A cockapoo puppy is typically born with a pinkish nose.

Sometimes their noses are tinged the same color as their skin. 

Their nose will start to change color after a few weeks and will be the standard black nose color by the time they are 12 weeks old. 

However, there are cases where the color change will take longer, some as long as 3 years! 

No matter how long it takes, you can count on your cockapoo having a black nose by the time they are full adults. 

Sometimes, your cockapoo’s nose will change colors again once they reach its senior age.

This change isn’t very dramatic and just consists of the color lightening to a dark or medium grey.

If you notice your dog’s nose color changing as they reach its senior years, there is nothing to worry about.

Why Does a Cockapoo’s Nose Change Color?

There are a variety of genes that control how your dog looks as they go throughout their life. 

Different genes control the pigmentation of different things in your dog, some of them controlling the pigment of your puppy’s nose.

A gene will add pigmentation to your cockapoo’s nose as they age and then there is a gene that will depigment its nose when it ages. 

Tyrosinase is the enzyme that controls the depigmentation process that happens when a cockapoo gets into their senior years. 

What Are Some Other Changes That Can Happen to A Cockapoo’s Nose?

Other than their nose color changing due to the aging process, some other factors can change how their nose looks.

Some of these are related to genetics and some others are external factors. 

For some of the following reasons, there is no need to be concerned about these changes. 

Snow Nose

Snow nose is the phenomenon where your cockapoo’s nose goes from black to brown, grey, or even pink.

It was once thought that snow nose (also known as Winter nose) could only happen during the snowy months.

However, this isn’t a proven cause for snow nose. 

The enzymes that cockapoos, and many other dogs, have isn’t impacted by the weather. 

Experts aren’t completely sure why these changes then get triggered. 

The contributing factor to snow nose is the tyrosinase enzyme, which controls pigmentation. 

Several breeds of dogs have higher chances of developing snow nose throughout the year such as cockapoos, huskies, and more. 

Luckily, there isn’t an immediate cause of concern if your cockapoo develops a snow nose. There aren’t any health implications that come with this phenomenon. 

When the weather turns warmer, the color of your cockapoo’s nose will return back to normal. 

Vitiligo

Vitiligo, a condition that impacts both people and dogs, causes uneven pigmentation throughout the body

In the case of a dog, vitiligo mainly impacts the pigmentation of the nose and is considered an autoimmune disease. 

If you suspect that your dog has vitiligo, check for pale patches in their coat or their skin. 

Patches will show that this nose color change isn’t an independent symptom.

At that point, take your dog to the vet to get an official word for it and to plan for caring for your dog with vitiligo. 

Butterfly Nose

While this phenomenon has a cute name, it does not mean that your dog has butterfly patterns on its nose.

Instead, a butterfly nose is the name for pigmentation splotches on your cockapoo’s nose. 

Butterfly nose isn’t connected to vitiligo and remains on the dog’s nose for the rest of their life, unlike snow nose. 

There aren’t any health implications that come with butterfly nose, it just becomes a unique feature that your dog has. 

Reacting to Plastic

In many plastic bowls, there is a chemical called hydroquinone p-benzyl which mixes with the water put inside of the bowl.

Every time your dog takes a drink of water, their nose gets exposed to this chemical which has also been found in skin-lightening creams.

Over time, this chemical will react with the melanin of your cockapoo’s nose and can cause nose dermatitis and make their nose lighter.

While this doesn’t cause any health problems on its own to your dog, constant exposure can cause sensitivity to your dog’s nose. 

These effects may be able to be reversed by switching your dog to a dog bowl that isn’t made of plastic. 

Metal bowls work great as long as it is big enough for your cockapoo’s face. 

Sun Exposure

This only will impact cockapoos that spend almost all their time outside in very sunny areas. 

If you have ever had your hair get lighter from being in the sun during the Summer, then you know how the sun can have bleaching properties. 

Over time in very sunny areas, your dog’s nose might pale in response to the sun’s power.

If you and your dog live in a very sunny area, make sure that you are taking care of your cockapoo’s nose and skin. 

Dogs can get sunburned, especially on their black noses that can absorb many of the sun’s rays. 

Make sure that your cockapoo is provided with plenty of shaded areas, water, and has sunscreen applied to its nose. 

Make Sure You Get Your Cockapoo’s Nose Looked at During Check-Ups

Whether it’s snow nose or a sunburn, making sure that your cockapoo’s nose gets checked regularly at the vet can make sure you aren’t letting an underlying health condition fester.

Not only will your vet be able to figure out what condition or phenomenon is changing the color of your dog’s nose, but they can also make sure that nothing else is wrong as well. 

Just like how you would take your dog to get checked up to check for harsh health conditions, you should get your cockapoo’s nose checked up on as a preventative action. 

Taking Care of a Pink Nose

While there is nothing wrong with having a pink nose, they do need a bit more care to protect and keep healthy. 

Since they are paler than the standard black nose, they are more prone to sunburn.

Putting sunscreen on your cockapoo’s nose will protect the skin of their nose from burning and peeling. 

This is especially important if your cockapoo’s nose is staying pink for a long time. 

While it is normal for a cockapoo’s nose to turn black as they go from puppy to adult, there are always exceptions or conditions that can keep their noses pink.

With that, protecting them is important, and making sure it is not a symptom of another condition is necessary. 

Genetics

Genetics are always at play. 

If your cockapoo’s parents both had pink noses for a long time or splotchy noses, it is more likely that your cockapoo will also have a pinker nose. 

If you get your cockapoo from a breeder, make sure that they have the parent’s files available. 

That way you can see what conditions your dog might end up having. 

If a breeder doesn’t have the parent’s files available, that’s a sign that the breeder isn’t reputable. 

Final Thoughts

Cockapoos are one of the various breeds of dogs that have pink noses at birth. 

Typically, their nose will turn to the standard black color once they hit 8 weeks old, but there are always exceptions. 

Your cockapoo’s nose can also change again once it hits old age.

At that point, their nose might be a grey or even brown color. 

There are many other reasons for your cockapoo’s nose changing color at less normal times of their life. 

Some dogs have snow nose, which is a seasonal phenomenon that causes dogs’ noses to change color and pale. 

Other conditions that your dog can have that can change their nose color is vitiligo, butterfly nose, and some external factors.

If you are ever unsure why your cockapoo’s nose is changing color, call your vet and let them know what is happening.

You might be told that it is simply snow nose or you could be told that it is from exposure to lightning chemicals in your cockapoo’s water bowl. 

It never hurts to get a professional opinion. 

For pink-nosed dogs, remember to put sunscreen on them before heading out into the sun! This protects their nose from sunburns and even skin (nose) cancer. 

sddCockapoos are amazing dogs that are fun and loving. 

Dog owners should always try to protect their dogs and keep them healthy as much as they can. 

If you want a dog that has a nose that can change color throughout its life, then a cockapoo might be right for you!