A BLACK dog has turned completely white due to a rare condition, leaving his owner stunned by the shocking transformation.
Buster, a cute four-year-old pup from Oklahoma, had his coat color changed due to vitiligo, which affects both humans and animals.
7
7
7
The condition that affected Michael Jackson is the appearance of pale white spots on human skin.
Fortunately, vitiligo in pets is painless and there is no indication that the dog is feeling any type of pain or discomfort.
Similar patches began appearing all over Buster’s body within the space of two and a half years.
His owner, Matt Smith, sent Reddit users into a frenzy after sharing his dog’s incredible color transformation.
Matt said: “My son Buster (4 years old) has completely changed from black to white over the course of the last two and a half years.
“Buster has the skin condition vitiligo – it causes depigmentation of the skin (and coat).”
One image shows Buster with his spiky black fur, followed by another in his all-white backyard.
Surprised users responded to the images, making some comparisons to 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 a long time.”
7
7
“I was sure this was going to be fake until I skimmed it.”
A third added: “If you hadn’t shown the transition I would never have believed it.”
Matt first noticed white spots near Buster’s mouth and chin, which then spread across his face and body.
He said: “It would lose its black fur and a new white one would appear.
“So there was a time when he was going bald in spots until his fresh, fluffy white fur grew out.”
Other pet owners have shared their stories of having dogs with vitiligo.
Another Reddit user mentioned that they previously had a jet black cat that had vitiligo.
According to them, “it started turning white on all its extremities…tip of nose, tips of ears, nose and tail and then it spread further.
“It was amazing to see the transformation over the 7 years I had him and my vet was absolutely fascinated.”
DOGS WITH VITILIGO
According to Petmd.com, dogs with vitiligo may lose their natural skin and coat pigmentation.
It usually starts on the face, especially the nose, and progresses to the sole pads 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.
These include breeds such as Rottweilers, Dachshunds, Siberian Huskies, German Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers, Belgian Tervuren, Golden Retrievers, Yellow Labradors, Old English Sheepdogs, and German Shorthaired Pointers.
However, an autoimmune disease may be the root cause of the syndrome, leading the immune system to attack melanocytes because it believes them to be foreign intruders.
It is recommended that pet owners take their animals to a veterinarian to see if underlying medical aid is the source of the depigmentation.
Although there are no cures, some veterinarians recommend more sun exposure to stimulate the development of melanocytes.
It is estimated that one in every 200 people in the world is affected by this condition, and 50% of those affected have their first symptoms before they turn 20, although it is not clear why.
But “stressful” events such as childbirth, hormonal fluctuations or even cuts in the skin can cause it. A genetic component is also present.
Humans cannot be cured either, but some therapies can stop pigment loss if applied in time.
WHAT IS VITILIGO?
VITILIGO is a skin condition in which parts of the skin lose their pigment, resulting in white or light-colored patches.
It occurs when melanocytes, the cells responsible for skin pigmentation, are destroyed or stop functioning.
It is not contagious or life-threatening, but can have psychological and social impacts.
Vitiligo is not currently curable, but several treatments can help control 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 spoken openly about their experiences with vitiligo, including model Winnie Harlow, actor Jon Hamm and musician Michael Jackson.
Its visibility has helped raise awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding this condition.
7
7