What this means
Yellowing is easiest to see where there is no fur: the gums, the whites of the eyes, the inside of the ears and the skin of the belly. The gums may look pale lemon, mustard or orange. It shows better in daylight than under a lamp, and in dogs with pigmented gums the colour has to be judged from the whites of the eyes. If in doubt, compare with an older photo in which your dog's eyes or gums are visible.
Yellowing is a sign rather than a disease, and quite different causes can lie behind it. Sometimes the problem is in the liver itself, sometimes the bile ducts are blocked or inflamed, and sometimes red blood cells break down faster than the liver can handle them. Telling these apart takes blood tests and an examination, so there is no need to guess at home.
Your vet will find it useful to know when you first noticed the yellow colour, whether the colour of the urine and stools has changed, whether your dog is vomiting, eating or drinking less, and whether it could have swallowed something unsafe such as a poison or an unknown plant. Mention any medicines or products your dog is given. If you can, photograph the gums and eyes so the change over time can be seen.
Possible causes
These are things that can cause this sign. It is not a diagnosis, and they are not equally likely for your dog.
-
Inflammation of the liver
When liver cells are damaged, bile pigment is no longer cleared normally and builds up in the blood. The dog may be dull, eat less or vomit.
-
Problems with the gallbladder or bile ducts
If bile cannot flow freely it backs up into the blood. Belly pain, vomiting and loss of appetite may go with it.
-
A blood vessel that bypasses the liver
A vessel present from birth can send blood around the liver and upset its work. Slow growth or odd behaviour is usually what stands out.
About the condition: Liver shunt (portosystemic shunt) -
The immune system destroying blood cells
When the body attacks its own red blood cells they break down too fast. The dog looks pale and yellow and tires quickly.
-
Poisons and harmful substances
Some toxic substances and plants can damage the liver. It matters to say if your dog could have swallowed something or scavenged outdoors.
About the condition: Poisoning
What else to watch for
These observations help your vet build the picture faster. Note down what you saw and when.
- Where and when you first saw the yellow tint: gums, eyes, ears
- Whether the urine has changed colour, for example dark orange or brown
- Whether the stools have become very pale or grey
- Whether your dog is vomiting or has stopped eating
- Whether it is drinking and urinating more
- Whether it seems limp, pale or tires quickly
When to book a routine visit
Yellow gums or eyes are always a reason to see a vet promptly, not to wait and see whether it passes. Say when you first noticed the colour and what else you have seen.
Related conditions
Conditions whose entries mention this sign. The list is somewhere to read on, not a way to reach a diagnosis.
- Copper-associated hepatitis Digestion and liver This is a liver disease in which too much copper builds up in the liver, and the excess slowly damages liver cells and causes inflammation. It develops slowly and can go a long time without any signs, so by the time they appear the liver may already be badly affected. Over time the damage can disrupt how the liver works.
- Gallbladder mucocele Digestion and liver A gallbladder mucocele is a condition in which thick, mucus-like bile builds up and gradually fills the gallbladder. It can go a long time without any signs, but it can block the flow of bile or cause the gallbladder to burst. A burst gallbladder is life-threatening, so a dog that falls ill suddenly needs a vet immediately.
- Liver shunt (portosystemic shunt) Digestion and liver A liver shunt is an abnormal blood vessel that carries blood from the intestines around the liver instead of through it. As a result, the liver cannot clear the toxic substances coming from the gut, and they enter the general circulation, affecting the brain and the whole body. A shunt can be present from birth or develop later because of other liver disease.
- Autoimmune disorders Blood and immunity This is an umbrella term for conditions in which the immune system, instead of defending the body against germs, starts attacking the dog's own tissues. The skin, blood cells, joints or internal organs can be affected, so these diseases can look very different from one another. What the condition is and what caused it is for the vet to determine.
- Leptospirosis Infections Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that a dog catches from water, damp ground or objects contaminated with the urine of infected animals, especially rodents. The bacteria damage the kidneys and liver, and the illness can quickly become life-threatening, so the dog needs a vet immediately. Leptospirosis also passes to people.
Body systems: Digestion and liver Blood and immunity Infections