The Real Reason Dogs Have Black Lips

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A dog’s mouth takes up quite a bit of real estate on its face. It helps with reading the dog’s mood, and the shape, size, and color can all be very different depending on the dog’s breed. But while you’ve probably seen lots of dog mouths, you may not have put much thought into their lips and why they are colored the way they are. Why do some dogs have black lips while others are pink? What causes the coloration and is one color better than another?

The reasons are rather practical, and we’re excited to share what we’ve learned on our quest to uncover the real reason dogs have black lips, black gums, and black tongues. Plus, knowing more about your pup’s physical attributes will tune you into any changes in their skin, teeth, or fur. Let’s dive in to learn more!  

You Might Not Have Really Thought About Dogs’ Lips Before

Dog lips are actually quite fascinating when you stop to really look at them. Besides their color, you may notice that dog lips are serrated or ridged. You may be surprised to learn that those ridges have an important purpose! Since dogs don’t have hands and fingers to help hold their food in their mouth as it eats, these ridges, known as ruga or rugal folds, help hold food in place as your dog chews.

Dog lips are also very flexible, and can stretch quite wide to yawn, smile, and even hold multiple toys at once. Notice the lip folds in the corners of your dog’s mouth? They’ve got plenty of lip stored there like a slinky at the ready, especially if you’ve got a Mastiff, St, Bernard, or Bloodhound.

Depending on your dog’s breed, these magnificent smackers can actually be a variety of different colors, which are usually linked to the colors you see in your dog’s fur and skin. Let’s dive further into the amazing rainbow world of dog lips.

Do All Dogs Have Black Lips?

Not all dogs have black lips. While some do, others may have pink or even spotted lips. Dogs’ lips can vary in color depending on the pup and its breed. In general, dog lips can be pink, brown, black, or a combination of these colors. The color is determined by the pigmentation of their skin and the presence of melanin, a broad term for a group of pigments found in most organisms like skin, hair, and other tissues.

The concentration and distribution of melanin determine the color of a dog’s lips. Pink lips in dogs are typically seen in breeds with lighter or white coats, and they often have less melanin in their skin. Black lips are more commonly found in dogs with darker coats or breeds that have higher melanin production. Breeds with dark pigmentation, such as black Labrador Retrievers, Rottweilers, and Doberman Pinschers, often have black lips. However, breeds with lighter pigmentation, like Dalmatians or certain Terrier breeds, may have pink or spotted lips. Some breeds, such as Australian Shepards and American Pit Bull Terriers, may have a combination of pink and black or brown shades of lips.

Why Do Dogs Have Black Lips? 

The amount of melanin in a dog’s lips and skin is all determined by genetics. If you have a purebred dog, you’re going to see lip colors in line with what the breeding standards are for that particular breed. Mixed-breed dogs have a bit more variety in their genetic makeup, so you’ll see more variation in color. However, if your mixed-breed dog has all-black lips, that likely means one or both of their biological parents had all-black lips too.

The color of a dog’s lips doesn’t have any impact on its health or well-being. It’s a cosmetic variation, but the dark coloration serves a purpose beyond aesthetics. Melanin helps protect skin and lips from harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun, acting as a natural sunscreen. It absorbs and disperses the UV rays, preventing them from causing damage to the underlying tissues. Therefore, black lips in dogs can be seen as protective to shield their delicate lip tissues from the sun’s rays. 

Lighter-colored lips, on the other hand, are considered more susceptible to sunburn or other forms of skin damage, but shouldn’t be cause for concern.

Pro Tip: Sunbathing, in moderation, can be a good source of Vitamin D for dogs. Click here to learn more.

What Dogs Have Black Gums?

If we look at the lips’ neighbors, you’ll notice that your dog may also have some interesting colored gums. Several dog breeds have black gums. While the coloration of gums can vary among individual dogs, some breeds are more prone to having naturally dark or black gums. For example, Chow Chows are known for their distinctive black or spotted gums. Their gums can appear almost black in coloration.

Shar-Peis, Doberman Pinscher, and Labrador Retrievers are other examples of breeds that often have black or dark spotted gums. Pretty much all of our mixed-breed dogs have had both pink and black in their gums.

The color of gums, however, can vary within a breed. Individual dogs may have lighter or darker shades of gum pigmentation. So if you see multiple colors, it isn’t necessarily cause for alarm. It’s normally determined by the presence and concentration of melanin, similar to the coloration of their lips. At your next vet visit, ask about your dog’s gums and teeth so that you’ll know what’s normal in case any changes occur.

What Are the Five Skin Tones of Dogs?

As we’ve mentioned, dog lip and gum colors are closely tied with skin color. Dogs generally have five skin tones. While terminology for their skin tones isn’t as standardized as for human skin, there are five broad categories used to describe the variations: pink or pale, black or dark, brown, gray, and mottled or spotted.

Pink or pale is a light, almost white coloration of the skin. It’s often seen in dog breeds with lighter coats, such as Maltese or West Highland White Terriers. 

Black or dark is characterized by a deep, rich coloration commonly found in breeds like Rottweilers or Doberman Pinschers. 

Brown describes a warm, earthy hue seen in breeds like Labrador Retrievers or Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. This tone can vary from light to dark shades of brown. 

Gray represents a cool, bluish-gray coloration. Breeds such as Weimaraners or Neapolitan Mastiffs often exhibit this skin tone. 

Finally, the mottled or spotted tone refers to a combination of colors on the skin. The pattern can be seen on the gums of breeds like Dalmatians or Catahoula Leopard Dogs. Their skin may have patches of different shades, creating a unique and striking appearance.

Dogs can get hyperpigmentation, which causes the skin to become darker and thicker. It can also make the skin thicker, like velvet, and result in hair loss. The condition is often seen in the leg and groin area. Hyperpigmentation is usually cosmetic and non-curable. We recommend checking with your vet, as they may recommend medications depending on the case.

What Does It Mean When a Dog’s Lips Are Discolored? 

Changes in lip color can range from mild discoloration to more significant alterations in pigmentation. Fortunately, they are an easily visible clue to something that might be going on with your dog’s health. If your dog’s lips are losing color, there could be something medical, genetic, or environmental going on. 

Melanin produces cells called melanocytes. When the cells die, the skin can change color. You’ll often see black lips, for example, turn pink when this happens. This commonly results from allergies, old age, or wounds to the lips, and less commonly from diseases.

Fun Fact: Speaking of lips, do dogs really smile? Learn more!

Which Dogs Have Black Tongues?

Finally, our dog mouth coloration quest wouldn’t be complete without examining black tongues. Any breed of dog can have a black tongue for the same reasons it may have black lips. Some breeds are more known to have black tongues, such as Chow Chows, Pugs, Mastiffs, Eurasiers, and Flat-Coated Retrievers. A naturally black tongue is the result of genetics.

However, if you notice black spots developing on your dog’s normally pink tongue, it could be a sign of something else going on. From staining due to eating something, injury, or disease, it’s a really good idea to talk to your vet if the black spots persist.

Dogs’ Lips Are Made to Withstand the Sun

We can learn a lot from looking at our dog’s lips and mouths, from their genetics and ancestry to their adaptation to sun exposure. Take a look at your dog’s lips, gums, and tongue to see what colors they are, and check them regularly to make sure all is well. It may seem silly, but the mouth is one of the easiest ways to look at what’s going on in our dog’s bodies.

What color are your dog’s lips? Let us know in the comments below!