White Gums in Puppies

White gums in puppies are often a sign of an impending health crisis, and pet owners who notice white gums in their puppies need to seek veterinary attention immediately. The most common causes of white gums in puppies are parasites, shock and underlying health conditions. Fortunately, when treated promptly, puppies can recover without lasting health effects.

  1. Causes of White Gums in Puppies

    • External and internal parasitic infections can cause life-threatening anemia in puppies, especially very young puppies, which may lead to the appearance of white gums. Common parasitic infections that cause anemia in puppies include severe flea infestations and internal parasites like roundworms, hookworms and whipworms. Underlying health conditions that can cause white gums in puppies include heart problems and hypoglycemia (or low blood sugar). Puppies may also develop white gums if they are in shock brought about by -- for example -- injury or overheating.

    Treating White Gums in Puppies

    • To treat white gums in puppies, veterinarians will need to find the underlying cause of the white gums. In most cases, a stool sample will be taken to assess if any internal parasites are causing anemia. The puppy's temperature will be taken, too, and a complete exam -- possibly including blood work -- will be conducted to assess the puppy's current state of health. Immediate deworming is conducted and external parasites are removed if anemia is the cause of the white gums; a puppy that has life-threatening anemia may also need a blood transfusion. If the cause of the anemia is an underlying health condition or shock, the veterinarian will need to stabilize the puppy's condition with medications to treat the condition and fluid therapies to combat shock.

    Preventing White Gums in Puppies

    • The best way to prevent white gums in puppies is to strategically deworm the mother before the puppies are born and to strategically deworm the puppies after they are born. Puppies can contract parasites from their mother while they are developing in the womb, and some parasites (like roundworms) can be transmitted through the breast milk as well. Strategic deworming is a plan to deworm the mother and the puppies at timed intervals (usually every three to four weeks, three to four times) to ensure that all internal parasites are completely eliminated. Mothers should be free of fleas when they give birth to puppies, and puppies should be checked frequently for any signs of fleas (if fleas are found they should be removed with a flea comb). Pet owners who have small puppy breeds that have increased risks for hypoglycemia -- like toy breeds -- need to be aware of the symptoms of hypoglycemia to prevent dangerous, life-threatening hypoglycemia from developing in their puppies.

    Considerations for White Gums in Puppies

    • White gums in puppies should never be ignored. Pet owners who notice white gums in their puppies need to recognize that this is a serious sign of a dangerous health condition that could lead to death. Immediate veterinary care is needed for puppies who develop white gums. To avoid further stressing puppies with white gums, pet owners should avoid handling the puppy too much and keep the puppy in a quiet, soothing and comfortable place before and during transport to a veterinarian clinic.