The tongue is the most multifunctional organ in a dog.. It qualitatively determines the taste of food and helps digestion, helps the pet drink, lick its wounds, and also significantly cools the blood through the rapid evaporation of saliva from its surface.
an animal's tongue It can change its colors depending on what develops in the animal’s body (during excitement, stress, significant disruptions in the body), as well as during severe physical stress on the jaws (for example, while eating food).
In a healthy pet, the shades of the mucous membrane can vary from pale pink to dark burgundy. But there are also exceptions. There are several dog breeds that have specific characteristics. The most famous dog with a blue tongue is the Chow Chow.
Features of the Chow Chow breed
This is a fairly ancient breed, whose history began several thousand years ago.
The process of studying the DNA of this breed helps to put forward the theory that its ancestor was an animal that is considered an intermediate link between the Asiatic bear and the dog. And as everyone knows, the color of bears’ tongues varies from purple to black. And in appearance the dog is more similar to a bear; it is not called a bear dog for nothing. Dog handlers are confident that dogs of this breed were found more than three thousand years ago. Evidence of this is considered to be a Chinese figurine that dates back to the Han Dynasty , which was 206-220 AD.
Gallery: Chow Chow (25 photos)
Origin
Despite the fact that this breed has been known for quite a long time, scientists have not been able to explain why their tongue is purple. Of course, there are certain versions and legends about this. So, for example, some people think that a distant relative of the breed is the rare polar wolf, which became extinct several thousand years ago, and they also owe the color of their tongue to very distant ancestors.
Most often, the Chao-Chao breed is related to bears: the dog’s appearance is considered to be to blame for this, since it is very reminiscent of small and fluffy bear cubs. Most dog breeders think that the Chow Chow is a cross between Samoyeds and bears , Elkhounds, Cahounds, or even Pomeranians. In the Chinese province of Katonou, the chao-chao was simply called a black tongue, a wolf dog, or a bear dog.
In addition, in China there are two varieties of the breed: purebred and bastard - chow, which belongs to the meat type. Bastards are distinguished by a more pointed head shape, and their tongues are spotted in color - in purebreds this phenomenon is considered a serious defect.
Owner reviews
The Chow Chow is a famous dog breed with a blue tongue. She has a sweet and even royal appearance, for which she received universal love. Besides the Chow Chow, the Shar Pei is a dog breed with a blue tongue. However, they are not so popular.
Judging by the reviews of the owners, the Chow Chow is an excellent pet with a wonderful character. This is an intelligent and loyal dog. Sometimes she has bouts of stubbornness, but these are temporary difficulties. In all other respects, the Chow Chow is an ideal family dog.
Sources:
https://usatiki.ru/sobaka-s-sinim-yazykom-kak-nazyvaetsya-poroda/
https://sobaki.guru/porodyi/sobaki-s-sinim-yazyikom
https://animallist.ru/476642a-poroda-sobak-s-sinim-yazyikom-kak-nazyivaetsya-opisanie-osobennosti-soderjaniya
Characteristics of the Shar Pei breed
Signs of the Shar Pei breed are considered to be a large number of folds on the skin, a uniform brown color and an unusual color of the tongue.
Theories about the reason for the development of this color of the tongue are very different:
- The phenomenon of development of blue in the tongue is most often explained by family ties with polar wolves. Both external and internal dark covers were vital for wolves to strengthen the regulation of metabolic processes in the body during cold days and nights. Only dogs with such characteristics were able to survive in conditions with low temperatures.
- Another hypothesis for the development of this tongue color is a hereditary pathology in the pancreas. Indeed, a large number of Shar Peis suffer from pancreatitis.
- There is the most famous mixed Chinese legend about the origin of the Shar Pei. There lived two brothers, Shar and Pei. Once Shar stole Pei's skin and ran away. While Shar was running, he looked back several times and stuck out his tongue. But at one point he tripped and accidentally bit his tongue. From that time on, it became blue, and the skin stolen from big brother began to hang on it in folds.
People naturally face the blue of the tongue
In practice, this indicates that there is a problem with the lungs, there is not enough oxygen saturation.
I did not miss the historical essay about the blue-black tongue of the Shar Pei . Once upon a time there were two brothers: Shar and Pei. One day Shar robbed Pei. He liked the skin. Pei began to catch up with the fleeing Shar, but he made faces as he ran and showed his tongue to his brother. And so Pei stumbles and bites her tongue, which remains purple for the rest of her life. According to the breed standard, the Shar Pei's tongue, palate and gums are mostly bluish-black.
