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Why are my old dog's teeth discolored, gums dark, and a tooth loose?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Female | 11 years and 8 months old

Hello, I have a rescue pincher Chihuahua female, around the age of 11-12 years old. I recently noticed that her teeth changed color and her gums are darker, purple tone. One of her teeth is moving like it's gonna fall out. There is no change of behavior, she still run and play like a puppy, and there is no appear sensitivity or pain in the area of the tooth

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Rebecca, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on September 4th, 2017

Akilla appears to have severe dental disease from these photos. She needs to see a veterinarian for assessment and probable dental cleaning and and extractions under anesthesia. The loose teeth are usually painful and she is at risk for dental abscess or systemic infection from her mouth. Here's some more info. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/dental-disease-in-dogs https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/dogs-nutrition-and-periodontal-disease https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/dog-care/promoting-wellness/common-dog-dental-problems https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/dental-cleaning-in-dogs Best of luck. Thank you for using PetCoach.

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    Answered By Kevin Sanada, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    The color change is not the gums, but is from the calculus (build-up) on the teeth. These teeth are severely diseased and she will likely need multiple teeth extracted. The loose tooth is so diseased that it is falling out. Don't feel too bad. These little dogs tend to have horrible teeth as they age and sometimes end up loosing all of their teeth. They do just fine without teeth and are much better off having the diseased ones removed. The diseased teeth are quite painful (even though she doesn't show it) and can cause health problems the longer they stay in there. For these reasons, I recommend you take Akilla in for a vet visit as soon as you can. They will advise on the dental procedure and any other treatments needed. I hope that helps and Akilla feels better soon.

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