11 Reasons Why Dogs Lips Turning Pink? [Pink Discoloration]

There are different reasons for pink discolouration on a dog’s lips. Some of the reasons include –

1. Vitiligo (pigment-producing cells die or stop functioning)
2. Body Infections
3. Hypoallergenic Dogs (Allergies)
4. Lupus (autoimmune disease)
5. Trauma
6. Porphyrin
7. Lack of light ( Reduced Sun Exposure)
8. Canine Ageing or Getting old
9. Excessive Saliva Secretion or Tear Drops
10. Oral Papillomas

And a few more.

However, it can be caused because of just a seasonal change. Therefore, it is not a cause for concern. It will not affect your canine’s health. On the other hand, the causes I have mentioned above can cause some serious issues and you will need to take your canine to the vet. Let us see the top causes of your dog’s lips turning pink.

Why Are My Dog’s Lips Turning Pink?

Vitiligo

• This is a condition that causes your canine to drop their pigment
• It can happen on the skin or hair(and in patches)
• Along with the canine’s lips turning pink, Vitiligo also causes the dog hair to turn white.
• Melanin is something that colours your canine’s hair and skin. It is produced by some special cells.
• When these cells die, Vitiligo happens, causing your canine to lose pigment from skin and hair.
• It is said that Vitiligo is a hereditary problem.
• There are a few breeds that are more prone to this issue. These beads include Dachshunds,  Retrievers, Shepherds, and Rottweilers.

Porphyrin

• Porphyrin is a natural substance that your canine’s saliva and tears produce.
• It is brown or pink in colour.
• You can easily notice it on the light coat or skin of your dog.
• When your canine has excessive salivation, Porphyrin can cause depigmentation of your canine’s lips.
• To avoid such a thing, you need to find the real cause behind excessive salivation. For instance, it could be due to allergies, mouth cysts, inflamed gums, dental issues, etc.

Infections

• Fungal or bacterial infections are very common causes for your canine’s lips to turn pink.
• The majority of canine breeds are born curious. They always sniff around various objects.
• However, this increases the risk of getting an infection.
• If you find any lesions or swelling clubbed with change in lips colour, then it is better to go to the vet.
• Pyoderma is a skin issue that can result from an infection.
• It affects the area and boundary around the lips.
• Your vet will conduct a few tests to find the bacterial type and provide antibiotics accordingly.

Lupus

• Lupus is just crusting on the nose
• It can be genetic, however, it is an autoimmune issue.
• The canine thinks that a few cells in the body are foreign and try to attack them.
• Lupus causes changes in the skin, developing systemic lupus that affects the canine’s whole body.

Ageing

• Ageing is a natural process that can cause changes in the canine’s lip colour.
• As your canine grows old, his body produces less melanin(Responsible for the pigmentation of hair and skin)
• Eventually, your canine’s lips may turn pale or pink as time passes.
• As ageing is a natural process, you cannot do anything about it.
• Moreover, there is nothing to worry about as it has zero impact on your canine.
• However, it is better to take your canine to the vet to confirm the cause of his lips turning pink.

Oral Papillomas

• These are caused by the Papilloma virus. It causes sores on the dog’s lips and causes them to turn pink.
• Mar Vista Animal Medical centre says that Oral Papillomas usually occur in canines under 2 years of age.
• This is because their immunity is not fully developed to fight with this virus.
• Over time, the sores must go away as the immune system learns to fight against them.
• This virus has no treatment.
• It is asymptomatic and goes away on its own.
• Canines with sores can be contagious. However, you must avoid close contact between your canine with Oral Papilloma and other canines.

Allergies

• There are various allergies that can cause your canine’s lips to turn pink.
• Contact allergies are commonly caused by feeding bowls or plastic toys.
• On the other hand, food allergies are commonly caused by your canine is allergic to some content in normal food.
• Along with the change in lips colours, you may see red skin and swelling.
• Maximum itching will be there and your canine will run around to soothe the itching by rubbing the muzzle against any object or floor.

Trauma

• Canines just love sniffing around
• If they find a new and interesting object around, they will pick it up immediately.
• This can eventually lead to an injury.
• Your canine’s lips can get scratched up by picking up any objects.
• The wounds can cause discolouration of your canine’s lips.

Lack of Light

• This is a non-harmful cause for your canine’s lips turning pink.
• If you see the change in your canine’s lips in winter, it can be due to just a lack of sunlight.
• However, melanin plays an important role in your canine’s skin and hair pigmentation.
• The more it is exposed to the sun, the more melanin your canine’s body needs
• The decrease in melanin can cause your canine’s lips to turn pink due to lack of sunlight.

Do I Need to Take My Dog to the Vet When the Lip Color Changes?

There are various issues in this list that may encourage you to take your canine to the vet. If you find the loss of colour but skin is totally fine, this means there is no serious issue. However, if the pink-coloured lips are accompanied by mild infection or inflammation, then it is better to take care of it with the help of the vet.

If you notice any of these signs in your canine with pink lips, take him to the vet as soon as possible-

• Swollen lymph nodes
• Excessive drooling
• Itchy or reddish muzzle
• Crusty nose
• Foul breath
• Cloudy or red eyes

Is it normal for dogs to have pink around their mouth?

It is a bit common for light-haired dogs to have different colours in the fur around their face or muzzle. This difference is due to the teras and saliva containing Porphyrins. This substance stains the light coloured fur pink, brown, or red.

Why are my dogs’ lips red and raw?

According to the MSD Veterinary Manual, irritants like plant material or plastic can produce inflammation in your canine’s lips. In such cases, infections may develop on the lips. The vet will clean the lips and provide necessary medications. Inflammation inside the mouth or severe hum diseases can produce inflammation of your canine’s lips.

What does stomatitis look like in dogs?

The gums become red and swollen around the tooth boundaries. The canine may have difficulty in eating because of the discomfort in the mouth. Moreover, his gums may bleed and your canine may develop bad breath.

What colour should a dog’s lips be?

The most common lip colours in dogs are black, blue-grey, brown, and dusty. It is believed that the canines with darker lips and noses have enhanced natural protection against the sunlight.

Why is my dog’s mouth stained?

Most canine breeds develop saliva staining due to the excessive licking of a particular area of the body. Pain, boredom, stress, and itchy skin are some common causes of saliva staining in canines. This staining can be pink, red, brown, or orange.

Final words

In conclusion, I would say that your canine’s lips may change colour simply because of the seasons or age. These reasons are quite normal and do not need vet attention. However, other reasons such as allergic reactions, infections, trauma, etc need medical attention as soon as possible.

Therefore it is better to consult the vet in case you feel something is not good about your canine’s pink lips. In fact, you must also consult your vet even if your canine’s lips are tuned pink due to season or ageing. The visit will cross out other possibly harmful causes.

I hope you enjoyed the article. I will be back soon with more interesting and informative pieces of writing. Till then, stay connected. Thank you.