My dog in heat has pale eyelids but pink gums. Is this normal?

Related Answers from Veterinarians

• Answered By Penelope Graben, DVM

  Veterinarian

  Published on September 28, 2018

  Hello,
  
  The pinkness of the gums in the picture does not alarm me to paleness, but if you believe that they have recently become significantly lighter, I would absolutely recommend a vet check. The mucous membranes of the gums and the inner eyelids should be roughly the same light pink color and moist texture as our own. When the color starts to fade from pink to white, this can be a sign of anemia, or blood loss. Blood loss can happen from stomach ulcers, autoimmune diseases, or other various causes. This reduction in red blood cells usually makes the pet lethargic or sickly, but some dogs are excellent at coping with and hiding their problems. It would be helpful to know if Jessica was showing any signs of illness, such as sleeping more or eating less. If she is doing any of those things, or acting sick in another way, I absolutely recommend a vet visit.
  
  A simple blood test than can usually be done quickly with a small sample called is called a PCV. Packed cell volume, or PCV, tells us what percent of the blood is red blood cells. This can let us know if she is anemic or dehydrated, and what direction of testing to go from there. This is generally a first line test done to confirm or rule out anemia with pale gums. :)
  
  I hope this has been helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

  

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