A bright healthy pink color of the gums indicates good blood circulation and oxygenation.

Lift your pet's upper or lower lip and observe the color of the inner lip and gums. A healthy animal should have a pink color to the gums. Brick red or brown, pale light pink, white, yellow or blue colors of the mucous membranes are colors indicative of an emergency (shock, loss of blood, or anemia).

Some breeds have dark pigmentation in their inner lips and gums making observations difficult and misleading. For these dogs check for color by gently pulling down on the skin just below the eye with your thumb and observe the color in the inner eyelid.

Abnormal coloring: dark red, gray, blue or white.