If you’ve just finished a competitive match of tug of war with your dog, it can be startling to discover blood on the toy or their teeth. However, this is not an unusual occurrence. It is perfectly normal and even expected to find some blood on toys after games like tug of war simply due to the friction of the toy in your dog’s mouth.
Additionally, it could be due to your puppy undergoing a teething phase and losing its baby teeth. Both of these examples are examples of safe, normal bleeding following a game of tug of war. However, if the blood is appearing in large amounts and quite frequently, something else might be going on. In this article, we’ll explore the various causes of bleeding in the mouth and discuss when it is time to be concerned.
Dog’s Teeth Bleeding after Tug of War
Most of the time, there is no need to worry if your dog’s teeth are bleeding after tug of war, especially if you have a puppy. However, frequent bleeding could be the sign of a serious problem.
Bleeding in a Puppy’s Mouth after Tug of War
If your dog is a puppy and hasn’t fully matured yet, bleeding will be much more common. This is because they are still undergoing physical changes including losing their baby teeth and growing their adult teeth. Losing teeth is perfectly normal for puppies and is often accompanied by light bleeding.
Even if you don’t see the teeth that fall out, be assured that every puppy around the age of 3-4 months experiences a loss of baby teeth. You may find small amounts of blood on toys and tennis balls, or even be able to see blood in your puppy’s mouth. This is not something to worry about. Especially after playing games like tug of war which heavily involves your puppy’s mouth, it is expected that the extra strain may loosen some teeth that are already getting ready to fall out.
When to be Concerned if your Dog Bleeds After Tug of War?
If your dog is not a puppy, blood can be slightly more worrying. If you are finding small spots of blood on toys following games like tug of war, that’s perfectly normal and nothing to worry about. However, if there is a significant amount of blood on the toy and your dog, something else is probably going on.
They could be experiencing pain in their mouths due to an underlying cause like a foreign object or oral lacerations that are exacerbated by games like tug of war. In this case, it is incredibly important to visit your veterinarian so they can find out exactly what is going on.
If there is not a vet available, you can try getting your dog’s teeth inspected by a groomer.
Your dog might also have a cavity or other obstruction with a tooth. You can see a full guide on dog teeth in my article on the canine dental chart.
Excessive bleeding could be caused by trauma in the mouth or an underlying health condition like a tumor. Additionally, if your dog’s mouth is bleeding unprompted even in small amounts, you should go to the veterinarian.
Games like tug of war can easily cause small amounts of bleeding because the toy is causing friction against their gums. However, if there is no overlying cause of the bleeding or it isn’t occurring after playing a game like tug of war, it is likely caused by something else that needs to be determined by your veterinarian.
You can learn more in this article on common mouth conditions in dogs.
What Should You Do
It is a good idea to regularly check your dog’s teeth for cracks, breaks, or chips. This applies to both puppies and older dogs. Furthermore, if you are noticing excessive amounts of blood on their toys or in their mouth, something more serious may be going on.
In this case, it is best to quickly book an appointment with your veterinarian to inspect the situation. However, flecks or spots of blood on toys every once in a while are nothing to be concerned with. If you are worried that your dog’s mouth is hurting after a game of tug of war, try giving them some ice cubes to chew on!
Additionally, keep a close eye on your dog’s oral hygiene and health. Brush their teeth regularly and ensure plaque does not build up on their teeth. A great way to do this is to use apple cider vinegar to remove tarter from dog’s teeth.
Unhealthy gums can result in excessive bleeding as well. However, this can be prevented by brushing their teeth at home and occasionally visiting a professional dog tooth cleaner.
Final Thoughts
Most of the time, finding blood on toys or in your dog’s mouth following a game of tug of war is nothing to worry about. It can be caused by friction in their mouths due to the game or even teething in younger dogs. This is normal and not indicative of any underlying problems.
However, if blood is frequently appearing in greater amounts than some spots or specks, something more serious may be going on. In this case, it is important to visit your veterinarian to figure out what is going on.
