Does a dark spot on my Chihuahua's tongue mean she's purebred?

She is very cute! If she has had the dark spots for 8 years and they haven't changed then it is likely just normal pigmentation. She could be slowing down with age and may have a harder time after exercise, but if it gets worse then she really should be evaluated by a vet for a chest x-ray to make sure she doesn't have heart or lung disease.

Your puppy does look like it could be a chihuahua, but it's absolutely impossible for me to say if it is purebred or not just by looking at a picture. You can do a DNA test on your puppy called a Wisdom Panel, and that will give you the exact genetic make up of your puppy letting you know if it's purebred or not. https://www.wisdompanel.com I hope this helps!

As long as its not raised, and its never been ulcerated/bleeding, and its not changing in size, I don't think you need to be concerned. Pigment of skin and mucous membranes (gums, tongue, etc) can change with age and it is not indicative of a problem. If it DOES seem to be changing, if it becomes ulcerated or raised, talk to your vet; if that occurs, then it needs to be biopsied. But as I said already, based on what your saying and on your photo, I'm not worried. This can be a normal change. No one knows exactly why it happens. Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Some breeds can have naturally darker tongues, but this looks more like the tongue was bruised or scraped/burned. (Or she licked/ate something that would stain the tongue such as berries) Some illnesses that involve circulation or organ function can also cause the tongue to appear bruised or painful, as well as ingestion of substances that could affect organ function. If she is showing any signs of illness in addition to the change such as vomiting or diarrhea, lethargy, etc, the tongue is very painful or bothersome affecting her ability to eat, she got into something she shouldn't have, or she seems to be having trouble breathing/gasping for air, seeking veterinary care ASAP is best.

It is quite common to have patches of darkly pigmented areas of the tongue in some breeds of dogs. German Shepherds are one of the breeds in which we commonly see these spots, so as long as they are not raised/painful, they are likely just normal pigmented areas and nothing to worry about!

This is not a purebred Shih Tzu, which is why the muzzle is long. You can do DNA testing to determine what other breed(s) make up your puppy, especially if you paid a lot of money for him as a purebred. He still is awfully cute, though!

Hello, my name is Dr. Shines and I am happy to help. If Pico isn't itching or licking the area, if the skin's not red or scabby and if the fur looks normal, this is probably normal. As they age, the skin can darken, particularly in the groin and armpits. If Pico seems to be scratching or licking more, or if you sees signs of infection, then make an appointment to have him examined. Allergies can cause the skin to darker as well. I hope this helps and please feel free to reach out any time.