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What's the cause of a dog's white tongue?
A dog's white tongue may be due to causes such as anemia, poisoning, malnutrition, heart disease, and parasite infections. As there are many reasons for a dog's white tongue, it is recommended to take the dog to a pet hospital for inspection to determine the specific cause before symptomatic treatment. Meanwhile, owners should pay more attention to their dog's physical condition in daily life, ensure balanced nutrition, and consult a pet doctor or go to a pet hospital promptly if any abnormalities are detected.
- Anemia
Most cases of a dog's white tongue are caused by anemia, often occurring in dogs with poor physical constitutions. In this situation, the dog should be taken to a professional pet hospital for a blood test and other inspections to find the cause and determine the type of anemia, then receive symptomatic blood supplementation treatment.
- Poisoning
If the dog shows symptoms such as depression, vomiting, or even seizures in addition to a white tongue, it could be due to poisoning. If these symptoms are detected, immediate veterinary treatment is necessary, as the dog's life may be at risk.
- Malnutrition
If a dog's diet is monotonous, it may lead to malnutrition, causing a white tongue, fatigue, and weight loss. To address this, switch to dog food with richer nutrients, feed the dog high-protein meat to supplement nutrients, and the dog's condition should improve quickly.
- Heart disease
If a dog has heart problems, insufficient blood supply can cause a white tongue. It may also be accompanied by rapid breathing and respiratory distress. In this case, the dog should be taken to a pet hospital for oxygen therapy.
- Parasite infection
If a dog owner has not given the dog regular deworming treatments, the dog may become infected with internal parasites such as tapeworms and roundworms. These parasites steal nutrients from the dog, causing anemia and a white tongue. Therefore, owners should regularly administer deworming treatments for both internal and external parasites.