Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

My dog's gums change from pink to pale. What could be the real cause?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Male | unneutered | 11 months and 29 days old | 55 lbs

His gums go from his normal pink to a pale pink and then after a day or so theyd go back to a regular pink color. He's doing all his regular dog things and I called the vet and they told me to bring him in if it gets worse or stays like this for awhile. What could cause this? From the things I've read, can it only be all these awful things? Not by medications he's been put on or anything?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Lauren Jones VMD

Veterinarian

Published on April 19th, 2017

I realize that looking up possible causes of pale gums points you down some scary roads with different cancers, bone marrow conditions or bleeding issues. Some medications can adversely affect the bone marrow, but at 1 year of age, I doubt that Spock has received any of these medications. Typical flea/tick and heartworm preventatives would not be expected to cause any of these issues.

If Spock's gums are consistently pink (even with some variation in shade of pink) and he is otherwise eating, drinking and acting normally, these types of issues are far less likely. Try to determine if his gums change color throughout the day. During times of excitement or stress, a dog's blood pressure can rise a bit and cause the gum color to be a darker pink than the normal baseline. Concurrently, during times of rest and extreme relaxation, the blood pressure is a bit lower and can cause the gums to be a slightly lighter pink. If Spock's gums are every very pale and he is lethargic, this is an emergency condition and would need to be addressed immediately. Otherwise, you can continue monitoring his gum color as your vet recommended, or ask if he can be examined now if you need the extra peace of mind. :-)

3Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

My dog's gums look pale. Is this normal and what should I do?

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Based on the pictures you have provided, I would say that Nova's gums look more pale than I am comfortable with. This could be due to dehydration, hemorrhage, destruction of the red blood cells from an immune mediated process, an infection, cancer, etc. I would recommend having Nova evaluated by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I would recommend having her blood tested to start to see if she is anemic and to see what other values may be abnormal. The sooner she is seen the better in case this is something severe that needs immediate treatment. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog has pale white gums and is lethargic. What could be wrong?

Oh dear! Pale or white gums can be associated with severe anemia, shock, or heart failure - this is a very concerning sign that warrants immediate veterinary attention. A warm dry nose is a pretty non-specific sign that doesn't really mean anything in particular, and a pale or thinning haircoat can be associated with any kind of long-term illness. It sounds like Bae may be seriously ill, so I would recommend taking him to an emergency clinic tonight to be seen. If this isn't possible, then I would take him to your regular veterinarian first thing in the morning. Your veterinarian can do blood work, x-rays, or other testing if needed to help diagnose the problem and see what kind of treatment is needed.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog's gums are pale pink but he's acting normal. Should I worry?

Pale pink gums are still normal for a dog. Since you say that Bentley is acting normal, eating and drinking, I would not worry. Check his gums once a day every day for the next few days. Should the gums turn pale or white, you will need to call your vet for an appointment.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog's tongue is pale after sleeping, is this normal or a concern?

The color of the tongue and gums and skin can change shades based on things like hydration level, blood pressure (which is influenced by hydration and activity level), ambient temperature, oxygenation, red blood cell level, etc. In this case, if Brooke's blood pressure is just a little lower because she has been sleeping, then she may appear a little more pale. Shades of pink are good! White, blue, gray, or purple are bad. But often there can be severe medical issues and the gums can still be nice and pink, so it is rarely a true indication of disease.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog's gums were pale in the car. Could this be car sickness?

While car sickness does not normally make pale gums, there is a slight possibility that your dog gets so nauseous and upset, that his body centralizes his blood circulation and pulls most of the blood towards the Lungs , heart and brain , similar to what happens in a shock condition. Apart from that it just may be a transient matter and if your vet cannot find anything wrong with Mylo, then likely everything is fine.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

Why are my dog's gums white in morning but pink later on antibiotics?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It's hard to see well in your picture but the color is lighter than normal. Sometimes if you stretch the lip up too tight it can look paler or whiter. If she is acting normal I am not sure I would read too much in to the color, especially f it more pink the rest of the day. If you are worried I would have her rechecked and ask the Vet to run a PCV/TS which measures her red blood cell count. Most dogs that are anemic are lethargic, weak, have a decreased appetite, and increased breathing. I wish you and MJ the best!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog's lips are pink. Is this normal or a sign of anemia in dogs?

Pink salmon color is normal for pets. It is hard to tell based on the photo if there are also white areas there, if they are then that is a sign of potential anemia and therefore Bruno should be seen by your vet and tested. However, if the entire lip/gum area is salmon pink, this is considered to be a normal color and therefore nothing to be alarmed about. When we initially lift up the lip in dogs, some areas that are stretched or pinched can turn white, but then they should go back to normal pink color once the pressure/tugging is alleviated. Anemia is also diagnosed by getting a blood sample from the dog and looking at the red blood cell count. IF a pets gums turn pale white, then that is an indicator that there is anemia, so then it has to be decided what the cause is by evaluating the rest of the bloodwork, along with physical exam findings. Hemolytic anemia will certainly cause a pet to also act ill, such as lethargy, not eating and pale white gums, so that does not fit the description of your pet Bruno. I hope that this helps clarify things and also put your mind at ease. Best wishes with your pet Bruno and I hope that he continues to do well.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share