Dogs bleed from their mouths if they’re injured, have poor dental hygiene, or are suffering from an illness like gingivitis.
A host of factors including infections, bad diet, and/or underlying health conditions can cause their mouths to bleed.
If you wake up one day to find your dog bleeding from its mouth, you’d get sick with worry. But like us, dogs too get afflicted by health issues. So, I’ve amassed all these years of my dog parenting knowledge to give you the details on the matter and help you with your dog’s bleeding mouth.
If you’ve ever asked yourself “Why is my dog bleeding from the mouth?” then here’s the answer.
Due to a host of reasons, some of which can even be natural causes that escape your attention. For example, it is common to find your puppy bleeding from its mouth every once in a while when it’s growing up. When your pup is in its teething stage, the baby teeth start falling off and that causes temporary bleeding from the gums.
But not all reasons behind a bleeding mouth are as tame as milk teeth falling out. This is especially true if your dog continues to bleed from its mouth for a day or more.
The most worrisome causes behind a dog’s bleeding mouth include:
Dogs are curious creatures by nature and it’s not unusual for them to be up to some mischief behind your back. And sometimes, a bleeding mouth can result from their antics, resulting in tongue lacerations or nicks to the gums. Perhaps your dog has chewed on a sharp object or bitten its frisbee too hard.
Sometimes, oral trauma could cause their mouths to bleed too. By that, I mean a sudden fall, high-impact injury, or an unsavory encounter with another dog.
All of these reasons can cause your dog’s mouth to bleed, but in such cases, you need not worry about any hidden causes.
Poor dental hygiene that leads to plaque buildup can cause Canine Ulcerative Paradental Stomatitis (CUPS) in dogs. In layman’s terms, your dog will get painful mouth ulcers that eventually split open, and cause bleeding. Although a genetic predisposition in some breeds like the Labrador Retriever, and German Shepherd, CUPS can be avoided with proper care.
And it should be too, CUPS is a rather painful condition to endure.
Formulated with all the good stuff, including aloe barbadensis leaf and camomile extract, coconut oil essence and baking soda, these dental finger wipes are perfect for keeping your pet’s gums and teeth fresh and healthy.
Formulated with all the good stuff, including aloe barbadensis leaf and camomile extract, coconut oil essence and baking soda, these dental finger wipes are perfect for keeping your pet’s gums and teeth fresh and healthy.
They are easy to use . Really like them ! Trouble doesn’t refuse brushing his teeth through these wipes.
I just need one finger to reach to the back of her gum and teeth, cleans faster so my dog won’t feel uncomfortable.
Making clean teeth easy! It’s a big job to clean my dog’s teeth. HICC PET finger wipes make it easy!
Also Read: 30 Common Dog Health Problems and Solutions
Perhaps one of the most common and well-known (not sure if that word works well here) periodontal diseases in dogs, Gingivitis is a leading cause of bleeding from the mouth. An inflammation caused by plaque and tartar buildup, the disease often gives your dog bad breath (halitosis) along with swollen red gums and bleeding.
Gingivitis is extremely prevalent in dogs and is often linked to poor oral hygiene.
Your dog needs as much oral care as you do. If you fail to brush your pet’s teeth and keep its mouth clean, you will end up with a dog that has bad breath. Eventually, an unclean mouth will lead to plaque buildup and tartar accumulation, which, in turn, will cause a plethora of illnesses.
So, if you aren’t comfortable brushing your dog’s teeth at home, take it to a groomer or vet to get its teeth cleaned. Chew toys with teeth cleaning properties, and oral cleaning solutions that can be added to their drinking water are two other options you can explore.
Tooth luxation results from any blunt force trauma that dislocates your dog’s tooth from its gum socket. I know – sounds painful! And it is. While tooth luxation can result from an accident, you can exercise precautions to make sure your dog doesn’t get badly injured.
If your pet has the habit of getting into fights with other dogs, get it a muzzle to wear during walks. Better still, train them from the time they’re puppies to build their social skills. Obviously, make sure your dog doesn’t fall from a height or suffer any kind of major injury that could knock its teeth out. After all, prevention is better than cure.
A commonly inherited genetic condition, Von Willebrand’s Disease afflicts both humans and canines. In this condition, the lack of a certain type of protein prevents your dog’s blood from clotting like it should, causing uncontrollable bleeding.
Without mincing words, I’ll have to let you know Von Willebrand’s Disease can cause your dog to bleed to death. You simply cannot fault treatment if your pet gets diagnosed with it. Apart from a bleeding mouth, this disease can prove to be fatal in case your dog suffers from an accidental injury.
Take them to the vet. It’s that simple! Unless you’re completely sure your dog’s mouth is bleeding because of small nicks or cuts that you can cure with home remedies, do not experiment. Let the professionals examine and treat your pet.
Your vet may prescribe x-rays, CBD tests, anesthesia, sutures, and even blood transfusion depending on the severity of your pet’s condition. Do not freak out, let your veterinarian do their job. Go ahead and invest in good dog insurance for times like these when the bills may blow a hole in your pocket.
Be there by your dog’s side and comfort your pet to the best of your ability. If the animal hospital is far away, make sure the journey is as comfortable for your pet as you can afford to make it. Most of all, keep your calm.
Prevention is always the safer, easier, and better choice. Focus on your dog’s daily dental hygiene. Healthy teeth and gums will prevent your pet from contracting any disease.
However, in case of a genetic predisposition your pet may suffer from, you need to be somewhat vigilant. Regular check-ups and blood tests should be your go-to.
And nip all such problems in the bud, choose your breeder with care. Ethical breeders who focus on bringing up healthy puppies and provide health certificates are the ones to trust.
Then again always remember some dogs are more genetically predisposed to certain diseases than others. Doberman pinschers have very high chances of suffering from Von Willebrand’s Disease. If you know your dog is susceptible to something, treat it immediately.
Timely intervention and expert treatment can help your dog recover from a bleeding mouth. Just keep your calm and do what the situation demands. Your dog will get better, sooner or later.
A digital marketing expert by profession, Andrews is a gifted writer and animal lover at heart. A self-confessed "pawrent", Andrews is well-versed in all things dogs. He uses his years of experience of raising puppies into show-quality dogs to help guide first-time pet parents. He believes in spreading the joy that comes with being a dog dad and advocates more families to adopt pets.
