What this means
Healthy gums are pale pink and should not bleed, even when a dog gnaws a bone or toy. Blood on a toy, in the water bowl or in the saliva is a reason to look into the mouth more closely rather than wait for it to pass.
Note where the blood is coming from: around one tooth, along the gum line, or across the whole mouth. Bleeding next to a single tooth can point to a local problem, while bleeding in several places, or together with bleeding elsewhere, makes a wider cause more likely.
Pay attention to other signs too: unpleasant breath, deposits on the teeth, reluctance to chew, or bruises on the skin. A dog can hide mouth pain, so write down how its appetite and chewing habits are changing.
Possible causes
These are things that can cause this sign. It is not a diagnosis, and they are not equally likely for your dog.
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Gum inflammation
Deposits on the teeth irritate the gum edge, which turns red, swells and bleeds easily. Unpleasant breath can go with it.
About the condition: Dental and gum disease -
Tooth and gum disease
Advanced dental disease can damage the tissue that holds the tooth and cause bleeding. The dog may chew on one side or avoid harder food.
About the condition: Dental and gum disease -
An injury in the mouth
A sharp bone splinter, a stick or a lodged object can cut the gum. The bleeding is usually tied to a single spot.
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A blood clotting disorder
An inherited or acquired clotting problem can let blood seep from the gums for no clear reason. Bruising or blood in the urine may appear at the same time.
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A platelet function problem
When the blood platelets do not work as they should, even slight gum irritation can bleed for longer than usual.
About the condition: Thrombocytopathy
What else to watch for
These observations help your vet build the picture faster. Note down what you saw and when.
- Where the bleeding comes from, and whether only after chewing
- Whether the breath has changed
- Whether the teeth show deposits or hard tartar
- Whether your dog avoids chewing or gnawing
- Whether there are bruises or red dots on the skin
- Whether blood has also been seen in urine or stool
When to book a routine visit
Book a visit if the gums bleed repeatedly, or if there is also strong breath or your dog will not chew. If the bleeding is heavy, will not stop, or comes with other signs of bleeding, go straight away.
Related conditions
Conditions whose entries mention this sign. The list is somewhere to read on, not a way to reach a diagnosis.
- Dental and gum disease Digestion and liver Dental and gum disease starts with plaque that hardens over time into tartar, and the bacteria multiplying beneath it cause inflammation of the gums. Left alone, the inflammation can damage the tissues and bone that hold the tooth in place, so teeth loosen and fall out. A sore mouth troubles a dog every day, and infection in the mouth can affect other organs too.
- Von Willebrand disease Blood and immunity Von Willebrand disease is an inherited bleeding disorder in which the body lacks a protein that helps platelets stick together and plug a damaged blood vessel, or the protein doesn't work properly. As a result even a small wound can bleed for longer than normal, and the disease varies in severity, sometimes only coming to light after an injury or a procedure. Genetic tests exist for some forms.
- Thrombocytopathy Blood and immunity Thrombocytopathy is a blood clotting disorder in which the blood has enough platelets but they do not work as they should, so bleeding is slow to stop. It can be inherited or arise from another illness or certain drugs. In such a dog even a small wound or a veterinary procedure can lead to prolonged bleeding, so it is worth telling the vet about it beforehand.
Body systems: Digestion and liver Blood and immunity