Why Do Dogs Pant?

Dogs do not sweat the way we humans do. Humans very important mechanism to beat the heat is to sweat. When we sweat, the moisture that is produced on the skin’s surface evaporates causing excess heat to be dispersed from the body. This is not so with our furry friends. There is a misconception that dogs do not have the capability to produce sweat. It is commonly believed that because of the fur, dogs cannot sweat. Even people that have kept dogs for years may not have the opportunity to see the pet sweat. The very few sweat glands dogs have are mostly found on the foot pads. This means that dogs can sweat. During hot days the floor will be marked by the dog’s paws dampened with sweat.

How do dogs manage the heat? Dogs bark and dogs pant. Panting is the dog’s unique cooling system that prevents the brain from overheating and effecting the circulation of cooler blood to all parts of the body. A dog that pants needs very little energy. 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 dog’s few sweat glands are ineffective in cooling the body especially if the dog is walking or running on hot pavement. Regulating body temperature can only be done efficiently through the use of the tongue. When the tongue is lolled, evaporation is facilitated on its surface. While the dog pants, a steady stream of air cools the tongue, the mouth and the blood vessels in the head. 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. Dogs with medical concerns would pant.

Although panting is a normal behavior, an owner still needs to be observant. Panting is one of the symptoms 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.

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.