Can A Dog Sweat?

As the weather heats up, you might find yourself drenched in sweat. But, your dog seems to be perfectly fine, aside from the panting. Is it that dogs just don’t sweat like we do?

You’ll just have to keep reading to find out:

Sweating

Sweating is the body’s way of cooling itself down. Humans have sweat glands all over our bodies that produce a salty liquid that is excreted whenever it gets too hot. For dogs, this process is vastly different.

Dogs have sweat glands, but they are in different areas than they are in humans. One reason for this is their fur. If they had sweat glands in the same place, it would be impossible for the sweat to evaporate, and they would be damp and icky. Instead, they have a different type of gland inside their paw pads. Note that this isn’t the main way their bodies cool down.

This happens through panting. The moisture evaporates from their tongues, nasal passages, and throats.

How you can help

Unfortunately, their method of cooling down isn’t as effective as ours. The good news, however, is that you can help. Here’s how:

• Exercise when it’s cooler- Exercising during the hotter parts of the day can cause heat strokes. Instead, exercise your dog in the early morning, or late afternoon.
• Avoid hot cars- Do not leave your dog in a hot car even if you’re just running into the store quickly. This can be fatal within minutes.
• Give your dog cold water- Cold water or ice is a great way to help regulate your dog’s body temperature.
• Provide shade- Ensure your dog has a covered kennel or access to a shaded area if it gets too hot outside.