My dog has red gums, chews his bed, and seems too skinny. Is he okay?

Sorry to hear Otis isn't as playful lately. His gum color actually looks ok to me, though its always a little tricky via photo. However, based on what you are describing, combined with your picture, I'm not concerned. If you said he was noticeably lethargic, then I would be concerned and recommend that you go see your vet. He does not have significant gingivitis, and I do not suspect that has anything to do with him being less playful. If he is overall perky and happy, and is raring to go on a walk if you ask him, or is running right to you at the door as he usually does, I would't worry much about it. However, if he is acting dumpy in any way (other than just being less interested in playing), take him to your vet. They can do a thorough physical exam and may recommend blood work or X-rays depending on what they find. I hope that's helpful for you. Thank you for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

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!

Hi, thanks fir using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Rascal is super cute! I'm glad you posed the pictures. To me his gums look pink and not pale. It's hard to see the scabs you mentioned in between his toes. But if he known to have allergies he may have an infection from yeast or bacterial overgrowth. You can try to use a medicated shampoo and wash his feet and let the lather stay in contact with his toes for 10 mins 2-3 times per week. If the appetite stays decreased longer than normal for him then I would have your Vet check him out, he does appear thin! Good luck!

Hello, my name is Dr. Elizabeth and I am happy to help. Thank you for the photo, it is helpful. I agree with you and am also concerned Shilo has dental disease (and potentially periodontal disease). I can't know for sure the full extent until the plaque is removed but it looks like there is some gingival recession affecting both of the smaller teeth behind her upper canine tooth. It also looks like there is a far amount of plaque or potentially infection around the base of those teeth. Depending on severity, there may be a pocket of infection under the gum line. Plus exposure of the tooth roots can be uncomfortable and this could make Shilo not eat well. Here is a link about Periodontal Disease: https://www.petcoach.co/article/periodontal-disease/ Here is a link with general information about pet dental care: https://www.petcoach.co/article/periodontal-disease/ I recommend to make an appointment this week with Shilo's veterinarian for an exam. They can give her a thorough exam and then discuss with you appropriate therapy. If they find that those teeth are in bad shape, they will most likely recommend to remove them. This is the best course of action long term and Shilo will still be able to eat, chew and play normally after they are healed. I hope this helps and that things get figured out quickly!

Hi. The pale gums and weight loss are very serious signs! I don't know the age, or sex, or history, so it's a bit hard to review the most likely possibilities. But with pale gums and weight loss, 8d be concerned about internal bleeding, cancer, immune mediated disease, parasites, k8dney disease, and many more. An exam, lab work, and x-rays will be needed to get down to the the potential cause. I would recommend getting him seen right away.

He's such a handsome fella. I can understand your concern when it seems something is awry with your pet. Based on the photo's he seems to be an appropriate body condition score. However, you can get him on a scale and quantify his weight right now compared to what it used to be. If he did go off his food while you were gone it was likely due to missing you being there. He should go back to his normal feeding schedule now that you are back. Just continue to monitor his stools, making sure they are solid and also monitor him for any vomiting. If you do see these symptoms, then its best to have your vet do a thorough exam and check for intestinal parasites, as this is a common cause for loose stool in pets. However, I suspect he will go back to his normal looking self soon. Best wishes and take care.

He actually doesn't appear to be underweight based on the pictures shown. I'd have to examine him to be sure, but the biggest indication that he is not underweight is the fact that he appears to have well-developed muscles. Dogs of this breed tend to be naturally lean and put more weight on their muscles rather than their ribs, or belly. If I was concerned that he was underweight, then I would first want to rule-out a disease, or parasite causing him to lose or not gain weight. It's best to have a veterinarian evaluate him, so you can ensure he's healthy and ensure that you are not going to feed him unnecessarily. Dog obesity is a big problem in the U.S., which means that the average person thinks a fat dog is at ideal weight; and a dog with an ideal body condition, or a lean body condition is thought to be starving. The truth is that the lean dogs are statistically healthier and live longer than overweight dogs. Some dogs (much like people) are able to naturally maintain a lean body condition. Leo is one of those dogs, but would urge you to have a veterinarian examine him to make that call. Below is a link to a body condition scoring guide. This is what veterinarians use when assessing whether a dog is overweight or underweight. We prefer them to be at a BCS of 4 or 5, but some are naturally at a 3. https://www.wsava.org/sites/default/files/Body%20condition%20score%20chart%20dogs.pdf At this time, I recommend feeding him normally and would not recommend a diet change until he can be evaluated by a veterinarian. I hope that helps and all is well with Leo.