Hi
Not sure where to post this, either showing, general or feeding but thought I would start here. I have a two year old golden retriever who seems to be getting pink patches around her face, in particular her cheeks. After searching previous posts, it has been suggested that food could be the possible cause. She is currently fed on Royal Canin Sensible, and has been for the past 12 months. I can't remember when the first pink spots appeared, but since she came back into coat following her last season, the staining is quite noticable, and as I show her not really ideal - even if it does look like she's blushing!! I would be interested to hear if anyone has experienced anything similar whilst feeding Royal Canin, or if they have experienced similar and corrected it by a change of diet.

I haven't had pink cheeks on my GR but he did start to get a pinkish tinge on his neck/chest. I found the cause wasn't his food but the ring that held his ID tags on - where he swims so much the ring was going rusty and staining his coat. I swapped the ring for a different one and the problem went away.

If the pink patches are skin and not stained coat the most likely cause is an allergy - and probably to whatever plants she is sticking her head into or walking through. 

Hi, I had the same with my puppy, when he was about 6 months, he had a big pink patch on his forehead and his paws/legs were also pink (where he's normally white).  I'd heard that wet can cause pink feet, but he was never left with wet feet, and that didn't explain the patch on his head anyway!  Then someone at a show said, it's caused by the acid in the food, so change his food - which I did, and the pink disappeared pretty quickly.
Hilda

I was feeding Royal Canin Sensible to my clumbers until late last year and one of my girls was turning quite pink on her feathering, chest and feet. I changed the food and the pinkness soon went. So in that case the food was certainly a cause
Jackie

Beta carotene can cause staining - and I think certain beetroot type pigments as well. It might be worth having a look at the ingredients list to see what's in it, and consider the allergies etc as well.

Saliva can cause pink stains to the coat. Is it an area where she could be licking her face, or have you another dog that could be licking her.

i had my yank on royal canin, and my god he had sores all over his back and the same as you got pink scabby neck and just under his mouth so i changed him over to puppy terrier meal [ as he will not eat any big biscuit as he is a lazy eater!!] and raw tripe and within a week all his back got better but he still has a little of the pinkness under his mouth.

When I tried Nutro I found the same staining. So, yes, I do believe that food can be the cause.

Thanks so much for you speedy replies. I will definitely give a change of diet a go. Normally she is not a greedy girl, but today I received a sample of Arden Grange Salmon and Rice, and she seems to love it. The other foods I have been looking at are Orijen Fresh Fish, Exclusion Fish and Potato, Forza 10 Maxi Diet with Fish or James Wellbeloved Fish and Rice. I would be really interested to hear your thoughts on these foods or indeed if anyone has experienced the pinking experience with any of the above.

Hi Alison, do you think I dare show my face next week with a fat, unfit, pink dog!! Only joking - well not about the pink. Hope you have received my text and email. Take care. Jenny

I have tried the AG salmon and rice - did not suit my dog's tum but many things don't. I do feed JWB fish and rice. No pinking issues with either - but as one dog is black and one is liver with some white bits it would be hard to tell. :-)

I have 2 GSDs (A pup and a Junior) and a Spaniel cross (A Senior) and I feed them all on Arden Grange. (I have fed Burns too, but I think I prefer the Arden Grange)

My pup (15 weeks) is fed Large Breed Pup/Junior Chicken And Rice.

My junior (16 months) is fed Premium Rich In Fresh Chicken

My senior (10 yrs) is normally fed Adult Lamb and Rice, but I have just bought a bag of Adult Chicken and Rice to try

They all have lovely shiny coats and good energy levels and enjoy the food, so I would certainly recommend it.

Re the pinking experience, I can't say that I have come across that in any of my dogs.

I Feed AG to grey dogs which have been known as a breed to go pink with some foods, but have never had this with AG and know a number of fellow breed people who feed it with no effect on colour.

Beet pulp can cause color changes.

Thanks so much for your replies. I have decided that a change of diet is a must and have now narrowed my two choices down to AG (Salmon) or Orijen (Fish). I have ordered some Orijen from Zooplus, and eagerly await delivery. I think I am leaning towards Orijen, purely because of concern over the Beet Pulp, following Hounds comment. Does anyone know if Beet Pulp is infact derived from beetroot or sugarbeet?

I thought for a moment that you were talking about the horrific pink dog that was on the dog whisperer this morning :-) ( BB is on so no funnies to watch at 7am :-D )

found this though Beet pulp is the by-product of the extraction of raw sugar from commercially grown sugar beets from here.

Beet pulp is the material that's left over when the sugar has been removed. It is a clear/light colour and contains nothing that could turn the colour of the dog's coat. People do commonly get beet pulp confused with red beets which is where this myth has come from I suppose.

Thanks for that info. Dakkobear,I didn't see the pink dog from this morning, might have made me feel a little better about my pink goldie!! Seriously though it's a relief that I don't have to avoid beet pulp, as it seems to be in most foods, although not in Orijen. The food arrived this morning and she is busy trying to convince me that she is starving. Thanks again to everyone for your help, this board is great. From previous experiences, is it likely that I will have to wait for her to blow her coat before I see a change?