Why Do Dogs Pant?

Dogs don’t sweat like we do. Sweating is an important mechanism that allows humans to fight the heat. Excess heat is dispersed from the body when the moisture produced when we sweat evaporates on the surface of the skin. This is not possible with our canine friends. It is widely believed that dogs don’t sweat. It is believed that it is impossible for dogs to sweat through their furs. Even people that have kept dogs for years may not have the opportunity to see the pet sweat. Dogs have sweat glands but they are very few and mostly found on the paw pads. Contrary to the belief, dogs do sweat. Dog paws wet with sweat can be seen marking pavements on hot days.

What do dogs do to cope with 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. Not much energy is needed by a dog to pant. When the dog lolls the tongue, the cooling system switch will be turned on and excess body heat will be gone. A dog’s tongue is one important tool in regulating body temperature.

Because of the location of the very few sweat glands, a dog cannot cool the body if it is running on hot pavement. 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. Dogs commonly pant when the weather is hot. Dogs loll out their tongues when excited, when stressed or after a strenuous exercise. 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 cannot cope well with high temperatures. Dogs must not be left in unventilated cars. Heatstroke is one of the common causes of canine deaths.

Dogs are interesting animals. Learn more about why do dogs pant and read more about heatstroke symptoms, prevention and treatment at Sarah’s Dogs.