The newest breed is called the Eurasier , developed by crossing Spitz and Chow Chow. The guest does not state that the color scheme of the tongue of this breed is different from the usual pinkish. Given the common features with the Chow Chow, it is very possible that some individuals of the species will have an unusual purple tongue. This sign indicates a good pedigree. Dogs with blue-black tongues are unique and fascinating.
Chow chow puppies are born with a natural pink tongue. After thirty days the color range turns blue. As an animal gets older, its color only becomes more intense. Puppies 1.5 months old may have a weak tongue color - you should not buy such an animal. Perhaps the dog is not purebred. By the way, light-colored puppies may have lavender-colored fur on their gums. Also, if the Chow Chow feels excitement or tension, the tongue part becomes lighter.
Young breed Evrayzer
Few people know about a dog of such a breed as the Evrayzer . It is rare and quite young. The Euraiser was bred in Germany after crossing a Chow Chow with a Volspritze. It was from the Chow that the Evrizer inherited such an unusual feature in appearance.
The color of the tongue in such a dog can vary significantly from blue to purple and hay-black, and color changes can also occur throughout the pet’s life or even over several hours (for example, during stress testing by the animal, and also depending on time year and room temperature).
In any case, the blue tint of the tongue in such a breed is a sign of purebred . Blue-violet pigmentation in the tongue area is considered an indicator of the noble origin of the puppy, and in the case of the development of spots or lack of color, the animal is considered defective and is excluded from the list of the breeding process.
Like puppies
Puppies are born with characteristic pink tongues, but already a month after birth the color begins to change and becomes richer every year. This is what breeders recommend paying attention to when choosing a puppy. Puppies are usually sent to a new home after 1.5 months. If by this time the blue color has not appeared, it is better to refuse the purchase. Lack of pigmentation can be a manifestation not only of insufficient purity of the breed, but also of health problems.
During life, the color changes several times: from intense blue to a light lilac-blue hue. Color is affected not only by the health and morale of the animal, but also by weather conditions. For example, in the heat or with strong excitement it becomes lighter.
Causes of blue mucous membranes in other breeds
Blueness of the mucous membrane in a dog is also called cyanosis. A disease such as cyanosis cannot be called independent, but its external manifestation is considered a sign of quite serious problems with the body.
A dog's tongue may acquire blue pigmentation, and this always indicates a lack of oxygen in the body. The main reasons for the development of blue tongue are:
- Lung diseases that cause a rough cough, swelling in the lungs and severe shortness of breath.
- Injuries to the lungs, which can develop pneumothorax and hydrothorax (large amounts of air or fluid in the chest cavity).
- Hypertrophy in the velum palatine.
- The process of narrowing of the trachea (collapse).
- Congenital heart defects.
The listed diseases and injuries can occur in an animal of any breed, but, for example, hypertrophy often occurs in brachycephalic breeds (Pekingese, pugs, boxers and others), and tracheal collapse in most cases occurs in small and dwarf breeds (Yorkies, Shih Tzu and toy terriers).
Basic moments
- Papillons are optimists and extroverts who expect constant feedback from their owner.
- Representatives of this breed have irrepressible energy, so they require systematic and long-term walking.
- They coexist peacefully with other domestic animals, but are especially favorable towards cats.
- Continental Toy Spaniels are great intellectuals, endowed with everyday ingenuity and intelligence. The Papillon ranks 8th on the list of smartest dog breeds on the Stanley Coren scale.
- They perform well in agility and other competitive sports.
- Individuals whose favorable period for socialization has been missed may show aggression towards other, weaker animals, and also bite.
- Despite their generally good-natured character, these babies are very power-hungry and will gladly dominate any family member who shows them their weaknesses.
- Papillons bark loudly, but with proper training they are able to curb their own emotions.
Papillons or daddies, as domestic breeders affectionately call their pets, are smart, playful and sociable kids who will forgive their owner everything except the lack of attention to their own person. The life of these fluffies, wonderful in all respects, revolves entirely around the one whom they have chosen as their older friend. Restless and unusually easy-going Papillons are always ready to support any initiative of the owner, be it a banal game with a ball, a trip to the nearest supermarket or a long voyage across countries and continents.
