Do Dogs Sweat?

Dogs have some sweat glands, but their skin is covered in fur, so this minimizes the amount of cooling the sweat can provide. Paw pads have the most sweat glands. You may see damp footprints from your dog walking on a hard surface in the summertime. Panting is the most efficient way dogs cool themselves. It works by allowing heat from the hottest part of the body, the inner thorax, to escape through moisture produced by mucous membranes of the tongue, mouth and throat. The dog exhales the moist air and the process of evaporation cools the dog.

How Does Body Temperature Stay Within the Normal Range?

Body temperature is controlled by the brain. When there are increases in outside temperatures, or a dog is excited, stressed, or has been exercising, the body gets a signal from the brain to lose the extra body heat. The primary way is through panting, but other methods are also important. Dilating blood vessels in the skin allows heat to escape as the warm blood is brought closer to the surface. Sweating, stretching out the body, or getting wet are other ways dogs stay cool. If these processes cannot be performed, or the body is overwhelmed and cannot cool itself enough, heat stroke and death may occur.

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