[Dailydrool] nose color

[Cblatz]

I'm not at all sure that hormones play a part in nose color. 
 I have a spayed 8 year old basset, a spayed 8 year old beagle, an intact 3 year old basset and a Black,Tan intact 5 year old Dachshund.  The Bassets and Beagle are dark tris.  The above 4 keep their Black noses all year around.

I have a Red/White intact female Basset and a Red intact male Dachshund.  Their noses fade in the Winter.  I add humidity in the winter so no cracked noses.   

For winter shows I add Kelp to their dinners to even out coloration.  When I do this the Red Dachshunds nose gets really Black and the Red/White Basset's nose darkens to a very dark brown which is acceptable for her light coloring.

So I think the nose color is more genetic then anything else.  Sunlight probably helps.  Winter air is very dry and  putting a pan of water on radiators or using a humidifer should go a long way to prevent cracked noses in the winter.  

Cathy 
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