Why Do Dogs Pant?
Dogs don’t sweat like we do. Sweating is an important mechanism that allows humans to fight the heat. By sweating, excess heat is released from the body when the moisture on the surface of the skin evaporates. Our furry friends cannot manage excess body heat this way. There is a misconception that dogs do not have the capability to produce sweat. There is an assumption that because of the fur it would not be possible for the dog to sweat. You may have had dogs for years but it is highly probable that you have not seen one sweating. Dogs have sweat glands but they are very few and mostly found on the paw pads. This means that dogs can sweat. On a very hot day, the wet paw prints of the dog can be seen on the floor.
How do dogs manage the heat? Panting like barking is a trademark of dogs.. Panting is a dog’s effective technique of coping with the heat and ensuring that cooler blood will be circulated to all parts of the body and to prevent the brain, the most heat sensitive part from being affected by excessive heat. A dog does not need to exert too much effort to pant. The dog would simply hang out the tongue and the excess body heat will be chased away. This makes the tongue a very important part in the dog’s one of a kind cooling system.
The few sweat glands on the dogs paws will be incapable of cooling the body especially if the feet is planted on a hot surface. In this case, regulating body temperature will be achieved by the tongue. The evaporation of moisture on the surface of the tongue is enhanced when the dog lolls the tongue. While the dog pants, a steady stream of air cools the tongue, the mouth and the blood vessels in the head. The blood made colder by panting is now circulated throughout the dog’s body the dissipating the heat and maintaining the normal body temperature.
Dogs pant for other reasons. Dogs commonly pant when the weather is hot. Stress, excitement and strenuous activities would make a dog pant. The physical structures of short faced dogs requires them to pant excessively. Dogs with medical concerns would pant.
Dogs normally pant but pet owners have to be watchful. Heavy panting can be a manifestation of heatstroke. Dogs are severely affected by high temperatures. Cars and other confined spaces will be dangerous to a dog especially on hot weather. Heatstroke is a common killer of dogs.
Dogs are interesting animals. Learn more about why do dogs pant and read more about heatstroke symptoms, prevention and treatment at Sarah’s Dogs.