Tongues are a great indicator of what is going in the body. It is important to know what your dogs tongue looks like when he or she is healthy as a reference. So know your dogs normal tongue color and use that as a reference. Some dogs tend to run pinker or redder normally. Some dogs have black or purplish spots on their tongues which is fine as long as they are not raised or have just appeared.
Most important if your dog’s tongue and gums are grey or white or blue that can indicate shock or other life threatening issues and is a medical emergency so call your vet asap..Or if your pup is getting dangerously hot their tongue can turn bright red and look dry odds are they will be panting profusely so you will notice that. Again this can be a medical emergency so get him or her into a cooler environment and call your vet .
Any sudden changes is the tongue shape or color is some thing to take note of and possibly talk to your vet about.
Your Dog’s Tongue as a Measure of Health from a TCM Perspective.
from Dr Becker
Tongue colors of pale or white, deep red, blue or purple, and yellow orange can be assessed according to TCM principles:
- A pale or white tongue may be a sign of a weakened body condition. This tongue color is seen in animals with anemia, leukemia, blood pressure problems, loss of blood, edema (fluid retention), generalized weakness, gastric system malfunction/GI issues, lung weakness, malnutrition, and lethargy.
- A deep red tongue may indicate hyperactivity of one of the organ systems of the body and may involve a bacterial or viral infection, fever, gall bladder or kidney stagnation, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, cancer, or an accumulation of toxins somewhere in the body.
- A bluish or purple-tinged tongue can suggest pain or congestion somewhere in the body and may point to a problem with the vascular system, heart disease, circulatory problems, respiratory problems, liver disease, toxicosis, organ stress, hepatitis, or autoimmune issues.
- A yellow-orange tongue may indicate gastritis and gall bladder or liver malfunction.
TCM practitioners also evaluate any coating on the tongue. For example, if the coating is thick or pasty, it’s frequently a sign of imbalance in the digestive system, which is the largest immunologic system in your dog’s body. This often occurs when there is a yeast overgrowth in the body, and is commonly seen in pets fed grain-based diets that lack the bioavailable nutrients and enzymes required for healthy GI function.
TCM practitioners also do sort of a “regional analysis” of the tongue. Different areas of the tongue can point to problems with various organ systems within the body.
All that to say, if you notice that your pet’s tongue is changing shape, color, or texture, or if you notice a new bump or lump, it’s worth discussing your concerns with a holistic veterinarian.
For more about your dogs tongue health click here
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/08/26/dog-tongue.aspx
This is a human based tongue analysis but it will give you everything you ever wanted to know about tongues. http://www.sacredlotus.com/diagnosis/tongue/
