Have you ever wondered if dogs sweat? You might've heard that dogs cool off by panting, but does that mean they never sweat? Read on to get the facts about dog sweat and its role in keeping dogs cool.
Do Dogs Sweat Like Humans?
Dogs sweat, but they sweat a bit differently than humans.
Dogs have two types of sweat glands: merocrine glands, which are similar to human sweat glands, and apocrine glands. Merocrine glands are located in dogs' paw pads. Sweating through their paws helps dogs cool down. The apocrine glands, located throughout your dog's body, also make dog sweat — but this type of sweat doesn't cool your pup down. Instead, according to the American Kennel Club, the sweat from apocrine glands contains scent pheromones that help dogs identify each other.
How Else Do Dogs Stay Cool?
While sweating through their paws helps your dog cool down a little, the primary way they lower their body temperature is through panting.
Here's how it works: When a dog pants, the evaporating moisture on their tongue combined with the evaporation of the moist lining of their lungs cools them down, says Psychology Today. This is similar to the way evaporating sweat on the human body helps humans cool down.
There's one more way dogs are able to regulate their body temperatures, called vasodilation. During this process, a dog's blood vessels expand, bringing hot blood closer to the skin's surface and letting it cool down. This cooler blood then flows back to the heart, bringing the dog's overall temperature down.
Can Dogs Sweat Too Much?
People who are prone to excessive sweating, even when they're in a cool environment, have a condition called hyperhidrosis. It's unclear if dogs experience the same thing. However, dogs do sometimes sweat a lot through their paws when they're stressed, says PetHelpful. While no one's certain why this happens, it's believed that the excess moisture provides better traction on some surfaces, helping dogs run away from the source of their stress. This stress-induced sweating generally clears up once the stressful situation passes.
Tasty Tips
If you notice your dog's paw pads producing a lot of moisture, ask your veterinarian about possible causes and ways to help your sweaty pup stress less.
Recognizing an Overheated Dog
While dogs have mechanisms to cool themselves down, they aren't always the most effective, making them prone to overheating in hot weather. Heat exhaustion in dogs can quickly escalate to a life-threatening heat stroke if it isn't dealt with immediately.
The AKC says to watch out for the following signs of your dog overheating:
- Heavy or rapid panting
- Excessive drooling
- Lack of coordination
- Red gums
- Rapid or irregular heart rate
- Muscle tremors or seizure
- Feeling warm to the touch
- Loss of consciousness
If your dog shows any of the above signs, immediately move them into an air-conditioned space or to a shaded area and offer them water to drink. To prevent your dog from getting overheated in the first place, limit their physical activity in hot weather, keep them in the shade and provide them with plenty of water. It's also crucial to never leave your dog trapped in a hot environment, such as a parked car. Being a loving and responsible pet parent includes keeping your cool pooch from becoming a hot dog.
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