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Should I worry about black spots on my puppy's gums while teething?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Male | unneutered | 6 months and 2 days old | 6 lbs

Puppy has symmetrical black spots on his gums on the inside of his upper pre molars. is this because he’s losing those teeth now? He’s lost his incisors and lower k-9’s so far, as far as I know

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Dr. Elizabeth

Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

Veterinarian

Published on November 17th, 2017

Its not normal for the gums to become pigmented from losing teeth but if you are seeing it on both sides, I would not be suspicious of anything abnormal. Monitor for any signs of abscesses from the puppy teeth-usually this will look like a red bump. I hope this helps with little Buster!
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Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

    Veterinarian

    Published on June 13th, 2019

    That depends. Many dogs naturally have areas of black gums. If however this is a new development or if you see other signs of disease, it could indicate a tooth infection or melanoma (a cancer). I recommend to play it safe and have Zoe examined since a physical exam is the best way to determine if this is pathological. I hope this helps.

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    2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Amy S. Eutsey, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on March 2nd, 2020

    Hello. I noticed that your dog is quite young. It is very likely that these are just normal areas of pigmentation, but perhaps reposting with a photo would help us. Dark areas in the mouth that are concerning are usually raised, may have associated inflammation or odor. Many breeds of dogs have normal areas of pigment in the tongue or gums. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Health & Wellness
I found a black spot on my dog's gums. Should I take him to the vet?
This could be normal pigmentation in the gums. You can keep an eye on it now that your are brushing Snoopy's teeth daily. If it begins to grow or change rapidly, then he should be seen by your veterinarian.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
My 4-month-old puppy has a brown tooth and red gum bump. Should I worry?
I would not be too concerned about the tooth at this time. It is difficult to tell from the picture, but the tooth in question looks as if it is a baby tooth that has broken off. If this is the case, the tooth will fall out sometime between 12-16 weeks of age. If this is an adult tooth, then I would recommend you continue to monitor it for now. If the tooth is still looking abnormal at the time of your dog’s spay (around 6 months of age) then your vet can remove it while she is already under anesthesia. This way it will not cause any future problems. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
My puppy has a discolored tooth and gum abscess. What should I do?
Congratulations on your new puppy! Teeth can appear discolored if there has been damage to the blood supply for the tooth or just before a baby tooth is about to fall out. If you feel there may be an abscess present i would recommend that you have her seen by your veterinarian sooner
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
Are brown spots on my 5-month-old kittens' gums normal or concerning?
Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! in a young kitten, this is likely just a change in pigmentation and not a big concern. I would not be too concerned about this unless you ever notice a mass effect or it seems to be causing any discomfort. Best of luck!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
Is it normal for my puppy's gums to bleed and swell while teething?
This is fine. The gums appear healthy with no signs of infection or excessive damage. The gums bleed quite easily, so I wouldn't be too worried about it being very painful. I think that at-most the mouth would feel mildly sore. I hope that helps and gives some peace of mind.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
New Pet
My small puppy's gums look concerning. Are they normal for his age?
Hello. Yes, these guns look normal. He has dark pigmentation which is normal for him, but you can see that he does not look anemic as a nice pinkness is still evident. If he is having difficulty eating dry puppy food, you can soak it in the milk replacer until you get an accurate age at your vet appointment.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
My puppy's gums are red, inflamed, bleeding. Is it normal teething?
This could definitely be due to teething. They often get irritated and bleeding gums at this time and it's really not a problem. Young dogs almost never have dental disease, so I would not be worried at this time. This problem should resolve in the next two months. It's great that you are brushing!! Keep it up and you will definitely reduce his chances of having teeth and gum disease in the future.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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