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My 5-year-old dog has new black patches on his gums. Is it serious?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Jack Russell Terrier | Male | neutered | 8.9 lbs

is black patches on my jack russells gums anything to worry about ? he is 5yrs old fit and healthy these patches have only just appeared

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Sara Farmer, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on April 4th, 2019

I'm wondering if you intended to attach a picture - if not, attaching a picture could help us determine what these might be. If they are flat they could be normal areas of pigment, and sometimes dogs will start to have more patches of pigment on their skin and mucous membranes as they age. If they look more red or purple bruising is possible which would be a concern - if you think this might be bruising you should see a vet right away since it could be a sign of a bleeding disorder. If they are raised then they could be oral growths or tumors and you should have a vet take a look.

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