Some breeds of dogs and their crossbreeds have a distinctive feature of a bluish or even black tongue and gums. These cases correspond to their nature and are not a worrying symptom at all. On the other hand, in specimens of pink mucosa, the purple tongue in dogs is a really alarming sign.
In this article on our site, we'll look at what could be causing this coloration and what we need to do to fix it. Read on to find out why purple tongue in dogs, its symptoms and causes.
The color change in the tongue of dogs
Examination of the tongue and gums gives us information about the state of blood circulation. Thus, depending on the colors, we can know the following:
- Pink Tongue: This is the most common color, since a he althy dog has both gums and tongue that are pink. In some breeds, we can find black or blue spots, due to a possible cross between their parents and blue-tongued dogs.
- Pale or white tongue: Occasionally, he alth alterations occur that we will see reflected in this coloration. Thus, if dogs have pale gums, it is likely that they suffer from anemia, leukemia, poisoning, some internal bleeding or one of the tick diseases in dogs. In any case, white tongue in dogs usually indicates a decrease in the number of red blood cells in our dog, so it is essential to go to the vet immediately.
- Purpletongue: Unless your furry friend is not a bluetongue breed, purpletongue in dogs, or a shade bluish is related to a lack of oxygen, ie, cyanosis. This is usually related to heart or respiratory diseases, so in such a case it is also important to go to the vet's emergency room. In the most severe cases, collapse occurs and the tongue and gums appear grayish in color. Also, if we touch the tongue, it will feel cold.
- Redtongue: red tongue in dogs, can be accompanied by swelling or black spots and is usually a manifestation of melanoma in dogs, a type of cancer. As the disease progresses, the dog's tongue will grow, due to the evolution of cancer cells.
If you see a color change in your dog's tongue, it's best to Go to the vet so they can examine your pet.
Bluetongue in dogs
Outside blue-tongued dog breeds, such as the Chow Chow, in which the tongue is usually blue or black, as we explain in this article "Why chow chow have a blue tongue?", a blue or bruised tongue can have multiple causes All of them have in common that they are from veterinary emergency Therefore, seek veterinary assistance as soon as possible.
As we explained above, a purple tongue in dogs or with a blue tint is related to lack of oxygen For example, If the dog is not breathing well, it will not be able to obtain the necessary oxygen to carry out its vital functions. This is what is called hypoxia If the deficiency is severe enough, it results in a bluish discoloration of the tongue and mucous membranes. This would be cyanosis Any cause that affects breathing is likely to cause this hypoxia. In the next section we will see the most common.
If you find yourself in an emergency, take a look at this article "My dog drowns - What do I do?", to perform first aid. Then take him to the vet urgently.
Causes of purple tongue in dogs
A bruised or bluish tongue in dogs can be due to an emergency as important as drowning. Thus, the most common causes of bluetongue in dogs are:
- Tiredness - Even dogs accustomed to swimming can drown from exhaustion or from getting stuck in a frozen lake, resulting in a tongue bluish.
- Foreign body in the throat: more common is drowning caused by the presence of a foreign body that remains lodged in throat. The dog will be very restless, will gasp for air, will keep its neck extended or, directly, will be unconscious.
- Asphyxiation due to smoke: Another cause of bluetongue in dogs related to asphyxiation is asphyxiation generated by smoke, which can also cause hypoxia in dogs.
- Pneumothorax: A less common cause is pneumothorax, which can be caused, for example, by a major wound to the chest.
- Poisonings: Some poisonings also cause bluetongue cyanosis in dogs, as well as laryngeal edema or anaphylactic shock.
- Pleural effusion: This is caused by breathing problems and may present with a bluish tongue. It is caused by the accumulation of serum or blood in the chest. It has multiple causes, such as heart, liver, kidney problems, tumors, pneumonia, trauma, etc.
Black tongue in dogs
The heat stroke is another emergency that changes the color of the mucous membranes of the affected dog. It is caused by a large rise in body temperature. In the most severe cases, black or even gray tongue is seen in dogs. In this state, the dog will already be in shock and it will be difficult to save him.
My dog has a purple tongue
In addition to the above situations that affect the color of the tongue, we can also find a local cause of purple tongue in dogs. If you swallow a rope-like object that gets wrapped around the base of your tongue, when you swallow, the other end, the one that stays attached, will tighten your tongue more and more with each swallow. At this point, there is a lingual strangulation It is an emergency because if the blood supply is completely cut off, the tissue dies.
Therefore, if we see that our dog has a blue tongue, the first thing we have to do is check if it has swallowed something that is causing choking or cutting the tongue. If so, we must check if we can remove it ourselves without harming it. Otherwise, we will have to take him urgently to the vet
Treatment of purple tongue in dogs
In many cases of purple, bluish and, above all, grayish or black tongue, we are facing a veterinary emergencyTherefore, the transfer of the dog to the nearest clinic is a priority. If your pet is not breathing and we are far from a veterinarian, we should initiate the rescue breath or CPR ourselves, depending on whether or not there is a heartbeat.
This is a maneuver that dog handlers should know how to perform. The vet can explain its mechanism in detail in case we need it at any time. If the hypoxia is due to a chest wound, we'll try packing it up and rushing to the vet.
Now that you know the symptoms and causes of purple tongue in dogs, you may also be interested in this other article on our site about My dog is having trouble breathing - Why and what to do?
