Why are my dog’s gums black?
This dog blog will answer the major question, “Why are my dog’s gums black?” we will also discuss what the different colors of gums indicate in your dog, how you can keep the gums of your dog healthy, and how you can check the overall health of the dog through gums.
Why are my dog’s gums are black?
Your dog’s gums are black because it is natural or it may be due to some other diseases like oral cancer if you see any black raised spots on the gums. You should examine the gums of your dog carefully to check the overall health of the dog.
You should devise ways to protect the gum health of the dogs otherwise it can lead to serious complications which can cause the death of your dog.
What are the different colors of gums indicated in your dog?
Following are the different colors of gums in your dog which indicate there is a problem with your dog:
Pale pink and white color gums in your dog
The pale and white color of gums indicates anemia in your dog because pink, which is the healthy color of the gums, is due to the blood circulating in the capillaries of your dog’s gums.
Anemia may be due to many reasons such as blood-borne parasites or it may be due to loss of blood through trauma or injury or may be due to flies and worm infestation in your dog.
Whatever the reason might be, you should call your vet and consult him for the better health of your dog.
Red color gums of your dog
The red color gums of your dog indicate hyperthermia and septicemia in your dog. It is due to bacterial infection in your dog. The red color indicates that the blood is pooling in the capillaries which is called congestion in scientific terms.
You should check the temperature of your dog if your dog is showing these signs in summer. Keep your dog in a cool place in the summer.
Yellow color gums of your dog
The next color is the yellow color which indicates jaundice. Jaundice is due to liver damage in your dog. The liver is responsible for the processing of the bile metabolites which have a yellow color. If the liver is not working properly, then it can lead to the accumulation of these metabolites in the body giving yellow color to the eyes and the gums.
Your vet might give liver tonics and antibiotics to your dog but you should make sure that you give these medicines under the supervision of a licensed vet.
Blue color gums of your dog
The term used for this condition is cyanosis. It is due to the poor oxygenation of the tissues and probably indicates that the body is unable to get proper oxygen from the atmosphere. Lungs are responsible for adding oxygen to the blood.
Blue color gums may be due to:
- Airway obstruction in your dog.
- Lung disease in your dog.
- Pneumonia or emphysema of the lungs
You should immediately take your dog to the vet so that he can examine and treat your dog as soon as possible.
How can you examine the gums of your dog to check the overall health of your dog?
You should gently lift the upper lip of your dog from the side and check the color of the gums. Make sure your dog is calm at this time otherwise it can bite you which can be painful for you.
After carefully observing the color of the gums you should press the gum line which will give white color to the gums and after a few seconds the red color of the gums will reappear. The time between white and the reappearance of red color is called capillary refill time (CRT).
CRT indicates the overall health of your dog. If the CRT is 2 secs it is normal but if it is longer than 2 secs then there is a problem with your dog.
After gums, you should check the eye conjunctiva of your dog. You should check the color of the conjunctiva and after that, you should check the hydration status of your dog.
How can you prevent gum disease in your dog?
You should use dog toothpaste which is specifically designed for your dog and it will not cause any problems if swallowed. Moreover, you should book an appointment with your veterinarian for regular check-ups of the dental health of your dog.
Conclusion
In this dog blog, we answered the major question, “Why are my dog’s gums black?” we also discussed what the different colors of gums indicate in your dog, how you can keep the gums of your dog healthy, and how you can check the overall health of the dog through gums.
