Why do dogs lips turn pink? Tips and Tricks

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 isn’t able to go outside often, its lips will turn pink as it lowers melatonin production in its body

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.

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.

Vitiligo, like in humans, can also affect dogs and can cause their lips to turn to pink

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.

Causes Of Dogs’ Lips Turning Pink

Lips depigmentation in dogs is usually a slow and steady process that doesn’t harm your dog.

However, if you notice that the discolored area looks inflamed, wounded, swollen, or is associated with other symptoms, it could be a sign of a more serious issue.

Some of the causes of dogs’ lips turning pink include:

Porphyrin: This is a natural substance that is produced by your dog’s tears and saliva. It appears in pink/brown color and is particularly noticeable on light skin/coat. When your dog has excessive salivation, this substance could cause the depigmentation of the lips. In order to reverse the process, you should find the cause behind the salivation, which is usually related to dental problems, inflamed gums, allergy, or mouth cysts;

Allergies: Contact dermatitis or allergies are among the most common causes of skin depigmentation in dogs. In this case, the affected area will not only look pink, but also inflamed, crusty, swollen, or a combination of the three. If it appears suddenly, it may be due to changes in their diet, something your dog picked up outside, or the detergents you use to clean their items;

Trauma: Sometimes your dog may get wounded or scratch their lips while playing and the affected area may look discolored. In this case, it’s important to take care of the wound so it doesn’t get infected. Once the wound has healed, the original pigmentation usually comes back on its own;

Infection: Dogs explore the world with their mouth and nose and not everything that they find is healthy for them. In fact, if your dog picks up random things during your walks or while in the yard, they may develop bad infections in different parts of the body, on top of risking serious health conditions that could even be deadly. Infections tend to cause swelling and they will spread if left untreated, so head to the vet right away;

Cancer: Unfortunately, this disease starts from one point and spreads throughout the body the longer it’s left undiagnosed. Sometimes, pet parents do not realize their dogs have cancer until the symptoms become clearly evident, for example through discoloration of the nose and mouth. In this case, the depigmentation is not limited to the lips and usually affects other parts of the body as well.

Dog Lips, The Flew

If your dog’s dark lips suddenly begin turning pink, you may start to worry. There are many potential causes of pink lips in dogs. In most cases, it’s simply a loss of pigment, and not something to be concerned about. However, it can indicate a more serious condition.