An owner has shared a striking video showing how much her dog, who has vitiligo, has changed over time.
Fanny is a Bernese Mountain Dog, who is turning more than gray in her old age, as patches of her fur slowly turn white due to the condition.
Vitiligo can affect dogs as well as cats, and as website PetMd explains there are two types: focal and generalized.
In focal, in only affects one area, such as the nose, commonly referred to as “snow nose.”
While the latter “causes multiple white patches in random or symmetric patterns across the body.” In cats, generalized vitiligo can become so extensive that it produces a “cobweb” or “snowflake appearance of white fur.”
Her owner, Leonie, from Germany, recently shared a video to her TikTok page, @fannyasfresh, earlier this month, showing Fanny as a small puppy.
The on-screen text, captioning a photo of the black, brown and white pup, says: “Watch my dog changing cause of vitiligo.”
It then changes to show a much older Fanny, whose top half of her head is now white.
While another post, featuring the same young puppy shot, said: “You went from a black head to a white head in nine years, what was causing all that?”
While it was captioned: “After years of thinking and searching, now we finally know.”
Their TikTok bio sums it up, saying: “Hello I’m Fanny a Bernese mountain dog with a gene defect.”
The clip has amassed more than 3.5 million views, as pet owners and animal lovers alike admitted they didn’t know dogs were affected by the condition.
Commenting on the revelation, Poggers said: “I never knew dogs could have vitiligo! He looks so cute!”
Zoey Treleaven raved: “Omg! That is so cool! He is awesome looking! One of the most unique and beautiful dogs I have ever seen!”
Lynch commented: “His fur looks like a skeleton I love it! so adorable!”
Nicotine nancy wrote: “I love how he still has his eyebrows.”
Jotadacosta commented: “What????? That’s insane he’s gorgeous.”
While Michaelah waz here 2k22 added: “Woah, totally did not know doggos could get that.”
Explaining more about the condition, PetMd continued: “In dogs and cats, vitiligo starts at a young age and progressively destroys melanocytes, skin cell producing melanin.
“As the melanocytes die off, the skin in the affected area turns white or pink. The fur covering the affected skin also turns white.
“Vitiligo commonly affects the face first, particularly the nose. Other areas of the face that might lose pigment include the lips and the area around the eyes.
“Vitiligo that spreads beyond the face can affect the footpads and other parts of the body. The full extent of the spread, if any, will occur within three to six months of the first appearance of vitiligo.
“Once the affected areas turn white, they might stay that way, re-pigment, or even wax and wane.”
They confirmed there’s no treatment for the condition, but added it doesn’t cause any pain or discomfort.
In response to numerous comments, Leonie confirmed Fanny had no problems and was “absolutely healthy.”
Newsweek reached out to Leonie for comment.
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