UNDERSTANDING GUM COLOR WARNINGS
Why is Gum Color Important to Evaluate on a Sick Animal?
Have you ever wondered what normal gum color is for your Dog, Goat, Lamb, Pig or Horse? It can be a puzzling question and more importantly…what does the color really mean?
For starters, ALL animals have some variation of pinkish gums. Pink color indicates good blood circulation.
Bubble Gum Pink is good & normal. Healthy gums when pressed with a finger should turn white under the pressure and then return to a soft pink color. Much like your sunburned skin reacts when pressed.
The goat on the left has normal pinkish gum color. The goat on the right needs attention because the gum color is white to blueish.
Patriotic Hues (Red, White or Blueish) or Brown-to-Yellow
These colors indicate something bad is brewing and your vet needs to see your pet immediately.
Unhealthy gum color can indicate a range of issues from anemia, infection, dehydration, internal bleeding, poisoning, trauma, shock, poisoning, and lack of oxygen, heart disease, parasites or allergic reactions.
If you see any of these gum colors on your animal,
Symptoms of Ingestion may be:
- Drooling
- Nausea or Diarrhea
- Vomiting (immediately or within 12 hours)
- Arched posture (due to abdominal pain)
- Difficulty breathing
- “Muddy” or Pale colored gums
CALL THE VET IMMEDIATELY!
The vet is the best person to examine, evaluate and run tests to find a remedy. Gum symptoms never fix themselves.
