Our pets spend all their lives making us happy. However, they are unfortunately fragile beings susceptible to various diseases. Fortunately, almost every disease will exhibit symptoms that you can notice quite easily and react to. It is a fast reaction that can save the life of your pet and prevent any prolonged suffering. To that end, it is essential that we regularly inspect our pets and their behavior since this can help them go through any illness much faster and with fewer consequences.
For example, a frequent symptom of an illness is pale gums in your dog. In order to find out what this tells you about your furry friend, make sure you scroll down this list!
Anemia
Pale gums in your dog can be indicative of anemia. Anemia is a health condition where your dog lacks enough healthy red blood cells that will distribute oxygen through the body. You should know that your dogs gums are white, but as there is a low amount of red blood cells, they are likely to lose their usual color and become rather pale. In case you are not still sure whether anemia is the cause of this occurrence, you should look for some other symptoms of this condition. For instance, the symptoms besides pale gums in your dog are also extreme exhaustion, the loss of appetite, and the loss of energy in general. If you are not able to note all these in your dog, then there may be another health condition that your dog suffers from.
Because of this, it’s essential to get your dog correctly diagnosed to receive appropriate treatment. If you notice significant symptoms of anemia, take your pet to the veterinarian as quickly as possible. They’ll examine your dog thoroughly and run some laboratory tests to know if their organs are working properly.
Once they’re diagnosed your pet with anemia, necessary treatment administration will follow. For example, suppose the anemia is due to an autoimmune disease. In that case, your veterinarian may treat your dog with immunosuppressive drugs to allow the regeneration of red blood cells inside their body. Make sure to follow your vet’s medical recommendations to treat anemia in your dog.
Kidney Disease
Pale gums can also point to some other conditions such as kidney disease. During this serious condition, kidneys lose their potency to create and secret certain substances such as erythropoietin (EPO). EPO is necessary for the normal functioning of your dog’s body. Likewise, as there is a lowered production of these substances, the production of some other substances is also lowered. All this will ultimately result in pale gums which is one of the symptoms of this disease.
Naturally, pale gums are not the only indicator of kidney disease. Therefore, if this symptom is combined with dehydration, lethargic behavior, and/ or vomiting, then you can be quite sure it is this health condition that your dog suffers from. Of course, be aware that pale gums are a reason enough to take your dog to a vet. This means that you do not have to wait and look for other symptoms in your dog, for this can prolong the suffering of your pet. Instead, make sure you react rapidly and timely to prevent any further disease proliferation.
Heart Disease
If together with pale gums, you can notice symptoms such as a fluid-filled abdomen, rapid breathing, lethargy, reduced appetite, a weak pulse, and similar, then you should take your dog to the vet since there is a danger your dog is suffering from heart disease. The reason behind the pale gums is that due to the reduced heart pumping, less blood reaches the gums which, in turn, results in paleness.
For this reason, allow your dog to be examined by an experienced veterinarian. They’ll conduct the necessary laboratory tests to identify the specific type of heart disease. This way, they can prescribe the proper medications for your pet. For example, one of the common medications for heart issues is diuretics. These are used to remove the fluids that build up in dogs with cardiovascular disease.
Parasites and worms
It is known that animals are highly susceptible to parasites and worms. In this sense, the pale gums in your dog can actually be caused by the parasites in your pet. There are external and internal parasites. The external ones such as lice and fleas suck the blood out of your pet and lead to a reduction of red blood cells.
Not only that, but they will also steal much of the vital nutrients from your pet if the infestation is large enough. The good thing is that you can easily notice if there are any of them if your dog is itchy and scratches a lot. In this case, make sure you first consult a professional. Afterward, you can reach for some anti-lice shampoos. Importantly, ensure that you read the instructions and apply the shampoo properly and adequately.
But aside from pet shampoos, you can also use other treatments to treat pale gums caused by parasites and worms. For example, if your dog suffers from flea infestation, you can try treatments offered by certain companies to kill the parasites. These providers have veterinarians who formulate their treatment plan based on your dog’s circumstances, such as their size and medical conditions.
However, if your pet’s condition is more serious, it’s best to take them to the vet for immediate medical attention. In case you visit a veterinarian, make sure you inform him/her of the following important bits of information related to your dog:
- First observation of the pale gums
- What the gums looked and felt like
- Other symptoms or changes in behavior
- History of trauma
- Consuming anything with heavy metals (e.g., pennies)
- History of previous visits to a vet
Dogs are indeed man’s best friend and they certainly deserve the best treatment and care we can provide them with. To that end, if you have noticed any symptoms with your dog, make sure you react to them as fast as possible by consulting a veterinarian or other professional!
