Parvovirus, commonly known as parvo, is a highly contagious viral disease that can affect dogs. The virus attacks the gastrointestinal tract, causing vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. One of the telltale signs of parvo is the color of the infected dog’s gums.
What are the gum colors associated with parvo?
In a healthy dog, the gums should be pink. This pink color indicates good blood flow and oxygenation. In dogs with parvo, the gums often take on an abnormal color due to dehydration and impaired blood circulation.
Some of the common gum colors seen in dogs with parvo include:
| Gum Color | Description |
|---|---|
| Pale pink | Indicates early dehydration |
| Bright red | Suggests inflammation of gums and mouth |
| Purple or blue | Signals lack of oxygen due to shock or circulatory failure |
| White | Occurs when blood supply is cut off due to vasoconstriction |
The gums may also appear swollen, inflamed or ulcerated due to the damage caused by the parvovirus infection.
Why do gum colors change with parvo?
There are a few reasons why parvo can cause abnormal gum colors in dogs:
- Dehydration – Vomiting and diarrhea lead to fluid loss, while the intestines’ damaged ability to absorb water and electrolytes causes dehydration. This results in reduced blood volume and poor circulation.
- Endotoxemia – Damaged intestines allow endotoxins from bacteria to enter the bloodstream. This causes inflammation of blood vessels and disturbs blood flow.
- Shock – As the infection progresses, blood pressure drops severely, and the body goes into shock. This impairs oxygen delivery to tissues.
- Bleeding disorders – The virus may affect the bone marrow and its ability to produce platelets for normal blood clotting.
How can you assess dehydration based on gum color?
The degree of dehydration in a dog with parvo can be gauged by looking at gum color:
| Gum Color | Degree of Dehydration |
|---|---|
| Pink | Not dehydrated |
| Pale pink | 5% dehydrated (early dehydration) |
| White or pink with refill time >2 sec | 6-8% dehydrated (moderate dehydration) |
| White, tacky or doughy | 10% dehydrated (severe dehydration) |
Checking gum color and capillary refill time is a simple way to monitor hydration status. However, once gums turn white or tacky, it indicates severe dehydration and the need for aggressive fluid therapy.
What other signs accompany abnormal gum color in parvo?
In addition to checking the gums, other important signs of parvo to look for include:
- Vomiting – Usually the first clinical sign. Vomit may be clear, yellow or bloody.
- Diarrhea – Profuse, liquid, and often has blood. Generates a distinct foul odor.
- Lethargy – Dog appears depressed, weak, and reluctant to move.
- Fever – Temperature over 104°F (40°C) in early stages.
- Dehydration – Loss of skin elasticity, dry mucous membranes, and sunken eyes.
- Hypothermia – Body temperature drops below 99°F (37°C) in advanced stages.
- Tachycardia – Heart rate elevated over normal due to dehydration, endotoxemia or shock.
Noting all the symptoms along with gum color provides a more complete picture of the dog’s condition and the severity of the parvo infection.
What are the stages of parvo based on clinical signs?
Parvo infection typically progresses through three stages:
| Stage | Clinical Signs |
|---|---|
| Acute gastrointestinal (early) | Fever, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea |
| Systemic (peak) | Severe diarrhea, dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, endotoxemia, gum color changes |
| Convalescent | Gradual improvement if dog survives peak stage |
The systemic stage is when the most severe clinical signs appear. The gum color changes from pink to pale, white, or blue because of dehydration, shock, and reduced tissue perfusion. This stage has the highest risk of mortality.
How does parvo cause gum inflammation and oral ulcers?
The parvovirus has a special affinity for rapidly dividing cells like those in the intestines and bone marrow. However, the virus can also infect the rapidly dividing epithelium of the oral cavity.
The virus infiltrates the lining of the mouth, causing inflammation (gingivitis), erosions, and painful ulcers on the gums, tongue, lips and cheeks. The ulcers often bleed and can appear as red dots on the pale oral mucosa.
In severe cases, the mouth ulcers make eating and drinking difficult for dogs with parvo, worsening the dehydration.
Can gum color indicate likelihood of parvo survival?
The gum color can give some indication of a parvo dog’s chances of survival:
| Gum Color | Survival Outlook |
|---|---|
| Pink | Good, with prompt treatment |
| Pale pink | Guarded prognosis but treatable |
| White or blue | Grave prognosis even with aggressive treatment |
However, each dog is different. Even with white gums, survival is possible if treatment is begun before irreversible shock sets in. Ideally, intravenous fluids and hospitalization should start when gums are pale pink, before extensive circulatory compromise.
What treatments help restore normal gum color in parvo?
The main treatments to restore blood circulation and promote normal gum color in parvo are:
- Intravenous fluids – To rehydrate, restore blood volume and perfusion.
- Antiemetics – To control vomiting.
- Antibiotics – To prevent septicemia.
- Analgesics – To relieve abdominal pain.
- Warmth – Warm IV fluids and environmental heat to treat hypothermia.
- Nutritional support – Parenteral nutrition once the dog can keep food down.
With aggressive rehydration and supportive care, gum color often starts improving within 1-2 days of hospitalization.
What is the typical parvo treatment timeline based on gum color?
The treatment timeline in parvo cases varies based on severity determined by gum color:
| Gum Color | Treatment Timeline |
|---|---|
| Pink | 2-4 days of inpatient treatment with IV fluids |
| Pale pink | 4-6 days hospitalization with closer monitoring |
| White | 1+ week intensive hospital care, guarded prognosis |
Dogs presenting with pale gums generally recover with standard treatment, while those with white gums are more challenging and may require 10-14 days before stable enough to go home.
What are preventive steps against parvo?
Some key steps to prevent parvo and keep a puppy’s gums healthy pink include:
- Get pups vaccinated starting at 6-8 weeks old.
- Administer booster shots every 2-4 weeks until 16 weeks old.
- Avoid contact with infected dogs or contaminated areas.
- Clean yard and living spaces with bleach to kill the hardy parvo virus.
- Disinfect food/water bowls, toys, leashes, and other items.
- Isolate and deworm new dogs before introducing them to the household.
Adult dogs should receive parvo boosters annually or as advised by the veterinarian. Prompt treatment greatly improves the chances of recovery if a vaccinated dog still develops parvo.
Conclusion
Checking gum color is a fast, easy way to assess the level of dehydration and circulatory compromise in dogs with parvovirus. Pink gums indicate mild or early dehydration, while pale white/blue gums signal advanced dehydration and shock requiring urgent intravenous fluid resuscitation. With supportive hospital care guided by gum color and other clinical signs, many dogs can make a full recovery from parvo infection. Prevention through proper vaccination and environmental disinfection is key to keeping a puppy’s gums healthy.
