Causes of Blue Gums and Tongue in a Dog: Why Seeking Veterinarian Help is Best

A dog can get a lot of the same medical diseases as a human and therefore there is an urgency to seek medical treatment if you notice something abnormal. We want our pet dog to be as healthy and happy as possible, so it is always important to note any physical changes that have occurred. If you pay attention to your dog and are aware of any physical changes that have happened then you are most likely saving him from a life-threatening condition. When you notice a change in your dog, it is important to seek veterinarian care immediately so that a diagnosis can be made and treatment can begin. A lot of medical diseases are often treatable and not life-threatening if medical care is provided in a reasonable manner. One of the things you want to watch out for in your dog is a blue tongue or blue gums, which are caused by underlying medical conditions. There are a lot of reasons as to why your dog might have a blue tongue or gums so it is important to take them to the veterinarian as soon as this develops. Not all causes of blue gums and tongue are life-threatening; in fact there are some easy explanations.

One reason why your dog might have blue gums and tongue is maybe due to the breed of the dog. Chows are a breed of dog in which blue gums and tongue are common and it is absolutely nothing to worry about. The tongue might appear blue in color or have a black tint to it, but this is actually normal for Chows.

Trauma might be the reason why your dog has blue gums and tongue and this would occur to the throat area. The thorax, larynx and trachea are all found within the throat and are areas where you might see trauma on a dog. These traumas can be from a person or another animal grabbing the dog by the neck or throat and are often seen visually. There might be a hernia, open wound, fractured ribs or a lung injury which might present itself with bruising inside the throat. The blue gums and tongue would be indicative of bruising and blood vessels rupturing where the injury has occurred and to the areas surrounding it. The trauma might be a visible wound around the neck area or it might be an internal injury like the fractured ribs. Usually a physical examination by a veterinarian along with some x-rays can determine if there is any traumatic injury. The traumatic injury would either be externally out internally present which would cause the blue gums and tongue.

Infectious diseases are another reason why your dog might have blue gums and tongue. Pneumonia and parainfluenza as well as secondary bacterial infections are all common causes why your dog might have blue gums and tongue. Fungal infections and aspiration are also possible causes and can lead to infectious diseases. Aspiration can occur when a dog both eats too fast and vomits or such things as improper medication feeding. A veterinarian will be able to tell whether infectious disease has caused the blue gums and tongue by blood work, an x-ray of the esophagus and a complete physical examination. Heart disease and other non-infectious conditions could also be a cause so those things will be tested as well in the blood work.

A foreign body might also get lodged in the nasal passage, larynx or trachea which might also explain why your dog has blue gums and tongue. Irritation and inflammation could occur from the foreign body which would make the blue gums and tongue more apparent.

Tumors in the larynx, lungs, heart or trachea could also cause the gums and tongue to appear blue in color. The tumors could be compressing on the nerves and blood vessels which would then cut circulation off to the tongue and gums. The tumors are often detected by blood work and x-rays done on your dog.

Allergic reactions from lung inflammation and lung sensitivity could also cause the gums and tongue of your dog to appear blue. Pulmonary hypersensitivity occurs when fungi, heartworms or a bacterium is present in the lungs and it makes the lungs very sensitive. Other disorders might also be the cause of the blue gums and tongue and can include gastric problems and post-surgical complications. Worms and other parasitic diseases might also explain the blue gums and tongue your dog has depending on the location of the parasites in the body of the dog.

Blue gums and tongue on your dog does not always mean there is a serious medical problem. If you notice blue gums or tongue on your dog then you should contact the veterinarian immediately so you can go and get your dog examined. Finding out what specifically is causing the blue gums and tongue is the only way to manage symptoms and make a treatment plan. It might be something very simple such as an irritation or inflammation or it could be something more serious like tumors. The only real way to know what is exactly causing the blue gums and tongue on your dog is to take him to see the proper medical professional. You should never trust an Internet article to confirm or deny any type of medical condition; this is only a reference for possible causes. In order to keep your dog healthy and happy, you need to go to a veterinarian so that a diagnosis is made and treatment is implemented.