Pale gums can sometimes mean that your dog doesn’t have enough red blood cells, aka anemia. Anemia is serious because red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body. When there aren't enough red blood cells, oxygen levels can drop to dangerous levels, and your pet gets tired and weak.
The light-colored gums can be caused by a serious condition called autoimmune hemolytic anemia. This is when the immune system mistakenly destroys red blood cells. This type can be hereditary in certain breeds and can also be found in cats but far less frequently.
Parasites are one of the more common causes of anemia in pets. Fleas, hookworms, or other blood-sucking parasites can drain you of blood meaning there isn’t enough to go around. This could also be a sign of internal bleeding, resulting from ulcers or even cancer.
While often times, anemia is a side effect of medications such as estrogen, antibiotics, and pain medications. They may interfere with the blood marrows production of red blood cells. Dogs that are taking aspirin for pain can develop internal bleeding and ulcers.
Dermatologists place a high value on paleness because the less sun you get, the lower your risk for skin cancer. Veterinarians, however, have always preferred the color pink -- at least when they are looking at your pet's gums. When the gums change from bubble-gum pink to pale, oxygen is probably in short supply, and there is an internal problem that needs to be taken care of.
Pale gums don't always mean that your pet has anemia. At times, like after an accident, blood pressure can fall to dangerously low levels because the heart is so busy pumping blood to vital organs that it doesn’t make it to the places like your gums, toes, or the tips of your ears. The drop in blood pressure and the resulting pale gums could mean that a pet is going into shock and needs emergency care.
If conditions worsen or are paired with other symptoms, get your dog to a vet to have them checked out. It’s always better safe than sorry.
The light-colored gums can be caused by a serious condition called autoimmune hemolytic anemia. This is when the immune system mistakenly destroys red blood cells. This type can be hereditary in certain breeds and can also be found in cats but far less frequently.
Parasites are one of the more common causes of anemia in pets. Fleas, hookworms, or other blood-sucking parasites can drain you of blood meaning there isn’t enough to go around. This could also be a sign of internal bleeding, resulting from ulcers or even cancer.
While often times, anemia is a side effect of medications such as estrogen, antibiotics, and pain medications. They may interfere with the blood marrows production of red blood cells. Dogs that are taking aspirin for pain can develop internal bleeding and ulcers.
Dermatologists place a high value on paleness because the less sun you get, the lower your risk for skin cancer. Veterinarians, however, have always preferred the color pink -- at least when they are looking at your pet's gums. When the gums change from bubble-gum pink to pale, oxygen is probably in short supply, and there is an internal problem that needs to be taken care of.
Pale gums don't always mean that your pet has anemia. At times, like after an accident, blood pressure can fall to dangerously low levels because the heart is so busy pumping blood to vital organs that it doesn’t make it to the places like your gums, toes, or the tips of your ears. The drop in blood pressure and the resulting pale gums could mean that a pet is going into shock and needs emergency care.
If conditions worsen or are paired with other symptoms, get your dog to a vet to have them checked out. It’s always better safe than sorry.
