Do Dogs Sweat?

 People do not normally think about a sweating dog.  However, dogs exert heat just like humans do!  Some may assume that when a dog pants, it means that they are too hot.  There is so much more to it though.  This article will go into detail about how dog’s sweat and what they do to keep themselves cool.

Do dogs sweat?  The answer to this question is YES!  They sweat just like their humans do.  Dogs possess two separate sweat glands that serve a multitude of functions, as explained below:

Apocrine Glands – These are sweat glands that your dog uses as a form of social interaction.  They are located all over their body.  What is interesting is that the spots exude pheromones that our pets use to identify each other.  Instead of using them for purposes of cooling themselves down, they can make friends with other dogs.  Neat, right?

Merocrine Glands – These are in the pads of your dog’s paws and are very similar to human sweat glands.  When your dog gets too warm and needs to ventilate, they sweat through their feet. Have you ever noticed that your dog leaves wet pawprints on the ground when they spend a lot of time in hot weather?  This is why.

These two glands can help your dog fight the heat, but there are other ways for them to cool down.  Let’s discuss panting as an example.  Panting not only allows warm moisture to evaporate from the tongue, but it allows your dog to cool their body down with oxygen.  As your dog heats up, their skin presses expanding the blood vessels in their face and ears to the surface to allow for a cooling heat exchange before their blood flows back to the heart.  Another thing that is crucial in keeping your pet cool is their healthy coat.  Keep in mind that fur may keep your dog warm in the winter, but it also acts as a natural sunscreen keeping the sun from beating down on them directly.  At the end of the day, creating the best environment for your pup can alleviate further issues and add vitality to their lives!