Dog’s Tongue Turned Dark Red Color – Top 3 Reasons Why

Here are a few common reasons why a dog’s tongue might turn dark red in color.

1. Sign of overheating and dehydration

A dog’s tongue can turn from pink to dark red if he or she is suffering from overheating. Other common symptoms of overheating that may accompany a dark red tongue are rapid panting and extreme salivation. This could be the reason if your dog overexerted himself from playing too much in the hot summer weather. Take your dog to a cooler area and make sure he has plenty of cool water to drink.

2. Sign of carbon monoxide poisoning

Cherry red or dark red is a color that’s closely associated with carbon monoxide poisoning. The sudden appearance of a dark red tongue may indicate the dog is suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning. In addition to the dark red tongue, dogs affected by carbon monoxide poisoning may also display symptoms like lethargy, seizures, and depression. There are a number of ways dogs could get poisoned. The dog, for example, might have been left in a poorly-ventilated area with a source of carbon monoxide.

3. Sign of an infection

The color of the dog’s tongue and gum provides a good indication of a dog’s health. Dark red tongue could also be an indication of various health disorders like bacterial infections, kidney disease, and hyperthyroidism. Make sure to have your dog seen by the vet if the dog’s tongue continues to remain a dark red color.