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. This is not so with our furry friends. It is widely believed that dogs don't sweat. It is believed that it is impossible for dogs to sweat through their furs. It is highly possible that even people that have had dogs for years have not seen one sweating. The very few sweat glands dogs have are mostly found on the foot pads. The notion that dogs cannot sweat is simply untrue. On a very hot day, the wet paw prints of the dog can be seen on the floor.
What do dogs do to cope with the heat? Panting like barking is a trademark of dogs.. Dogs uses panting as a one of a kind cooling system that ensures the circulation of cooler blood to all parts of the body to regulate temperature. A dog that pants needs very little energy. A dog only has to hang out the tongue and its own cooling system will start to work. The tongue therefore plays a very important role on how a dog manages the heat.
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. Cooling off is achieved through the tongue. When the tongue is lolled, evaporation is facilitated on its surface. Air that cools the mouth and the blood vessels on the head is created when the dog pants. Once blood is cooled by the dog's panting the normal level of body temperature will be attained.
Dog panting can have other causes. Hot weather causes dogs to pant excessively. Excitement, stress or exhaustion from a strenuous activity will make a dog pant. The physical structures of short faced dogs requires them to pant excessively. Seizures, heart and lung diseases are other reasons why a dog would pant.
Although panting is a normal behavior, an owner still needs to be observant. A panting dog may be suffering from heatstroke. Dogs find it hard to manage heat. Cars and other confined spaces will be dangerous to a dog especially on hot weather. Heatstroke is a common killer of dogs.
What do dogs do to cope with the heat? Panting like barking is a trademark of dogs.. Dogs uses panting as a one of a kind cooling system that ensures the circulation of cooler blood to all parts of the body to regulate temperature. A dog that pants needs very little energy. A dog only has to hang out the tongue and its own cooling system will start to work. The tongue therefore plays a very important role on how a dog manages the heat.
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. Cooling off is achieved through the tongue. When the tongue is lolled, evaporation is facilitated on its surface. Air that cools the mouth and the blood vessels on the head is created when the dog pants. Once blood is cooled by the dog's panting the normal level of body temperature will be attained.
Dog panting can have other causes. Hot weather causes dogs to pant excessively. Excitement, stress or exhaustion from a strenuous activity will make a dog pant. The physical structures of short faced dogs requires them to pant excessively. Seizures, heart and lung diseases are other reasons why a dog would pant.
Although panting is a normal behavior, an owner still needs to be observant. A panting dog may be suffering from heatstroke. Dogs find it hard to manage heat. Cars and other confined spaces will be dangerous to a dog especially on hot weather. Heatstroke is a common killer of dogs.
About the Author:
Want to know more about why dogs pant? Then visit Sarah's Dogs. Sarah's Dogs has answers to this and many other questions about dog behaviour.
No comments:
Post a Comment