Why is my dog's tongue darker after dog hotel stay? Should I worry?

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.

If your dog's tongue has changed to a dark gray or purple color than he should be examined by a vet to make sure there isn't a problem. Your vet can do a complete examination, check bloodwork to evaluate his red blood cells, and take an x-ray, if needed. Without an examination, it is difficult to know if there is a problem.

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.

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!

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.

As long as its not raised, and its never been ulcerated/bleeding, and its not changing in size, I don't think you need to be concerned. Pigment of skin and mucous membranes (gums, tongue, etc) can change with age and it is not indicative of a problem. If it DOES seem to be changing, if it becomes ulcerated or raised, talk to your vet; if that occurs, then it needs to be biopsied. But as I said already, based on what your saying and on your photo, I'm not worried. This can be a normal change. No one knows exactly why it happens. Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

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.