The color chart
Healthy gums are moist and bubblegum pink. Many dogs also have dark pigment on their gums; check a pink area, or the inside of the lower eyelid, instead.
| Color | What it can mean | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Bubblegum pink, moist | Normal | Nothing. This is the goal. |
| Black or spotted | Normal pigment in many dogs | Nothing, if it has always been there. Check the pink areas instead. |
| Pale pink or white | Blood loss, anemia, shock or poor circulation | Go to a vet now if it is sudden or comes with weakness. Otherwise call today. |
| Blue, purple or grey | Not enough oxygen: a breathing, airway or heart problem, or choking | Emergency. Go now. |
| Bright or brick red | Overheating, a toxin or a serious infection. Redness only along the gumline is often gum disease. | Go now if your dog is hot, panting hard or weak. Gumline redness: book a dental check. |
| Yellow | Jaundice from a liver problem or red blood cell breakdown | Call a vet today. |
| Small red spots or bruises | A bleeding or clotting problem | Call a vet today. Go now if your dog seems unwell or could have eaten rat poison. |
How to check your dog's gums
- In good light, lift the upper lip at the side of the mouth.
- Look at a pink area, not a pigmented one.
- Press a fingertip on the gum until it turns pale, then let go. The pink should return in about two seconds. Slower than that can mean poor circulation.
- Feel the gum: it should be moist, not dry or sticky.
When to go to a vet now
- Pale, white, blue, purple or grey gums.
- Gums that take longer than about two seconds to turn pink again after pressing.
- Bright red gums with heavy panting on a hot day or after exercise.
- Small red spots on the gums or bleeding gums, especially if your dog could have reached rat poison.
- Any gum change together with collapse, weakness, a swollen belly or fast breathing.
How Miyu helps with mouth checks
Photograph your dog's mouth with the lip lifted and Miyu reads the visible gum color, then gives one of four care levels: watch, keep an eye, see a vet today, or see a vet now.
Miyu never says all clear. A photo cannot rule everything out, and the list of red flags above is always free in the app.
Frequently asked questions
What color should a dog's gums be?
Moist and bubblegum pink, turning pink again within about two seconds after you press on them. Dark pigment is normal in many dogs.
Are black gums normal in dogs?
Yes, if they have always been that way. Many breeds have pigmented gums. A new dark spot, a lump, or a change in texture is worth showing your vet.
What do pale gums in a dog mean?
Pale or white gums can mean blood loss, anemia or shock. Sudden pale gums, or pale gums with weakness, are an emergency.
Can an app check my dog's gums?
Miyu can read the visible color in a photo and suggest a care level, but it is not a veterinarian and does not diagnose. If the gums look pale, blue or grey, go to a vet now.
Sources
General guidance consistent with these veterinary sources. They did not review this page.
- Dog Gum Color Guide: What's Normal? · PetMD
- Pet Gum Health: What the Color of Your Pet's Gums Could Mean · DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital
- Emergency Care for Your Pet · ASPCA
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. Miyu is not a veterinarian and does not diagnose. If your pet seems unwell or you are worried, contact your vet.
