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Archived Message

ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
by HEIDI

hi!at what age does the maltese puppy have all of their "black points" on their paws? my puppy seems to have some black that's filling in, but some parts are still pink. thanks!!!

DISCUSSION:

This is a good question. My puppy has black dots too, and pink areas. She is 4 months and pigmentation seems to have stopped. I think they will stay pink.
-R. Simhon

The black toe pads can "turn to black" at various times depending on the individual pup. We often have the nose and eye rims "come in" very quickly and then watch as the toe pads follow a little later - even up to four to six months of age, sometimes. Usually, if the pads show black dots by three or four months they will fill-in completely. If you have any solid pink toe pads after the remainder of them have turned completely then they will likely remain pink. The genetic markers that determine the toe pad pigmentation is (by most of the gurus on this subject) thought to be seperate from the eye rims and nose pigmentation. On the other hand we've had two month old pups with all of the black completely filled in - I like this as it removes another concern from the "watch-and-see" process when you're bringing along a new show prospect. I'll be interested to follow this "thread" of conversation, myself, to get other observations on this subject.
-Larry Stanberry

My maltese was 9 weeks when I got him and all of his paw pads were jet black, as well as the nose and eye rims. His nails are also black.
-April B.