Black dog turns completely WHITE due to rare condition leaving owner stunned at two-year transformation
A BLACK dog has turned completely white due to a rare condition, leaving its owner stunned by the shocking transformation.
Buster, a cute four-year-old pup from Oklahoma, got his fur colour changed because of vitiligo, which affects both humans and animals.
The condition that famously affected Michael Jackson sees pale white patches developing on human skin.
Thankfully, vitiligo in pets is painless, and there is no indication that the dog is in any kind of pain or discomfort.
Similar patches started showing up across Buster’s body in the space of two-and-a-half-years.
His owner, Matt Smith, sent Reddit users wild after he shared his dog’s incredible colour-changing transformation.
Matt said: “My boy Buster (4yo) has completely changed from black to white over the course of the last 2.5 years.
“Buster has the skin condition vitiligo – it causes depigmentation of the skin (and fur).”
One image shows Buster with his spiky black fur, followed by another in his backyard turned completely white.
Shocked users replied to the pictures, with some drawing comparisons with the King of Pop.
One person joked: “I’m barking at the dog in the mirror.”
Another wrote: “Wow! This is the most fascinating thing I’ve seen on reddit in ages.
“I was sure this was going to be fake until I scrolled through.”
A third added: “If you hadn’t shown the transition, I never would have believed it.”
Matt first noticed white patches near Buster’s mouth and chin, later spreading over his face and body.
He said: “He would lose his black fur and new white fur would come in.
“So there was a point in time where he was balding in areas until his fresh fluffy white fur grew in.”
Other pet owners have shared their stories of owning dogs with vitiligo.
A another Reddit user mentioned that they formerly owned a jet-black cat that had vitiligo.
According to them, “he started turning white at all of his extremities…tip of his nose, tips of his ears, nose, and tail and then it spread further.
“It was amazing to watch the transformation for the 7 years that I had him, and my vet was absolutely fascinated.”
DOGS WITH VITILIGO
According to Petmd.com, dogs with vitiligo can lose their natural pigmentation in their skin and fur.
It usually starts on the face, especially the nose, and progresses to the footpads and other areas of the body before causing painless patches of white skin and hair.
Although the precise origin of vitiligo in pets is unknown, most cases are genetic, with certain breeds being more prone than others.
Breeds such as Rottweilers, Dachshunds, Siberian Huskies, German Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers, Belgian Tervuren, Golden Retrievers, Yellow Labradors, Old English Sheepdogs, and German Shorthaired Pointers are among them.
However, an autoimmune disease may be the root cause of the syndrome, leading the immune system to attack melanocytes because it believes they are foreign intruders.
It is recommended that pet owners bring their animal to a veterinarian to see whether an underlying medical ailment is the source of the depigmentation.
Although there are no cures, some veterinarians advise getting more sun exposure to boost melanocyte development.
One in 200 persons in the world are estimated to be affected by the condition, and 50% of those affected have their first symptoms before becoming 20 years old, however it’s unclear why.
But’stressful’ events like childbirth, hormonal fluctuations, or even cuts to the skin can cause it. A genetic component is also present.
Humans cannot be cured either, yet some therapies can stop pigment loss in its tracks if applied early enough.
WHAT IS VITILIGO?
VITILIGO is a skin condition where parts of skin lose their pigment, resulting in white or light-coloured patches.
It occurs when melanocytes, the cells responsible for skin pigmentation, are destroyed or stop functioning.
It’s not contagious or life-threatening, but it can have psychological and social impacts.
Vitiligo is not currently curable, but various treatments can help manage its symptoms, such as topical medications, light therapy, and sometimes surgery in severe cases.
The effectiveness of treatments can vary depending on the individual and the extent of their condition.
Several celebrities have openly discussed their experiences with vitiligo, including model Winnie Harlow, actor Jon Hamm, and musician Michael Jackson.
Their visibility has helped raise awareness and reduce stigma surrounding the condition.
