Understanding Sweating in Dogs

Do dogs sweat? Yes

Do dogs sweat just like humans? No

Sweating in dogs differs to that in humans. There are two types of sweat glands found in dogs namely merocrine glands and apocrine glands. Merocrine glands are present in the footpads of dogs and apocrine glands are present over most of a dog’s body. Dogs sweat through their footpads and this is the reason an overheated dog leaves trails of wet footprints when he walks on the floor. But sweating trough food pads is not the process which is responsible for temperature regulation in dogs. Then how dogs get rid of unhealthy high temperature?

Panting is the primary process which helps dog in getting rid of heat. The release of body heat in dogs is less efficient as compared to humans. You will never see a dog sweating after sitting for hours on a warm sunny day. Some pet owners believe that tongue of a dog has sweat glands which is not true. Dogs pant through their mouth open so that the moisture on their tongue gets evaporated. When air moves across the surface which is moistened by saliva, it reduces the body temperature of the dog to cool down the dog. The process is same as the cooling done by breeze on the body of sweaty person.

Vasodilation is another process through which the dogs get rid of body heat. It involves expansion of blood vessels in the ears and face of dog. It helps the blood to flow in close proximity to the surface of the skin. The blood gets cooled by this process which ultimately brings the body temperature down. This usually works better if the dog has high body temperature due to exercise not due to sun’s warmth.

So, you have come to know that heat release process in dogs is not as efficient as in humans. Chances are thick that your dog may get heat stroke, and it can be lethal. You must learn some emergency measures to keep your dog in such case. Excessive panting, red-colored gums, or red skin near ears and muzzles can be symptoms of heat stroke in dog.

So, the answer to the big question ‘do dogs sweat?’ is yes. They do. But their perspiration is not visible as ours. If God has given them few sweat glands, he has gifted them with alternative methods of releasing the heat.