How to Check Your Dog's Gums
Learn to Examine a Sick Dog for Gum Paleness or Discoloration
Jan 11, 2009
At some point, every dog owner will ask, "Is my dog sick?" When that inevitable question arises, dog owners should examine their dog's vital signs and this includes checking to see if the dog's gums are pale or discolored.
A normal, healthy dog will have pink gums, which can range in color from a shade of light pink to a darker salmon color. Due to this natural variation in gum color, dog owners should check the dog's gums before illness strikes. In short, if a dog owner doesn't know what the dog's gums look like normally, it will be difficult to detect changes that could indicate that the dog is sick.
What Does it Mean if a Dog Has Pale Gums?
Pale gums - usually a very white/grey in color - suggest that the dog is sick. Pale gums can occur as a result of low blood pressure, shock, internal bleeding, anemia or any other number of illnesses.
It's important to remember that a dog's gums will be paler immediately after waking up from sleep and conversely, the dog's gums will be pinker than normal immediately after exertion or exercise. So to avoid skewed "results," it's vital that a pet owners avoid checking the dog's gums right after sleep or exercise.
A dog with pale gums is seriously ill; if a dog owner discovers that his pet has pale gums, a visit to the veterinary clinic (ASAP!) is recommended.
What Does it Mean if a Dog's Gums are Discolored?
In addition to having pale gums, a dog may also develop discolored gums, depending on the medical problem that's sickening the dog.
A dog with jaundice will exhibit yellow gums. A dog who is cyanotic and receiving insufficient oxygen will have blue gums. Meanwhile, a dog who is suffering from heat stroke with have brick red gums.
Just like a dog with pale gums, a dog with gum discoloration will require immediate veterinary attention.
Other Things to Look for When Examining a Dog's Gums
In addition to checking a dog's gum color, dog owners should also check the gum surface and capillary refill time.
The dog's gums can be examined to determine if a dog is suffering from dehydration, a condition that's commonly seen in a sick dog, since a dog who feels ill will often stop eating and drinking.
To check for dehydration, slide a finger across the surface of the dog's gums. A healthy dog will have wet, slick gums; a sick, dehydrated dog will have dry, sticky gums.
A dog owner who suspects that his dog is sick should also check capillary refill time, which helps the pet owner determine if the dog's blood pressure is normal.
Check capillary refill time - the amount of time it takes the tiny blood vessels to fill with blood - by firmly pressing a finger on the dog's gums for three full seconds.
When the finger is removed from the gums, the spot will appear paler than the surrounding skin. It should take 1.5 seconds for the paleness to disappear. If the spot takes longer than 1.5 seconds to return to normal, this indicates low blood pressure - a finding that suggests that the dog is critically ill.
Related Reading for Dog Owners
For more information on how to tell if a dog is sick, check out Is My Dog Sick? - How to Check a Dog's Vitals. A sick dog is often lethargic as well; to learn more about lethargy and what causes it, read Why is My Pet Lethargic?
To learn more about dehydration in dogs and how to begin treating a dehydrated dog at home, read Is My Dog Dehydrated?
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