Changes in your dog’s appearance can be concerning. When something significant changes, you cannot help but wonder if your precious pet is okay.
Is there something wrong with my dog if its lips turn pink? Is it something you can ignore or does it warrant immediate action and treatment?
Find out all about it and similar topics by continuing with this article.
Dog Lips Turning Pink
A dog’s lips changing color could be related to the seasons or the dog’s age. Trauma, an allergic reaction, or diseases including discoid lupus erythematosus, pemphigus erythematosus, and mucocutaneous pyoderma, and in rare cases, vitiligo, can also cause your dog’s lips to turn pink.
Dog Lips Turning Pink Due to the Seasons
Devoted dog owners notice every little detail about the pets in their care. When something is different, they often catch it quickly.
Recently, you’ve noticed that your dog’s lips have become pink in color.
That kind of thing can happen for different reasons. One potential explanation for that phenomenon is the changing of the seasons.
When a dog doesn’t get plenty of sunshine, its body may react by lowering melanin production. Your dog’s lower melanin levels may manifest in the form of pink lips.
If your dog’s lip color changes during the cooler fall and winter seasons, then the lower melanin production is likely the reason behind it. This isn’t a significant cause for concern.
Unless the change in your dog’s lip color is accompanied by other symptoms, going to the veterinarian is not really necessary.
Still, you can pay them a visit if that puts your mind at ease.
Your dog’s lips should also return to normal after the weather gets warmer.
Aging Can Turn Your Dog’s Lips to Pink
A dog’s lip color may also change due to the natural aging process.
As a dog ages, its body’s rate of melanin production will slow down. Your pet’s previously black lips may gradually become lighter and pinker as the months and years go by.
There is nothing you can do about the aging-induced loss of pigmentation that your dog is experiencing. The loss of pigmentation itself is also not that worrisome since it has no physical impact on your dog.
However, you should confirm that your dog’s lip color is changing solely due to aging.
Take them to a veterinarian to confirm that it is not related to any other condition that could be potentially troublesome.
Trauma Can Change the Color of a Dog’s Lips to Pink
Dogs like to sniff around. Upon spotting something interesting, a dog may instinctively put that unknown object in its mouth.
The problem with that habit is it can lead to injury pretty easily.
Your dog’s lips may get scratched up from picking up that unknown object. The wounds they sustain from that incident could cause discoloration.
Taking your dog to the veterinarian is highly recommended if its lips are injured.
Wounds on the lips can open the door to infections and you don’t want anything to do with them.
Allergies Can Change Your Dog’s Lip Color to Pink
Next up, we need to talk about the impact that allergies can have on your dog’s appearance. To be more specific, we’ll discuss why your dog’s lip color may change due to an allergic reaction.
The appearance of your dog’s lips may change following an allergic reaction. They may start to swell up.
Your pet may also bite or scratch its lips so much that it may become irritated. Some wounds may also appear on your pet’s lips.
Don’t underestimate the impact that allergic reactions may have on your dog. Properly address the issue by bringing your dog to the vet ASAP.
Diseases that Cause Your Dog’s Lips to Become Pink
If you’ve ruled out the aforementioned explanations for your dog’s new lip color, then its underlying cause could be more concerning. Your dog may be dealing with some kind of disease.
Discoid lupus erythematosus is one specific type of autoimmune disease that can trigger a change in lip color.
The aforementioned disease can cause scabs to form on your pet’s lips. Once those scabs fall off, they may expose pinker skin.
Other diseases that could explain the change in your dog’s lip color include pemphigus erythematosus and mucocutaneous pyoderma.
Fungal and bacterial infections may also cause a loss of pigmentation.
The change in your dog’s lip color may be the least of your concerns in this scenario.
Your veterinarian will have to examine your pet carefully to determine what type of treatment it will need.
Vitiligo Can Change Your Dog’s Lip Color to Pink
Vitiligo is a condition characterized by the emergence of white skin patches and other forms of depigmentation. It can affect different parts of a dog’s body, including its lips.
According to PetMD, vitiligo is almost always due to genetics.
Although vitiligo may seem troubling at first, you should know that it causes your pet no discomfort whatsoever. Your pet should remain unchanged beyond its appearance.
Treatment is not available for vitiligo so this condition is something that will affect your dog permanently.
Frequently Asked Questions about Why Are My Dog’s Lips Turning Pink
Can Excessive Saliva Production Affect a Dog’s Lip Color?
Dogs that produce too much saliva may have the color of their lips change over time. Get that checked out quickly because the excess saliva production could be rooted in a dental issue.
Why Is My Dog’s Nose Turning Pink?
Your dog’s nose may also change color over time. Its color may change due to aging, the seasons, trauma, allergies, and different types of diseases.
Conclusion on Dog Lips Turning Pink
Your dog’s lips may change color because of the seasons, their age, trauma, an allergic reaction, or diseases including discoid lupus erythematosus, pemphigus erythematosus, and mucocutaneous pyoderma. The onset of vitiligo could also explain the discoloration. Consult with your veterinarian and discuss how you can best tackle the issue of your dog’s lips changing color.