My dog's gums were red after heat, but now they're pink. Is he okay?

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I think she looks completely normal. The conjunctive (tissue in the eye) will often look pale. As long as her gums are pink (like hers) there is no reason to worry. Hope this helps. Best wishes!

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It looks like local gum pigmentation or mild inflammation. I don't think there is anything to worry about, but please show it to your vet the next time you take Tiny for an appointment.

I am not too worried from what you are describing and what I'm seeing in the pictures. The gums do not appear overly red to me. They actually appear normal. Heat stress is possible in a warm climate like Darwin and red gums can be a sign of this. A preceding sign is excessive panting where the tongue hangs far out of the mouth. Signs of severe heat stress is diarrhea and behavior change. If any of these signs are noted, then it's best to cool Obi down with cool water as soon as possible. Obi looks like he is in good shape. We are often used to seeing fatter dogs, so he may appear too skinny, but is actual at an ideal body weight. The fact that he grazes her food rather than eating it all in one sitting is a good sign that he naturally maintains a lean body weight. This may seem odd, but it's actually very good that he maintains this lean body condition, because skinny dogs tend to be healthier and live longer. Below is a link to a body condition score chart that will give you an idea of where she is on the spectrum: https://www.wsava.org/sites/default/files/Body%20condition%20score%20chart%20dogs.pdf I hope that helps and all is well with Obi.

This looks like a normal color for gums. They should be pink. The thinned hair may just be him aging but if it is itching or if there are any scabs or getting worse, I would have your vet take a look to ensure it doesn’t need any treatment. I hope this helps!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Charlie. His tongue is a normal pink color. He is likely panting a bit due to the heat or his exercise level. Difficulty breathing is indicated by abdominal effort when breathing, rapid or heavy breathing not associated with panting or a blue/grey color to the gums. These are all signs of an emergency. Dogs in these circumstances are acting very sick as well. I hope this information helps!

The color of a dog's tongue can vary minute to minute. If she is acting normal otherwise, check it again every few hours. If it stays dark red, it may be wise to have Ghontu examined by a veterinarian. Make sure she has plenty of water and shade available, as a red tongue could indicate she is too hot. If she becomes lethargic, doesn't eat or drink, etc. she should see a vet as soon as possible.

Pale pink gums are still normal for a dog. Since you say that Bentley is acting normal, eating and drinking, I would not worry. Check his gums once a day every day for the next few days. Should the gums turn pale or white, you will need to call your vet for an appointment.