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- Genetic Origins of the Blue Tongue Dog
- Eastern legends about the purple-tongued dog
- When do you need to worry about a purple-tongued dog?
The purple, blue or black tongue is a striking feature that identifies some canine breeds. The Chow Chow, for example, is a blue-tongued dog very well known and loved in Brazil for its charming appearance, which is similar to that of a lion. But have you ever wondered why some dogs have blue (or purple) tongues?
And even more... Did you know that there are millenary legends of Asian culture, mainly in China, that mythically explain the birth of the dog with the purple tongue? Of course, in addition to mythology, there are scientific theories to explain the “birth” of this very particular trait in some wild animals, including Chinese dogs like the Shar Pei and the aforementioned Chow-Chow.
So, you want to know why do some dogs have a blue tongue? Keep reading this new PeritoAnimal article to understand the origins of this feature.
Genetic Origins of the Blue Tongue Dog
The scientific explanation for the birth of a purple-tongued dog lies in the genetic structure. One blue tongue dog or purple, like chow chow or Shar Pei, has a lot of cells special that contains certain pigments, which are responsible for giving such a striking color to the tongue of the hairy.
These pigment cells are present in the body of all dogs, especially in the mucous membranes and on the tongue. That's exactly why these regions have a more intense pigmentation than the rest of the skin in the rest of the body. However, unlike most dogs that have a pink tongue, some dogs have a purple tongue due to a higher concentration of these cells.
You can usually see that a blue tongue dog it also has the lips, palate (roof of mouth) and gums in a similar shade or even darker than the tongue. In the case of the Chow-Chow, for example, some individuals of this breed may show lips that look almost black at first sight.
Well then, the amount or concentration of these pigment-filled cells is determined by the animal's genetic code. In nature, it is also possible to find the purple tongue in other species, such as giraffes and polar bears.
However, much research is still being done to try to understand the origins of breeds as old as the Chow Chow and understand why genetic inheritance makes some dogs have the blue tongue as a characteristic feature. Some hypotheses study indicate that the Chow-Chow could come from the Hemicyon, a species of mammal that lived in the Miocene period and consists of a "link" in the evolutionary chain of dogs and some families of bears. But it has not yet been possible to find conclusive proof that confirms this possibility.
Eastern legends about the purple-tongued dog
As we talked about in the introduction, the origin of the blue-tongued dog is also the protagonist of mythological stories in the East, mainly in Asian countries. In China, there are several very interesting legends about the birth of the Chow-Chow. Although mythological accounts need scientific proof, it is worth sharing it to expand knowledge about the importance of this purple-tongued dog in the culture of its home country.
One of the legends of Chinese mythology says that the Chow-Chow was a dragon dog that loved the days but hated the nights. On any given night, being tired of the darkness, the cheeky dog decided to lick the entire sky to make the night cease to exist and always be day. However, this behavior greatly irritated the gods, who decided to punish him by making his tongue remain dark blue or black as darkness forever. Thus, the Chow-Chow would remember every day for the rest of its existence its shameful attitude and would learn never to antagonize the gods again.
Another legend claims that the Chow-Chow's tongue turned blue because the dog decided to accompany the Buddha when he painted the sky blue. Curious by nature, the puppy would have licked the small drops of paint that fell from the Buddha's brush. And from that day on, the purple tongue dog it carries with it a little piece of heaven.
When do you need to worry about a purple-tongued dog?
As we explained, some puppies have a blue tongue due to their genetic structure. So if your best friend belongs to one of the races of purple tongue dog, this feature is completely normal and you don't need to worry. In addition, if you have adopted a mutt, it is also possible that your furry is related to these breeds and, therefore, may show a special pigmentation on the mucous membranes and on the tongue.
In both cases, it is possible to notice that the blue or purple color is part of the puppy's physical characteristics and has been present since childhood. In other words, the color does not appear suddenly or interfere with the animal's behavior or state of health.
However, if you notice that your dog's tongue or mucous membranes have changed color, have strange spots or warts that appear suddenly, take your best friend to the vet quickly. Sudden color changes in the tongue and mucous membranes can indicate various health problems, such as anemia or liver failure, or be a sign of poisoning in dogs.
To learn more about blue-tongued dogs, see also our YouTube video: