Does your chihuahua’s tongue hang out?

It is important for chi guardians to keep a close eye on their chihuahua’s tongue, by checking for lumps, bumps, growths, raised areas, colour and tongue coating. If you notice any changes, it may be wise to seek advice from your vet.

As well as indicating problems in the rest of the body, there are many common tongue disorders that your dog may have.

Inflammation (glossitis), ulceration, warts and tumours are common ailments and can be serious. For example, ulceration may occur because of cancer or kidney failure.

Common signs of a tongue problem include excessive drooling or chewing, blood or an unusually bad smell and a reluctance to eat. If you notice any of these, arrange a visit to the vet.

When to worry about your chihuahua’s tongue hanging out

All dogs let their tongue hang out; it can be a sign of them relaxing or being happy. It is common for chis to stick their tongue out while they are sleep and to pant when they are hot or excitable.

In some cases, chis might have their tongue hanging out when they are missing teeth, are on certain medication, suffering an injury to the jaw or have a neurological problem or a deformity.

Often this will be a temporary affliction, but when your chi can’t retract their tongue, it is called hanging tongue syndrome.

Hanging tongue

Hanging tongue syndrome can be caused by injury, trauma, neurological problems, or malformation, sadly, in toy breeds such as chihuahuas, it is a common problem. Hanging tongue syndrome may be temporary, or it may be part of a larger illness.

The problem leads to a dry, cracked, and painful tongue, as it fails to get moisture and protection from the mouth. It can also lead to excessive drooling and in colder climes, it may even result in frostbite on the tongue.

While your chi is utterly adorable with their tongue sticking out mischievously, make sure they can retract their tongue, and if not, it is best to take your pet to the vet for a check-up.

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