• Free shipping on all orders
  • Free two years warranty extension
  • Free and easy returns

Hepper is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

Healthy vs Unhealthy Dog Gums: Vet-Reviewed Signs & Pictures

Jana Blagojevic

By Jana Blagojevic

Healthy Dog Gums vs Unhealthy

Vet approved

Dr. Lauren Demos  Photo

Reviewed & Fact-Checked By

Dr. Lauren Demos

DVM (Veterinarian)

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

Learn more »

Keeping your dog healthy and well-nourished is key to a long life and happiness. Taking care of their teeth and gums regularly can significantly improve your dog’s long-term health, reducing the risk of serious health problems. The first step to healthy gums in dogs is being able to recognize any signs of potential problems. While this can’t replace a visit to the vet, it can still help you spot symptoms early on and react accordingly.

Keep reading below to learn all the essentials regarding a healthy dog’s gums and ways to recognize potential issues.

Divider 8

At A Glance

Hepper_Healthy Dog Gums VS Unhealthy_Infographic_v1_Apr 28 2023
You are free to use this image but we do require you to link back to Hepper.com for credit
Healthy Dog Gums
  • Light, salmon-pink color
  • No unpleasant odor
  • Moist and slippery texture
  • Normal appetite
  • Happily eating dry and hard food
  • Slightly darker pigmented areas
Unhealthy Dog Gums
  • Discolored, red, white, yellow, purple, blue, or gray gums
  • Constant bad breath
  • Tacky and dry texture
  • Loss of appetite
  • Preference for soft foods
  • Black or dark brown spots

Overview of Healthy Dog Gums

You will easily recognize a healthy dog’s gums. since they will appear quite similar to human gums. Healthy dog gums will have a healthy pink color and will be wet and slippery. You won’t find any irregularities such as discoloration or swelling. Below we will go into detail about the appearance of healthy gums in dogs so you can easily notice any signs of medical conditions.

vet examining dog's gums
Image Credit: Diego Cervo, Shutterstock

Coloring

The coloring of healthy gums in dogs will be identical to those of humans. You are looking for salmon pink or powder pink, indicating your dog has no underlying medical conditions or dental issues. This light pink color can have certain spots and blotches, which are characteristic of some breeds and are nothing to be concerned about. These spots are pigmented areas of skin and can often be seen in:

Appearance

Besides the coloring of the gums, which will be the first and best indicator of any illnesses, your dog’s gums shouldn’t have any irregularities on them. Watch out for any swelling, bumps, or lumps. While mild discoloration of the gums is fairly normal, having black or dark brown spots is not something you want to see on healthy gums. Even occasionally bleeding gums are normal at times, such as after aggressively chewing something, although if the bleeding persists, it would be wise to visit your veterinarian.

Clean teeth and healthy gums of a longhaired dachshund dog
Image Credit: Hannamariah, Shutterstock

Other Signs of Healthy Gums

While it will be much easier to recognize unhealthy-looking gums on a dog, other signs can indicate everything is perfectly fine with your dog, including:

  • The ability to chew dry or hard food
  • Chewing or pulling on toys that are made of firm plastic
  • Normal breath without any unpleasant odor
  • A consistent texture
  • The gums are always moist and a bit slippery
  • Normal appetite

Divider 4

Overview of Unhealthy Dog Gums

Coloring

Noticing the difference between healthy and unhealthy gum in dogs will be easiest by monitoring the color. The color of gums in sick dogs can be almost any color besides light pink. When the color of the gums begins to change into an unnatural shade, it is essential to act quickly. Below you can find all the possible colors of the gums in dogs and what they can indicate.

dog purple gums
Image Credit: Todorean Gabriel, Shutterstock
  • Red gums: If your dog’s gums suddenly become bright red, it can be for several reasons, such as poisoning, shock, heatstroke, hypertension, and even carbon monoxide poisoning. In some cases, red gums can be a true emergency, potentially pointing out coagulation problems. At the same time, sometimes your dog can simply become overly excited while playing and get red gums.
  • Yellow gums: Yellow gums can indicate liver problems such as jaundice. You may also notice yellowing of the eyes, lips, and insides of the ears.
  • White or pale gums: White or extremely pale gums in your dog can be a clear sign of anemia. They can also indicate your dog has been through a shock or is in some type of pain. This discoloration of the gums is certainly a serious condition and should be considered an emergency. If your dog has been injured recently, it can even indicate it is losing blood.
  • Purple, blue, or gray gums: Any of these colors showing up on your dog’s gums can indicate an urgent problem such as heart failure, choking, hypothermia, low blood pressure, poisoning, pneumonia, asthma, or other breathing problems. If you notice any of these colors in your dog’s gums, it is crucial to take them to the emergency vet as soon as possible.

Appearance

Besides the coloring of the gums, other signs can point out medical issues. You may often see swelling on the dog’s gums or growing bumps and warts, which is usually temporary, although your veterinarian should still check it out. Bleeding gums are usually caused by gingivitis, a dental disease, and chewing or eating hard food can irritate the gums. Your dog may even have receding gums which develop after plaque and tartar accumulate underneath the gum line and cause bacteria buildup.

Other Signs of Unhealthy Gums

Other signs you may notice that indicate your dog’s gums are unhealthy are:

  • Consistently bad breath
  • Tacky and dry gums that indicate dehydration
  • Loss of appetite and weight loss
  • Inability to chew properly
  • Preference for softer foods
  • Bloody saliva
close up white dog gums
Image Credit: Mangpor_nk, Shutterstock

Divider 3

How To Examine Your Dog’s Gums

Examining your dog’s mouth should be a regular part of the maintenance and should be done frequently. If you notice any strange symptoms in time, setting up a correct diagnostic and treatment plan will be more effective.

  • Examine your dog while he is resting so he will keep still while you observe his gums and mouth.
  • Gently pull down your dog’s lips with your fingers, or lift their upper lip, whichever is more convenient.
  • If possible, feel the gums for texture, especially the part below and above a tooth.
  • Carefully observe the color and look for any darker pigmentation or discolorations.
  • Examine for any growths.
  • Gently press on the gums, on the pink portion, and continue pressing for several seconds. After letting go, the gums should stay white at that spot for 2 seconds before turning back to pink.

How to Clean Your Dog’s Gums Regularly

To prevent any major dental conditions from occurring too soon, regularly clean your dog’s teeth. Luckily, there are plenty of methods for cleaning your dog’s teeth, such as dog tooth wipes, dog chews, and dental treats. In addition to these options for maintaining proper hygiene, you can take your dog to a professional groomer occasionally. This will significantly prolong your dog’s dental health, preventing other major issues.

Divider 5

Conclusion

Gums are one of the best visible indicators of conditions happening in areas unrelated to the mouth. Once you read this article, you should be able to recognize any signs of potential illnesses or medical conditions early on. Proper gum and teeth hygiene can save you many stressful hours in the vet’s clinic.


Featured Image Credit By: (L) laolaopui, Shutterstock | (R) February_Love, Shutterstock

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate (you can leave written feedback after clicking submit)

Help us improve Hepper for pet parents!

Your feedback really matters.

What did you like about this post? Also how can we improve it?

Related Articles

Further Reading

Vet Articles

Latest Vet Answers

The latest veterinarians' answers to questions from our database

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate (you can leave written feedback after clicking submit)

Help us improve Hepper for pet parents!

Your feedback really matters.

What did you like about this post? Also how can we improve it?

Shopping cart0
There are no products in the cart!