Dog tongue dark red is a problem that receives little attention from owners because they think it will disappear in a few days.
Things can be more serious than you think because any sudden change in the body has a reason.
So what makes it dark red? Is that a danger sign? We will reveal it in the next sections!
What Does The Color Of The Dog’s Tongue Mean?
Most people think the tongue in dogs is only used to taste food and help cool down.
Some countries in Asia also believe that black spots on the blade can tell about their intelligence. However, the pigmented tongues can predict health status.
Examining the blade can diagnose disease. It consists of a set of muscles and many cheek vessels. It secretes saliva non-stop to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.
Healthy dogs have a pink blade with a thin white coating on top; the pink tint can be light or slightly dark.
Some dogs still have a rather special tongue color, which looks like they are sick, but it turns out that it is their natural color.
The tongue of Shar-Peis and the Chow-Chow is dark green or blue.
If a pet’s blade is normally pink, its color change could indicate an underlying health problem, such as an infection, heatstroke, heart/lung disease, anemia, etc.
Some conditions can go away independently, but some require prompt treatment.
Why Is My Dog Tongue Dark Red?
Suddenly discovering your dog with a red tongue means it has health problems. Many different diseases can affect the shape and color of the tongue.
It often turns dark red due to poor circulation, glossitis, diabetes, bladder issues, etc.
Glossitis
This is a common and not life-threatening condition but can cause discomfort and pain when feeding pets.
It is a long-lasting sore tongue that leads to swelling and inflammation. This usually makes the tongue surface smooth and smooth.
Glossitis occurs due to several causes, such as the habit of chewing hard things, trauma to the mouth, exposure to allergens, viral infections, iron deficiency, etc.
Glossitis usually develops with an allergic reaction but can also start as a symptom of another health condition. This leads to changes in the color and texture of the tongue.
This disease can make the blade shiny and cause discomfort, burning pain when eating or drinking water, and swelling of the tongue, causing your dog to lose appetite and stop eating.
You should not be subjective if you see that pets have a condition that lasts for a long time, recurs many times, and may even be accompanied by bleeding, sore throat and jaw, or difficulty swallowing.
They could very well be warning signs of tongue cancer.
Ulceration
Many owners assume that their dog’s tongue ulcers are just a common dental problem, but persistent blade ulcers can be a symptom of serious problems.
Tongue cancer can also appear in pets, and blade ulcers are one of the telltale signs of this disease.
The appearance of the sores is usually round or oval, the base is white or light yellow, and the border is dark red.
They cause discomfort, pain, and difficulty for pets when eating and living. Their self-healing mechanism will heal the ulcer, regenerate, and heal the damage.
Mild and benign ulcers can be treated quickly with specific medications, improved diet, and proper rest.
The Cyst
The dark red dog tongue can also be a sign of a cyst under the tongue, which is not uncommon in pets.
This is a condition where the blade papillae or taste buds are swollen, causing discomfort and pain.
The taste buds and blade papillae are spread across the sides of the tongue and are pale pink.
Swollen blade papillae or taste buds will cause discomfort and pain, accompanied by a darker red than usual.
Most sublingual papillomas will go away independently, but if they persist for over 10 days, you should take your little friend to the doctor.
Without treatment, the cyst will grow larger over time and appear denser in the throat area.
At that time, the cysts under the blade form many layers, stand on each other, and are very fragile, causing burning pain.
When the oral tumors are broken, they will cause purulent discharge with blood and cause mouth ulcers.
Early diagnosis of exclusion with other serious diseases and proper treatment is the key to helping dogs return to normal soon.
Stomatitis
Stomatitis, or inflammation of the oral mucosa, is a common condition in both humans and animals.
Although it is not too dangerous to health, it always makes patients feel uncomfortable and painful whenever they are infected.
The mucosa is the covering around the blade and oral cavity. When there is damage to this part, the ulcer will make the dog feel pain during eating and living.
The lining of the mouth will usually be pale pink, but when inflamed and infected, you will see the dog’s tongue is dark red, accompanied by red bumps, even blindness, and blood in the oral cavity.
At first, the disease appears 1 or more small spots about 1-2mm in size and pink-red. They make your pet feel a little itchy and slightly painful.
Then, the ulcerated nodules gradually enlarged and raised, and inside appeared pale white spots with many secretions.
Mucosal ulcerative nodules will spread to form large spots 2 to 3 mm in size.
If not treated in time, it will cause the mucosal layer to become necrotic, causing ulceration of the entire oral cavity.
Tumor And Cancer
Cancer in dogs is dangerous, but many owners often do not pay attention to its signs.
This type of cancer occurs in the mouth and blade area. It develops from squamous cells on the tongue’s surface, causing damage and gradually causing a tumor.
