The belly of the Maltese is normally pink, as it is simply the dog's skin.
However, there are a lot of Maltese dogs who have a darker belly or a tummy with dark spots on it. This is usually normal. What does this mean? This occurs becuase of a pigmentation of the skin. If you needed to compare this to humans, you might say that it is akin to having a tan; the color of the skin darkens.
What colors can the tummy be? The tummy may be a solid or most often, a pink tummy with spots of:
A darker pink
Brown
Black
When the Maltese dog is exposed to natural sunlight, this can cause the pigmentation to darken. Some owners will find that the tummy becomes darker in the summer months and lighter in the colder winter months.
The nose of the dog may also change color as the seasons change.
Aside from sunlight, other elements may cause the pigmentation on this dog to change and an owner may begin with a pink bellied Maltese and end with a pink and black bellied Maltese adult dog.
When This Could be a Medical Issue
There are some canine diseases which cause a dog's skin to turn color, usually to a black color.
The signs to look out for are:
Severe scratching
Fur/ Hair loss
Bumps on the skin which are filled with fluid
Lesions that are raised above the skin surface of the dog
Bumps on the skin which bleed
A thickening of the dog's skin
Crusting of the dog's skin
Redness and irritation
If you see any of the above signs, you should bring your Maltese to the veterinarian for a full and complete checkup to determine the cause of skin change.
