Angus my loveable 1 year old Westie has started to develop a pink tinge in his fur along his spine. Although he is not showing any signs of any skin problems yet, I believe that Westies are prone skin irritations. Does anyone know if this pink tinge is an early symptom of something? I have read various forums where the tinge is mentioned and the dogs did have had skin problems.
We do not bathe Angus more than once every 6-8  weeks although he does this himself, he loves to splash about in the local streams. His environment has not changed since we got him at the age of 9 weeks old, he is now fed on Pro Plan Plus Adult Dog food (Small Breed) and has been since about 8months old, although he does enjoy helping himself to my Boxer`s Pro Plan Plus Adult ( Large Breed Athletic) food. Well they do say that a Westie is a large dog in a small dogs body! He (and the Boxer) get a minimum of a 20 minute morning walk  and 1 hour plus in the evening out on The West Pennine Moors. All floors in our house are wooden/ laminated.The sofa that he is not supposed to go on but spends a good bit of the day snoozing on is leather.
Hopefully that is enough info to ascertain his lifestyle.
Am I reading things into this pink tinge that I need not worry about................ I would be devastated if it flared up into something more serious if it was something that I could have done at this stage to prevent it.
 

Have you got another dog?  The pink tinge that you usually see in white dogs is if another dog is licking it excessively.

Edited to say, sorry didn't read full details, could it be that your Boxer is licking your Westie?

The 2 lads are always playing with each other. Yes you are correct that during play time and once they are "played out" that some "washing" of each other does occur.
Do you know if this will be detrimental to the Westie or is it just purely a change in colour of the fur?

Hi
I currently have a thread running under the feeding section (Pink Dog). It might be interesting for you to read some of the comments people have kindly posted. When you mention exercising on the West Penine Moors, could you be a little more specific, as I too exercise in this area so maybe there is link.

Had a mostly white dog (ESS), with a tinge to the fur, of a pinkish colour.  Thought it was skin problems, come to find out it was because she would get her bed wet after she came in, and the dye would come out of the bed, and onto her fur.

I am not trying to say it isnt a skin problem, but it was very costly at the vets, only to find out it was something to do with the dyes in fabric leaking.  A very embarassing thing!  Even the vets thought it could be a skin problem.

Hi Carlos,

No panick, the strip down the back is very common on light coloured wirey breeded dogs especially the westie. It is know as the dorsel slick.    I have one that has a super super harsh coat that has it so I have to just try and pull the coat a bit more gentle which seems to reduce it a bit.  As a pet it won't make any difference whatsoever.

Thanks to all who have taken the trouble to reply. My mind is now at ease.... therefore time to take the lads out....

In response to Goldiemad we live to the North of Bury and wander around Holcombe Moor, Peel Tower, Pilgrims Cross etc.....

Thanks again Carlos.....

Ah, don't think there's a link then as we walk in Rivington and Belmont. It was just a thought.

My girls fur has a pink/orange tinge to it when they eat Royal Canin food and they get orange tear stains.

Hi Sharon, it was infact Royal Canin that I was feeding. I have now changed to Orijen so it will be interesting to see if the pink disappears.

It will be interesting to hear your results, my blue roan girls coats had an orange tinge to them and my orange roan girls had dreadful orange tears stains when they've never suffered with them before or since, since changing their food over.

I can see that you posted your problem a couple of years ago, but you may still appreciate my reply.  Our Westie is 7, and started to develop pink fur last August.  I was really worried as I know this is a common problem with Westies.  Alfie - has a very strict diet of a dried food of chicken and rice, and no tit bits.  We did however start to give him a daily hide chew, to help to keep his teeth clean.  This could be the only cause of the fur problem, and so over the last 3 months we have stopped the chews, and he has gradually turned white again.  He is now back to full white after a couple of haircuts.  The licked pink patches on linen that was impossible to remove even with bleach, is removable with Vanish carpet and upholstery spray - takes a couple of washes but works.  Hope that you find this helpful.