It can be shocking when you notice something unusual about your dog for the first time…
You start to feel worried, and the uncertainty can begin causing you stress and anxiety…
It’s only natural to feel this way… After all, your dog is your fur baby, and you want to do everything you can to keep him (or her) happy and healthy…
Well, you’re probably here right now because you noticed a pink spot on your dog’s lip…
And you’re probably wondering what caused that pink spot to form in the first place, and if your dog’s health is in any danger…
In this post, we’re going to answer those types of questions, and we’ll be doing it, by covering the following information…
- Dog Skin Pigmentation Disorders
- Other Reasons Why Dogs’ Lips Start Turning Pink From Black
- There’s A Pink Spot On My Dog’s Lip – What Do I Do?
In the end, you’ll know of many potential reasons why there’s a pink spot on your dog’s lip, and you’ll know what steps you should take after discovering it…
Let’s begin by going over some of the common skin pigmentation disorders found in dogs…
Dog Skin Pigmentation Disorders…
There are many reasons why dogs develop pink spots on their lips, however, in this section, we’ll be focussing on some of the common skin pigmentation disorders found in dogs…
Dog skin pigmentation disorders are actually more common than you might think, and some of the common disorders include:
- Vitiligo—Vitiligo is a skin condition that causes the skin to lose it’s natural pigment. Aside from dogs, there are also humans that have this condition. It has no treatment and will not cause your dog discomfort.
- Lentigo—This condition causes black spots to appear on different parts of your dog’s body, including their mouths. Treatment is not needed as this condition does not cause any pain or discomfort.
- Impetigo—This disorder causes rashes or blisters to form because of bacteria on your dog’s skin, and treatment is required to manage the condition. If you suspect that your dog might have Impetigo, you should consult with a vet as soon as possible…
Other Reasons Why Dogs’ Lips Start Turning Pink From Black…
Aside from skin pigmentation disorders, there are many other reasons why dogs develop pink spots on their lips…
Some of these reasons are harmless but keep in mind that some of them could be cause for concern…
This is especially true if you notice inflammation, swelling, or any other unusual symptoms around the pink area on your dog’s lip…
And if you suspect that your dog’s health is at risk due to the change in color to his or her lips, you should contact a veterinarian immediately for guidance…
Loss Of Pigmentation Due To Aging…
One of the potential reasons why your dog has a pink spot on his or her lip is because dogs slowly lose pigmentation as they age…
You see, unless your dog is completely white all over, pigment changes are a pretty normal occurrence for dogs…
Sometimes dogs lose color in their skin, and sometimes they gain color and their skin becomes darker…
For example, puppies will often have pink lips because they haven’t been able to develop their pigmentation yet…
On the other hand, older dogs might develop pink spots on their lips as they age and slowly start to lose some of their pigmentation…
Changes In Pigmentation Due To Seasons…
Another potential reason why your dog’s lips might be turning pink is the changing of the seasons…
For us humans, our skin tends to get darker during the warmer months and lighter during the cooler months…
The funny thing is that dogs go through their own changes in pigmentation during the winter and summer as well…
During the cooler months, dogs’ noses and lips might temporarily get lighter and then darken during the warmer months.
Dental Problems…
Dental problems are a common reason for causing pink spots on dogs’ lips…
When the gums are inflamed and swollen due to dental problems, dogs tend to salivate excessively…
Porphyrin, a natural chemical compound that is found in the tears and saliva of dogs, tends to discolor the lips when dogs salivate too much…
If you see that your dog’s gums are inflamed and swollen, you need to contact a vet immediately…
If necessary, a vet can perform an examination and come up with a treatment plan to resolve your dog’s dental problems…
Once the dental problems are resolved, the pigment of your dog’s lips will probably return to normal.
Allergies…
Along with dental problems, allergies are another common cause of skin discoloration in dogs…
In addition to the discoloration, you’ll probably notice that the area will be inflamed, crusty, swollen, or a combination of the three. Your dog’s eyes may even be caked with mucus or watering…
Now, allergies can happen for a variety of reasons, such as a change in your dog’s diet, contact with something from outside, or the use of certain cleaners and detergents…
And when it comes to allergies, it’s best to figure out what your dog is allergic to and remove the allergens from the environment…
Most of the time, removing allergens can be done via a process of elimination…
But if you have removed all known allergens and still notice that your dog is suffering from allergies, you should probably ask the vet about an allergy test to discover any hidden allergies…
If allergies are the cause of your dog’s lip discoloration, once you’ve eliminated the problematic allergen from your dog’s environment, the discoloration of your dog’s lips will probably go away.
Wounds…
Wounds are another potential reason why your dog’s lips have developed pink spots…
Dogs do a lot of playing and exploring with their mouths, and sometimes while playing and exploring, dogs can get scratched, cut, or otherwise wounded…
If you notice a wound on your dog’s mouth along with the discoloration, you should treat the wound straight away to avoid infection…
Before you apply any treatment, you should examine your dog’s wound to see if it’s bad enough to require stitches…
If stitches are not required, you can treat your dog’s wound with an oral antiseptic solution, and apply the solution daily until the wound heals…
When the wound heals, your dog’s lips will probably return to their normal color.
Infections…
Mouth infections can also cause your dog’s lips to become discolored. Common signs of a mouth infection in dogs include:
- Difficulty eating
- Bloody saliva
- Red and Swollen lips and gums
- Excessive drooling
- Bad breath
- Bleeding gums
- Sores in the mouth or on the gums
If you suspect that your dog has a mouth infection, you need to contact a vet to properly diagnose the issue…
If the vet determines that your dog does have an infection, he or she will put your dog on an antibiotic regimen to clear it up…
And once again, when the infection clears up, the pigment of your dog’s lips will probably return to normal.
Cancer…
Cancer is a very sad topic and not something any of us want to think about; however, cancer can be responsible for a loss of pigment on a dog’s nose and lips…
Now if your dog does have cancer, a loss of pigment is not going to be the only symptom that is present…
Cancer usually starts elsewhere in a dog’s body, unless your dog is suffering from cancer of the mouth itself, and some of the things you can look out for include…
- Lumps on your dog’s skin
- Abnormal odors
- Sudden weight loss
- A dramatic change in appetite
- Discharge from the dog’s ears, eyes, nose, mouth or rectum
- Swelling of the stomach
- Changes in energy level
If you think that your dog may have cancer (it goes without saying) that you should contact a vet immediately…
Cancer can be treated and even cured if caught early enough. So, don’t delay if you think it may be the cause of your dog’s lip discoloration.
There’s A Pink Spot On My Dog’s Lip – What Do I Do?
If you’ve noticed a pink spot on your dog’s lip, the first thing you should do is examine your dog’s mouth very carefully…
Look to see if your dog’s lips are inflamed or swollen. Also, look for any raised spots or wounds to your dog’s mouth…
If everything looks normal aside from the change in coloration, there’s probably not much need for concern…
However, if you notice any inflammation, swelling, bleeding, or any other unusual symptoms, you should contact a vet for guidance…
Final Thoughts…
As you can see, if you notice some pink spots on your dog’s lips, there’s no need to start panicking right away…
In fact, most causes of discoloration on your dog’s lips are not life-threatening…
That being said, if you’re ever in doubt as to what is causing your dog’s skin color to change or if you suspect a serious problem is present, never hesitate to contact your vet.
After all, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.