RSSReasons Why Dogs Pant
Jul 29
Dog Information animals, dog behaviour, Dog Information, dog pant, dogs, home, pets, why do dogs pant No Comments
Dogs do not sweat the way we humans do. To deal with the heat, humans make use of a very important method – sweating. Excess heat is dispersed from the body when the moisture produced when we sweat evaporates on the surface of the skin. This is not so with our furry friends. There is a notion that dogs do not 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. This means that dogs can sweat. During hot days the floor will be marked by the dog’s paws dampened with sweat.
What methods does a dog have to combat the heat? Panting like barking is a trademark of dogs.. Dogs uses panting as a one of a kind cooling system that ensures the circulation of cooler blood to all parts of the body to regulate temperature. 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. This makes the tongue a very important part in the dog’s one of a kind cooling system.
The few sweat glands on the dogs paws will be incapable of cooling the body especially if the feet is planted on a hot surface. Cooling off is achieved through the tongue. By hanging out the tongue, the dog boosts the evaporation of moisture from the tongue’s 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. Dogs commonly pant when the weather is hot. Stress, excitement and strenuous activities would make a dog pant. Because of their physical structure, short faced dogs have the tendency to pant excessively. Dogs with medical concerns would pant.
As mentioned, panting is normal in dogs but a pet parent has to be vigilant. Heavy panting can be a manifestation of heatstroke. Dogs are severely affected by high temperatures. Left inside a car, a dog would pant heavily further heating up the confined space. Heatstroke is one of the common causes of canine deaths.
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.
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