My dog's tongue is dark gray or purple. Is this normal or a problem?

Some breeds can have naturally darker tongues, but this looks more like the tongue was bruised or scraped/burned. (Or she licked/ate something that would stain the tongue such as berries) Some illnesses that involve circulation or organ function can also cause the tongue to appear bruised or painful, as well as ingestion of substances that could affect organ function. If she is showing any signs of illness in addition to the change such as vomiting or diarrhea, lethargy, etc, the tongue is very painful or bothersome affecting her ability to eat, she got into something she shouldn't have, or she seems to be having trouble breathing/gasping for air, seeking veterinary care ASAP is best.

His tongue does not appear to be critically discolored or alarming. It is actually quite pink still. If it seems darker to you, you could always take him in to have his blood checked to make sure he does not have any red blood cell abnormalities or clotting disorders. Otherwise, it is too difficult for me to give you an exact diagnosis without examining him. I would have a vet examine it just to be on the safe side if it is still there and you are concerned about it. A hands on exam will give you so much more information than a picture.

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.

The color of a dog's tongue can vary minute to minute. If she is acting normal otherwise, check it again every few hours. If it stays dark red, it may be wise to have Ghontu examined by a veterinarian. Make sure she has plenty of water and shade available, as a red tongue could indicate she is too hot. If she becomes lethargic, doesn't eat or drink, etc. she should see a vet as soon as possible.

Hello. This sounds like a mild hypoxic episode from hyperventilating. It is probably a normal response for your dog. If at her last veterinary visit everything checked out normal ( normal heart rate, pulses, gum color & no murmur detected ), then I would just assume that this was related to her panic, If, however, it has been more than a year since she was examined, then I would take her in. She may not need blood work, but a good physical exam can rule out many things Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

A purple tongue is concerning for a lack of oxygen in the blood stream. You mentioned she is having trouble breathing as well! This sounds like it could be an emergency and I recommend to have Molly examined right away! Call ahead so they can be prepared for her. Try not to stress her in handling her and stay as calm as possible. Since she cannot talk and tell you what is happening, playing it safe is the best option. A sudden breathing problem can indicate a blood clot thrown into her lungs, a stroke or a heart attack. Any breathing problem is always worrisome and should be treated seriously. I hope this helps and that everything turns out for the best!

It's a little difficult to fully assess Masha's tongue color in the first picture due to the lighting, but in the second picture it looks very normal. As long as Masha is behaving normally otherwise I would not be concerned. If she starts having difficulty breathing, her tongue becomes blue in color, develops a cough, or any other abnormal signs I would have her examined by a veterinarian right away. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!