Papillons can have three different colors of leather pigmentation (nose, eye rims, lips, and pads). The first
color is black which all club standards call for. The nose, eye rims and lips should be well pigmented black.
However, the shade of black can vary from gray black to jet black and sun exposure can make it darker.
Some of the pads may be white.
The second pigmentation color on the nose, eye rims, lips, and pads is brown. There are two ways of obtaining brown pigment. The first and most common is
when a dog has the [bb] alleles which cause a brown coat in addition to brown leather pigment. This is the cause of w/liver
Papillons. The second reason for brown pigment is caused by extreme snownose (discussed below).
The third color that the nose, eye rims, lips, and pads can be is white/pink.
It is possible for a Papillon to have a white spot(s) on its nose or lips, or more commonly, on its
pads. This is caused by an absence of eumelanin in these areas.
Snow nose or Nasal Depigmentation Syndrome is when not enough pigment is produced.
Normally during cooler months, the leather, and especially the nose, will show
reduced pigment. In other words, the leather will be a brown shade. Usually
the outer rims of the nose will be darker, whereas the nose tip will be a lighter
color. Snow nose seems to affect reds and lemons most noticeably.
OTHER
