Is a Chow Chow's black tongue normal?

Yes — the Chow Chow's blue-black tongue is a completely normal breed characteristic. It is caused by extra pigmentation and is not a sign of illness, injury, or poor circulation. The gums are similarly darkly pigmented. Owners should know their dog's normal baseline gum color so they can identify deviations (such as pallor or changes in capillary refill) that indicate health problems.

Do Chow Chows have dental problems?

Chow Chows are moderately brachycephalic and can have tooth crowding and rotation, which increases periodontal disease risk at those sites. Their facial folds can develop fold dermatitis, and their independent temperament makes early habituation to brushing essential. With daily brushing, fold care, and annual professional cleanings, most Chow Chows maintain good dental health.

How do you brush a Chow Chow's teeth?

Start during puppyhood — the earlier the better given the Chow's independent temperament. Begin with gentle lip and gum touching, progress to toothpaste on a finger, then to a medium-headed toothbrush. Always pair brushing with high-value rewards. Chow Chows habituated to brushing before 12–14 weeks accept it far more easily than those introduced to it as adults.

Do Chow Chows have facial fold dermatitis?

Yes — Chow Chows with pronounced muzzle and facial folds are susceptible to fold dermatitis. The dense ruff can trap moisture near fold edges, worsening the problem. Daily fold wiping and drying, parting the fur to access the fold, and using antimicrobial wipes for affected dogs are standard preventive measures.

How should a vet assess gum health in a Chow Chow?

Because Chow Chow gums are naturally blue-black, the standard pink-gum color assessment doesn't apply. Vets assess gum health relative to the dog's normal baseline and focus on other indicators: gum moisture (tacky vs. moist), capillary refill time (press gum, count seconds to pink return — should be under 2), and any changes from the dog's individual norm. Owners who know their Chow's baseline gum appearance can flag deviations to the vet.

Chow Chow Teeth: Blue-Black Gums, Crowding & Dental Care Guide

The Chow Chow is one of the most ancient and distinctive dog breeds — lion-like in appearance, famously independent in temperament, and uniquely blue-black in tongue color. For dental care purposes, the Chow Chow presents a combination of moderate brachycephalic anatomy, a distinctive oral pigmentation pattern, a dense double coat that can complicate facial cleaning, and a breed temperament that makes early habituation to mouth handling absolutely critical.

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Chow Chow Dental Anatomy

Chow Chows are medium-to-large dogs (45–70 lbs) with a broad, flat skull and a relatively short, wide muzzle. They are classified as moderately brachycephalic — not as extreme as Bulldogs or Pugs, but with a compressed facial structure that affects dental health:

Short, wide muzzle: The Chow’s compressed muzzle can cause moderate tooth crowding and rotation, particularly in the premolars and incisors. Crowded teeth create narrow interdental spaces that trap plaque and are impossible to clean by self-action (chewing, tongue movement).
Deep facial folds: Many Chow Chows have prominent facial folds around the muzzle and above the nose. These folds can extend near the upper lip and commissures, creating fold-dermatitis risk similar to other wrinkled breeds.
Blue-black tongue and oral pigmentation: The Chow Chow’s distinctively blue-black tongue and gum pigmentation is a breed hallmark. It is completely normal and not a sign of illness. However, it can make identifying gum color changes (such as pale gums indicating anemia or dark red gums indicating toxicity) more challenging. Owners and vets should be familiar with the normal blue-black baseline so that abnormalities are recognized relative to that baseline rather than against a pink standard.
Dense double coat around the face: The thick ruff around the Chow’s face creates a warm, somewhat humid microenvironment around the facial skin, which can exacerbate fold moisture and dermatitis if not kept clean and dry.

Common Dental Issues in Chow Chows

Periodontal Disease from Crowding

The Chow’s moderate brachycephaly means that some degree of tooth rotation or malpositioning is common. Rotated or crowded teeth create plaque traps that a toothbrush cannot fully reach. These surfaces accumulate tartar rapidly and develop periodontal pockets at the gumline. Professional cleaning and dental X-rays help identify subgingival involvement at crowded sites that surface examination would miss.

