Make Sure Your Dog is in the Pink

You want to be seeing a pink tongue and pink gums.

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“In the pink” isn’t just a figure of speech when it comes to your dog’s good health. Check his tongue and gums.

Just about all dogs have pink tongues, or at least some pink. If it appears to fade somewhat, take your pet to the veterinarian. It could be a sign of anemia. And if the tongue literally goes grey or blue-grey, he could be suffering from oxygen deprivation as a result of heart disease or a lung problem.

The gums, too, should be pink. If they are blue, he lacks oxygen. If they are white, he has lost blood, perhaps via internal bleeding.

Try doing a capillary refill test. Press on your dog’s gums with a finger. When you remove your finger, the gums should be white but return to their normal pink color within 2 or 3 seconds. If they don’t, something is wrong with his blood flow. There may be too little blood, or too little of it may be oxygenated.

You can’t do a capillary refill test on a dog with black gums, but you can check for pink tissue on the inside of the lower eyelid by gently pulling the lid down.

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