Pet of the week: Buster, the dog who changed from black to white, due to skin condition

The adorable dog was just 2 years old when he was diagnosed with vitiligo.

Senior Writer

MARCH 7, 2025 2:43 PM ESTMAR 7, 2025, 2:43 PM EST

The story of Buster fascinated online users all over the world. The adorable dog completely changed from black to white in over 2 years, with his owner, Matt Smith, showing the changes he started to see in his pup progressively due to a skin condition.

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The adorable dog was just 2 years old when he was diagnosed with vitiligo. This condition causes loss of pigmentation in the skin and fur, leading to white patches on the dog's coat, and over time, it can result in widespread depigmentation.

The cause is usually linked to an autoimmune response, where the body attacks its own pigment-producing cells. In the case of Buster, his owner started noticing patches around his eyes and chin. But in just 9 months, his face was almost completely white.

"My dog Buster has the skin condition vitiligo," Matt shared on Reddit. "It causes depigmentation on the skin (and fur). The left photo is from 9 months ago," he shared in the first year of the diagnosis. "The right photo was taken today," he added, showing the changes.

The owner started documenting the progression of the condition on Buster, taking to Reddit to share photos of him and making online users interested in his diagnosis. After 2 years and a half, the dog was completely transformed from black to white, with many sharing nicknames for him, including 'Buster the Gray' and 'Buster the White.'

Others also made references to Michael Jackson. “He protecc. He attacc. But most importantly, He He," one person wrote, referring to the singer's hit song. The majestic dog looks stunning in two side-by-side photos showing the transformation that took place in 2.5 years.

"My boy Buster (4yo) has completely changed from black to white over the course of the last 2.5 years," Matt shared on the social media platform, showing the incredible transformation and causing fans of the pup to share their surprise, going viral almost immediately.