Facial Fold Dermatitis

Chow Chows with prominent muzzle folds are susceptible to fold dermatitis in the same way as other fold-prone breeds. The dense coat around the face can hold moisture inside folds, worsening maceration. Signs are the same as in other breeds — brown discoloration, musty odor, moist skin — and management involves daily fold cleaning and drying.

Difficulty Assessing Gum Health

Because Chow Chow gums and tongue are naturally dark blue-black, the standard method of assessing gum color for health indicators (pale pink = healthy, white = anemic, blue = hypoxic) requires calibration. Vets familiar with the breed know to assess the gum color relative to the dog’s established normal. Owners should know what their own Chow’s gum color looks like at baseline, so they can identify any deviation from normal. The gum color should be uniformly dark throughout — patchy pallor or changes in mucous membrane moisture (tacky gums, capillary refill > 2 seconds) are still meaningful indicators even in a heavily pigmented mouth.

Temperament Challenges for Dental Care

Chow Chows are famously independent and can be wary of handling by unfamiliar people. They bond strongly with their immediate family but may resist veterinary examination. For dental procedures under anesthesia, a Chow’s stress response to handling by veterinary staff should be managed with low-stress handling techniques and pre-procedure anxiety protocols where appropriate. For home dental care, early and consistent habituation during the puppy socialization window (before 12–14 weeks) is critical — Chow Chows that don’t accept mouth handling as puppies can become genuinely difficult to brush as adults.

How to Care for Chow Chow Teeth

Daily Brushing — Start at 8 Weeks

The single most important dental care investment for a Chow Chow owner is early, consistent mouth handling from puppyhood. Start by touching the lips and gums gently from 8 weeks onward, progressing to toothpaste on a finger, then to a brush. Pair every session with high-value rewards. The Chow’s independent temperament means that positive associations built early are the foundation of a lifetime of cooperative dental care — sessions that become battles in adulthood are much harder to fix. Use a medium-headed brush appropriate for the shorter muzzle. Pay extra attention to premolar rotation sites.

Facial Fold Cleaning

Chow Chows with prominent muzzle folds need daily fold wiping and drying. Lift the fold, remove any moisture and debris, and ensure the skin inside is dry. The dense ruff can trap moisture near facial folds; part the fur to access fold edges during cleaning.

Dental Chews

VOHC-approved dental chews in medium sizes are appropriate. Chow Chows are typically moderate chewers — they’ll work through a chew at a steady pace, which is ideal for mechanical plaque abrasion. Avoid very hard items given the risk of slab fracture on carnassial teeth.

Professional Dental Cleaning

Annual professional cleaning under anesthesia. Pre-anesthetic bloodwork is standard. For anxious or wary Chow Chows, discuss pre-procedure sedation protocols with your vet to reduce handling stress. Dental X-rays are especially valuable in Chow Chows given their tendency toward tooth crowding — subgingival disease at rotation sites may not be visible without radiographic evaluation.

Chow Chow Dental Care Timeline

8–12 weeks: Daily lip and gum touching; toothpaste on finger; socialization to mouth handling
3–4 months: Transition to brush; fold checking begun; consistent routine established
5–6 months: Retained deciduous tooth check
10–12 months: First professional cleaning with dental X-rays
Annually: Professional cleaning + X-rays; stress-reduction protocol if needed
Daily: Brushing + fold cleaning; chew supplement

Chow Chows are one of the most distinctive dogs in the world — ancient, dignified, and deeply devoted to their people. Their dental care requires consistent attention to their specific anatomy (moderate brachycephaly, fold depth, pigmented gums) and temperament (independent, handling-sensitive). Owners who invest in early habituation, maintain daily brushing and fold care, and work with vets experienced in the breed will be well-equipped to keep their Chow’s mouth healthy throughout a 9–15 year lifespan.

Related reading: Greyhound dental care