The cause of the disease is often due to bad habits such as eating an unhygienic, unscientific diet, not having regular oral hygiene, living environment, or genetics.
The symptoms of the disease are quite obvious but are often confused with other health concerns like periodontal disease.
Here are some signs that pet parents need to be on the lookout for:
- The dogs tongue is red
- Due to pain, dogs cough like a foreign body on the tongue’s surface
- The appearance of white patches clinging to the tongue’s surface and gradually spreading around.
- Bleeding on the blade without cause
- Difficulty chewing and swallowing causes dogs to lose their appetite, stop eating, and lose weight.
- Increased salivation, saliva mixed with blood cells
- Bad breath due to dead cells in the process of decomposition
Soft Tissue Trauma
Most dogs are hyperactive and very passionate about running and playing with their owners or other dogs. And as a matter of fact, overactivity always comes with injuries.
Wounds, especially in the head and oral cavity, are quite common because of their aggressive, mischievous nature.
Thus, when you see their blade suddenly dark red, check whether there are other wounds on their body.
Diabetes
One of the diseases that dogs often suffer from is diabetes. This is one of the groups of diseases related to the metabolic mechanism manifested in high blood glucose levels.
Diabetes is caused by a failure of the pancreas to secrete insulin, an error in the way insulin works, or both. It is not only a threat to humans but also to pets, but cats are less common.
All dogs are at risk, but poodles, Dachshunds, Cairn Terriers, miniature schnauzers, springer spaniels, and long-haired dogs have a higher risk than other breeds.
Watch out for the following signs of diabetes in dogs:
- Urinating more than once and increasing the amount of urine each time cleaning
- Thirst, constant cravings
- Sudden weight gain or weight loss
- Physical decline, inactivity, sleeping more than usual
- Oily skin makes hair sticky, causing hair loss
- Always in a state of fatigue, sluggishness, lack of energy
- Weak hind limbs, shivering, unsteady walk
- Stinky breath, red tongue
Late detection increases the risk of complications such as sepsis, exhaustion, cataracts, and death.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
This is one of the reasons why a dog’s blade is abnormally red. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and non-irritating toxic gas.
It is available in fireplaces, gas, furnaces, water heaters, wood or coal burners, gasoline generators, etc.
The risk of pets getting CO poisoning increases when people use stoves or sources that contain CO in an enclosed and unventilated space.
CO poisoning is a highly fatal case of poisoning.
The air has too much carbon monoxide, which reduces the ability to absorb oxygen, so pet parents need to be very careful when using these devices.
High Blood Pressure
Systemic hypertension in dogs is high blood pressure. Blood pressure is a measurement of blood flow pressure against the walls of arteries when the heart pumps blood.
Hypertension affects a puppy’s many body systems such as the kidneys, heart, and nervous system.
Causes of the disease can be genetic history, complications of kidney disease, diabetes, hormonal disorders, and hyperthyroidism.
The disease does not cause specific symptoms, but its harmful effects are the possible formation of blood clots in the body, for example, in the oral cavity.
Dehydration And Overheating
Dogs are animals born with the ability to retain heat, not to give off heat. This is an advantage in cold weather but a danger in summer.
High outdoor temperatures cause a dog’s body temperature to rise suddenly and can lead to death.
Symptoms of heat stroke in dogs:
- Rapid panting, wheezing
- Dog’s tongue red like blood, and the gums are lighter than normal
- Salivary glands secrete a lot of fluid
- Heart beat fast
- Walking unsteadily, staggered.
- Vomiting many times, tired
- Nosebleeds and coma
Poor Oxygen Levels
The dark red color you see may be a sign of hypoxia due to poor functioning of the heart. Lack of oxygen causes them to breathe quickly, have difficulty breathing, and pleural effusion.
Owners need to get them to the vet immediately to get medical attention.
Other causes include allergies, gall bladder issues, kidney problems, and bacterial infections.
Experts advise owners not to be subjective with any tongue discoloration, even just the color difference.
Other Colors And What Do They Mean?
As mentioned at the beginning, the tongue’s color tells something about each little friend’s health status.
Each one has its meaning; understanding their meaning will help you detect diseases earlier.
- Pink tongue: Ideal color; it indicates your dog is healthy (except for some special species).
- Purple tongues: Lack of oxygen, heart disease, respiratory, or circulatory problems.
- Black tongues: It may be due to skin pigmentation, but it’s not a concern.
- Yellow: the sign of dental issues, jaundice, bile duct obstruction, liver disease, or gastritis malfunction.
- White tongue: anemia, internal bleeding, parasites, etc.
Conclusion
The dog tongue dark red looks normal but can be a warning signal for serious health problems.
Early detection and proper identification help your puppy’s chances of survival and resilience. Notify your veterinarian immediately if you see these strange signs.
