Pigmentation abnormalities, including increased tongue coloration, can occur in some dogs at any age. Other areas of a dog’s body may also be darkly pigmented, giving the impression of freckles or dark spots.
A black tongue is normal for various dog breeds, but it does not necessarily mean that your dog is suffering from an illness.
Is This Normal?
There are a few dog breeds, including Chow Chows, Chinese Shar-Peis, and others, that have completely black tongues. They have the same cause as spotted tongues, which is an excess of pigmentation.
The presence of pigmented spots on your dog’s tongue is usually harmless. The darker regions on your dog’s tongue are most likely the product of microscopic melanin granules, which appear as flat, pigmented areas, much like freckles or birthmarks could on a human.
A black tongue on a dog that isn’t a Chow Chow, Shar Pei, or other breed is known to have black tongues, which is a symptom of a disease. An obvious sign of illness in a pet is blood-tinged saliva and a putrid odor coming from its mouth.
Which Dog Breeds Have a Black Tongue?
There are only a few dog breeds known to have black tongues, and these breeds do not have any serious health problems. It is simply the genetics of the breed.
Chow Chow
The noble Chow Chow has a distinctive blue-black tongue in addition to its distinctive mane-like ruff of fur that covers its head and shoulders.
Although the American Kennel Club does not require a blue-black tongue to designate a purebred Chow Chow, this characteristic lacks any supporting proof.
Chinese Shar-Pei
According to the American Kennel Club, the Shar-Pei and the Chow Chow are possibly distantly related due to the fact that both breeds require bluish-black pigmentation in the mouth and tongue as part of their breed standard.
Eurasier
The Eurasier is a hybrid of three different breeds: the Wolf Spitz, the Chow Chow, and the Samoyed. It is a medium-sized dog with a triangular muzzle, triangle ears, and a thick double coat. As with its Chow Chow ancestors, the Eurasier has a blue-black tongue.
Thai Ridgeback
Rarely seen outside of Thailand, the Thai Ridgeback is nonetheless instantly recognizable thanks to its distinctive hairline. Like the Chow Chow and the Shar-Pei, they also have a particular feature: their tongues can be speckled or solid blue-black color.
Can You Cure it?
If your dog is one of the breeds that are known for having a black tongue, that’s just part of genetics, and there isn’t anything you can do about it.
However, if you have a breed of dog that is not supposed to have a black tongue, this could indicate a health issue, and you should take them to a vet to be treated. With the right treatment, your dog’s tongue should go back to a healthy pink.
What Makes Their Tongue Black?
No need to worry if you notice some dark spots on your dog’s tongue. The darker regions on your dog’s tongue are most likely the product of microscopic melanin granules.
These manifest as flat, pigmented areas similar to the freckles or birthmarks you and I might have on our skin.
What if it Turns Black All of Sudden?
Take your dog to the vet if his tongue is black and he is a breed that typically has a pink tongue. Inflammation or ulceration of the mouth can lead to a “black tongue,” which manifests as blood-stained dribbling saliva.
The dog’s breath starts to smell bad as well. An absence of niacin can also cause a black tongue. If this illness causing tongue discoloration is not treated quickly, it might be fatal.
Uremia
Tongue discoloration and ulceration are symptoms of uremia. The kidneys are unable to filter urea and other pollutants from the body. Hence this condition typically manifests in the last stages of renal failure.
Urinary tract blockages are a possible cause of insufficient excretion. In this case, surgical procedures are the best option for treatment. Other than a discolored tongue, symptoms also include bad breath with an ammonia flavor.
Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea. Coma and convulsions are potentially possible outcomes in the worst situations.
As a standard treatment, fluid replacement is done. You should feed your dog premium dog food with added water-soluble vitamins for optimal health.
Cyanosis
Cyanosis is another possible reason for a discolored dog tongue. Spots of a different hue may appear on the tongues of mixed-breed dogs. While an increased number of spots may signal an allergic reaction, the appearance of black patches may be a sign of melanoma.
Malignant melanoma is a type of skin cancer. Cyanosis can be indicated by a bluish tongue tint. Cyanosis develops when blood oxygen levels drop too low. Exposure to chemicals, heart disease, and respiratory illnesses are all potential causes.
Some of the signs of heart illness include a bluish tint to the tongue, and monitoring for them is important.
Final Thoughts on Your Dog’s Black Tongue
A black tongue doesn’t necessarily mean that your dog is encountering serious health problems. Some breeds simply have a black tongue through the genetics of the breed.
However, if your dog is supposed to have a pink tongue, then something is wrong, and you need to be a responsible pet owner and take them to a vet to get checked out and treated for whatever it is that is turning their tongues black.