Why Chow Chow has Blue Tongue?

why chow chow has blue tongue

If you have ever seen a dog with a blue tongue, then your first thought would have been how is something like this even possible? A few breeds of dogs have darker or blue tongues, one of which is the breed, Chow Chow. Many people believe that if different breeds have a spot on their tongues or dark tongues, then they should have some Chow Chow’s characteristics in them, which isn’t true. The reason behind Chow Chow having a blue tongue is the presence of the pigmented cells. This characteristic is one of the different and recognizable highlights found in this dog breed. The Chow is a breed of dogs which is as old as 2000 years.

When a Chow is first conceived, their tongue is pink, and as they begin to grow, their tongue starts to turn into blue colour. It is when they are two months old that the tongue of Chow Chow begins to change the shade from pink to blue. Some Chow Chows also tend to lose the blue pigment of their tongue and turn back to pinkish tone as they age, much as the shade it was when they were puppies.

The Reason Behind a Blue Tongue

chow chow

The colour of the Chow’s tongue can be blue, purple, or black depending upon the individual dog. The reason for these dark shades is the presence of pigmented cells. These are the same cells which are responsible for imparting colour to the human skin. This feature of having a dark tongue is pretty much a fascinating characteristic which is found in other breeds and some wild creatures as well — for example, giraffe and polar bears. According to theories, it is also believed that Chow Chows comes from a mix of a dog and a bear (Hemicyon) to be exact. However, this is just a theory, and it is hard to back up this story experimentally as the truth. One odd supporting actuality is that the Hemicyon has fossils indicating it to have 44 teeth. The Chow also has 44 teeth; which is distinct from other dogs as they have only 42 teeth.

There are also chances for a Chow Chow to have a pink tongue instead of a blue tongue. If you own a Chow Chow that has a pink tongue, there are chances that your dog is not of a pure breed. The same can be said if you find some pink spots on your Chow. This dog breed is a part of Spitz family of dogs which include other dogs as well, who look the same in many ways. Some of them are Malamute, Pomeranian, Shiba Inu, Siberian Husky, Samoyed, Norwegian Elkhound, Akita, and Keeshond. Mostly all of these dog breeds are in some way or the other similar to the Chow Chow. They have their tails curled on their backs; they have a similar body structure, a thick and a dense coat and triangle shaped ears facing in an upward direction. To sum it up, if your Chow Chow has a pink tongue, there is a good possibility that your dog is a mix of Spitz dogs and is not a pure breed.

Other Breeds with a Blue Tongue

dogs with blue tongue

As it is mentioned in the above text, there are many dog breeds that have dark tongues. The shades range from being dark blue, purple to black. However, some dogs are more prone to this trait as compared to other dogs. There are also some cases when the extra deposit of pigments is found on the bodies of these animals. Some other breeds who have blue-coloured tongues are Belgium Malinois, Dalmatian, Fila Brasileiro, Mountain Cur, Shiloh Shepherd, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Kai Ken, Eurasier, Black Russian Terrier, Korean Jindo, Tibetan Mastiff, etc. This list incorporates only a couple of the dogs that have darkly pigmented tongues; even though there are around thirty breeds that have this type of interesting feature.

Conclusion

chow chow

Chow Chow is an ancient dog breed, the one which has become very famous as a family pet in many places. They are great looking dogs that have many stunning identities despite the fact that they can be defensive in general. Their superb lion-like ruffs and their somewhat blue, dark tongues separate them from different breeds as far as looks are concerned, even though they are not the only breed to have darker pigmented tongues. The Chow, in any case, flaunts a magnificently long heritage.

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