Poodles beard turned red

I have a miniature black poodle. We have him trimmed your basic pet poodle cut. No pom poms around the feet, just an all over short cut.

Anyway, he also has a little beard. I just prefer the beard than not having one. But the fur on the beard has turned red. My miniature schnauzer has the same problem, only not as noticeable.

Can anyone tell me what causes this? Is it common? And can I do anything other than shaving the beard?

Thank you

 

I think alot of bearded dogs get this, I think it is either dietary, where something in the food is actually changing it, or it is the food/water staining.

 

Dyes in food or beet pulp can sometimes cause red stains, but it would be unusual for you to see that on a black dog. Iron in your water can contribute too, but again it would be unusual to see on a black dog.

What would be more likely is saliva staining/red yeast overgrowth. If the beard stays moist from saliva, particularly in warm weather when the dog is panting a lot, red yeast can grow and cause red staining. Also, wet hair will sun bleach faster than dry hair, and that looks reddish, too.

Once the stains are there, you really can't do anything but trim the hair back and start over. I'd wash the beard daily with a vinegar/water solution to change the pH of the hair, making it less hospitable to yeast growth. Use one part vinegar to four parts water. Then rinse again with plain water and towel dry.

You could also start using bottled water for the dog to drink. A lot of people do this for eye staining, and it does seem to help.