Hi,

I have a 2 and a half year old flat coated retriever boy, who has started to develop black spots on his tongue slowly over the last six months or so. He has a larger one about the size of a pound coin far back, and two smaller ones about pea-sized near the tip, and they are completely flat on his tongue.

I know that black-spot birth marks on the tongue are quite common in retrievers and are usually just extra pigment, but these have not been here since birth, can these birthmarks appear this late, or is this something I should get checked out by a vet?

He hasn't changed any behaviour with his tongue or general life at all, is showing no signs of pain in the slightest.

Many thanks for any help you can give me.

Mines have all had them far back in their mouths, not sure if they had them from birth or not as they are only apparent when their tongues are fully extended after exercise. Not sure about the smaller ones especially if they have just appeared, probably would get them checked out for peace of mind.

For the first time I've had a golden with a large black spot on her tongue, fairly far back, but it was there from when we had her at eight weeks. Seems a bit odd them appearing when older.