We cool ourselves by sweat but what about dogs_do dogs sweat? It’s a question that comes to every dog owner’s mind. Yes! Dogs have sweat glands like merocrine and apocrine glands which makes them cool on a hot summer day or when they become hot after exercise. Dogs are different from humans so their sweat patterns are also different and quite unique as well. Lemme tell you how dogs sweat, symptoms of heatstroke and many more so you can make the best moves for your dog.
Let’s have a look!
Do dogs sweat?
Yes! Dogs can sweat through their skin and also they sweat glands. The sweat glands of dogs have merocrine sweat glands, present in the paws when they’re stressed or hot.
| Note: The sweat of dogs is odor free unless it becomes mixed with resident skin bacteria, like in humans. |
How do dogs sweat?
Sweat in dogs is produced only from the definite body parts. The two sweat glands types are found in the dogs:
- Merocrine glands.
- Apocrine glands.
Dogs have sweat glands in their paw pads which make them cool on a hot summer day. The gland is well known as a merocrine gland which works the same as human sweat glands. When dogs are heated up too much, the sweat glands in paw pads start evaporating the moisture to make them cool. That’s why we see the damp paw prints of dogs on our floor in the summer.
Y’all know our dog’s whole body is covered with the fur which makes the sweat not evaporate valuably. Paw pads have the best location for merocrine gland because of the minimal fur here.
The other gland which is named as apocrine gland has a different purpose in the pup’s body. This gland is present all over the body of the dog to release pheromones that are the chemical signals for identification and communication. The apocrine glands aid the dogs in recognizing each other and in understanding the social prompts.
What’s the point of sweat and pants in dogs?
Have you ever noticed that dogs sweat and pant simultaneously? If you see that your canine friend is sweating and panting at the same time, it’s the symptom of overheating. This simultaneous process is to regulate the body temperature of dogs. Digging and vasodilation are the other ways for cooling down the dogs.
Sweating via paws helps to cool down where panting is for lowering the body temperature of the dog.
Lemme tell you how panting lowers the dog’s body temperature:
- The quick breath causes the air in, to cool down the inside body of dogs.
- The quick breath then causes the air to emit to release the heat from inside.
- The quick breathing causes in and out movement of air which evaporates the moisture from the mouth and mucous membranes of the dog.
More the humidity, warmer will be the moisture which makes it difficult for dogs to cool down themselves by panting.
As the sweat evaporates, it cools down the human and dog’s body alike. But dogs depend on more than their paws to maintain their body’s temperature more valuably.
The evaporation of liquid takes place through the dog’s tongue while panting. You might ask, do dogs sweat through the tongue? Not quite. The evaporation of hot moisture via panting cools down their body, however that liquid is the saliva.
Panting is just a short-term resolution for the dogs to regulate their body temperature as it requires energy which generates heat.
There are two symptoms that your dog’s body temperature is rising to a dangerous level:
- The length and width of the dog’s tongue increases.
- Panting becomes more forceful or heavier.
These are maybe the symptoms of heat stroke. If you notice this condition, bring your dog quickly to a cooler place and immediately call your vet.
Some other symptoms of heatstroke includes:
- Seizures
- Vomit
- Diarrhea
- Disorientation
- Increased saliva
It is important to note that dogs do not contain the same capability as humans to cool down their body. If your dog is panting and sweating simultaneously, they might be more overheated than you.
Heatstroke in dogs
When dog’s body temperature goes above 105℉_it maybe a sign of heatstroke, that is fatal. Get him immediately to a cool place and call your vet. You might see the symptoms like:
- Disorientation.
- Blue, red or pale gums.
- Seizures.
- Diarrhea.
- Vomit.
- Increased heartbeat.
Conclusion
Next time if you see tha moist paw pads on the floor_don’t worry! Your furry friend is trying to make himself cool on hot summer days. But if you see that temperature of dog’s body goes more than 105℉, immediately call your vet and till that try to keep your dog in cool shady place.
FAQs
What is the heat exhaustion in dogs?
Normal body temperature in dogs is 100℉ to 102.5℉ but if it goes above 104℉ or 105℉_your dog might have exhaustion. The symptoms includes:
- Lowered tail.
- Difficult breath.
- Unexpected backoff from the physical activities.
- Drooping ears.
How can you keep your dog cool?
Give them access to water and shade. In summers, exercise them only in early mornings or in late evenings. Avoid leaving your dog unattended in the parked car, even for a short period.
How vasodilation is done in dogs?
For cooling, dogs dilate the blood vessels especially in the ear and face_so warm blood becomes close to the surface of skin and cools. That’s why their chin and ear become red when they become hot.
