Checking your dog’s gums: colour and capillary refill time

The gums provide important information about blood circulation and oxygen supply. Light pink and moist is normal for many dogs. Pale, blue, grey or unusually dark red gums, on the other hand, can indicate an emergency.

A quick look into the mouth can be valuable in an emergency. The prerequisite is that your dog knows how to gently lift his lip and feels safe doing it. Practise checking your dog’s gums in quiet moments so you know what colour and pigmentation normally looks like.

Not every dog has completely pink gums. Dark spots can be congenital and completely normal. To assess, look for an unpigmented area or note other pink areas of mucous membrane.

In many healthy dogs, the gums are light pink, moist, and smooth. It lies evenly against the teeth. The exact colour depends on pigmentation, light and individual blood flow.

Sticky or dry gums can correspond to dehydration. Severely reddened edges, bleeding, swelling or a bad smell are more likely to indicate a local disease in the mouth.

Use a finger to gently press an unpigmented pink area for about two seconds. It gets brighter for a moment. After being released, the original colour should usually return within one to two seconds for a healthy, calm dog.

This capillary refill time is just an indicative home test. Cold, excitement, pressure and light influence the result. A normal refill time does not definitely rule out a serious illness.

Do not perform the test if your dog is in pain, snapping, or resisting strongly.

Very pale or white gums can occur due to, among other things, blood loss, anaemia, shock or severe circulatory weakness. It can also appear brighter due to unfavourable light.

If the change is significant and new, especially along with weakness, rapid pulse, abdominal pain, or collapse, the dog needs immediate help.

Blue, grey or purple gums can indicate insufficient oxygen supply. Possible causes include the respiratory tract, lungs, heart or circulation.

This is an emergency. Go to a veterinary clinic immediately. Avoid excitement and pressure on your dog’s neck or chest.

Unusually dark red gums can occur due to overheating, severe inflammation or circulatory problems. A dog with heat-related illness may pant heavily, stagger, vomit, or become weak.

Move your dog to a cool environment and gently start cooling with cool, rather than ice-cold, water. Seek veterinary care at the same time.

Yellowish mucous membranes can indicate jaundice. Causes can include diseases of the liver or bile ducts as well as an increased breakdown of red blood cells.

Yellowish discolouration should be examined quickly, even if the dog still appears relatively lively.

A red band directly on the tooth, bleeding when chewing, bad breath, tartar or loss of food from the mouth are more likely to indicate gum or tooth disease. Dental disease is painful and will not go away with cosmetic cleaning.

A professional examination under suitable conditions also enables X-ray images of the tooth roots. Tartar removal without anaesthesia does not safely reach the areas under the gums.

First, just touch the muzzle briefly and reward calm behaviour. Later, lift one lip for a second. Increase slowly. The exercise should remain friendly and predictable.

Check in daylight. Always compare with your dog's normal condition. A photo on a healthy day can be helpful.

Immediate help is needed for:

Gum colour and capillary refill time can reveal important warning signs. However, they are not a complete circulatory test. Know your dog's normal pigmentation and always assess colour along with breathing, behaviour and strength.