What color should a dog's gums be?

When you remove your finger, the gums should briefly be white but should return to their pink color within two seconds. The appearance of the gums is very informative. If the gums are blue, the dog lacks oxygen. If they are white, the dog has lost blood, either internally or externally. read more

Take a look at your dog's gums now, at this very moment. If your dog is healthy, you can use this as a baseline assessment of normal gum color. Lift the upper lip to observe the color of the gums just above the upper canine teeth. read more

Look at your dog’s gums while she is at rest. Lift your dog’s upper lip and look at the color of the gums above an upper canine tooth — the gums should be pink. Do a capillary refill test by pressing on the gums with your finger. read more

Gums can be an often-overlooked part of a dog’s mouth, but they’re just as important to keep clean and healthy as your dog’s teeth. Below, learn more about what color your dog’s gums should be, gum problem to look out for and how to help your dog maintain his or her healthy gums. read more