the jaw. If the spots are flat and classic-looking, that may be the end of it. If something looks unusual, they may recommend monitoring, photos, sedation for a better oral exam, or in rarer cases a biopsy.
- Other harmless places pigment can show up
Dogs with tongue spots often have pigment elsewhere too. It’s common to see black or dark brown areas on the gums, the edge of the lips, the roof of the mouth, paw pads, or the skin on the belly. In yellow Labs especially, dark nose leather and dark lip margins already show that pigment distribution can vary across the body.
I’ve known dogs with one black-spotted tongue, two dark gums, and a completely ordinary annual exam year after year. Once you start looking, you realize canine mouths are not nearly as uniform as children’s picture books make them seem.
- How to talk yourself down before you
