When we think of the most common health issues faced by dogs, cardiac arrest doesn’t often spring to mind. In fact, it is quite rare in canines, but that doesn’t mean it never happens.
On TikTok, actress Sutton Smith warned fellow dog parents that dogs can go through cardiac arrest, and what to look out for that just might save lives. She explained that her dog seemed more grumpy than usual, which got her concerned, saying: “I have a sassy little dog who was acting more irritated. She was not getting grumpier, she wasn't getting oxygen."
When a human’s oxygen levels drop, their skin will turn blue. Of course, dogs don’t have exposed skin like we do, so it can be more tricky to work out when a dog is struggling – it might be that they don’t seem like themselves, ignoring their favorite toys or shunning treats.
Despite Smith growing up with dogs and being a dog parent as an adult, she only learned after her own dog went into cardiac arrest that your dog’s tongue is the thing to keep an eye on.
@suttonloves ♬ original sound - s u t t o n 📚🎬
She said: "If a dog is losing oxygen or having low oxygen intake due to health issues, their tongue will turn darker purple or blue. This will appear very dark on the underside of the tongue, kind of like branching out from the middle."
She added: "Top side of the tongue will turn dark as well. Any discoloration darker than their normal tongue color is cause to investigate to be sure that they're getting the oxygen they need or they're getting medication that can open their airways."
Her own dog’s tongue was “almost black,” but the pup pulled through the ordeal and was able to recover – leading Smith to decide to spread awareness. She continued, “If your dog has breathing or heart issues that are ongoing, you can also use this as a metric to check them."
If your dog’s acting out of the ordinary, it may not be anything serious. In many cases, they’ll simply be tired or hungry. But this tip is one that’s well worth storing in your mind just in case. And, if you do have any concerns, it’s best to be safe and see a vet as soon as possible.
Survival rates for cardiac arrest in dogs aren’t very high, unfortunately, but acting fast and getting your dog to the vet for emergency care as soon as you can will help maximize the chances of them making the best recovery.
For more dog health information, here are the most common illnesses dogs get, as well as the most common dog diseases to keep an eye out for.
