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On a warm day, you may notice sweat on your own skin while your dog cools off in a very different way. Although many people assume dogs don’t sweat at all, they do produce sweat in limited areas of their bodies. However, sweating plays only a small role in keeping dogs cool. Instead, dogs rely mainly on panting, blood vessel expansion, and the insulating properties of their coat to regulate body temperature.
In This Article
How Do Dogs Sweat?
Dogs have two types of sweat glands:
- Merocrine glands
- Apocrine glands
Merocrine sweat glands function similarly to human sweat glands. Located in your dog’s paw pads, these glands activate when your pet gets hot, helping release heat. This is why you might notice damp paw prints on the ground during especially warm weather.
Most dogs are covered in fur, which limits how effectively sweat can evaporate across the body. Because evaporation is what creates the cooling effect, sweat glands are most useful in areas with little or no fur, such as the paw pads.
Apocrine sweat glands serve a different purpose. Although veterinarians classify them sweat glands, they aren’t involved in cooling. Instead, these glands release pheromones and are found throughout a dog’s body. They help dogs identify and gather information about one another through scent.
Why Panting Is a Dog’s Main Cooling System
Sweating contributes very little to temperature regulation in dogs. Instead, panting does most of the work of cooling a dog down.
When dogs pant, moisture evaporates from the tongue, nasal passages, and lining of the lungs. As that moisture evaporates, it helps lower body temperature.
Dogs also rely on vasodilation, or the expansion of blood vessels (especially in their ears and face), to cool down. As the blood vessels expand, warm blood moves closer to the skin’s surface, where heat can dissipate before the blood circulates back through the body.
Does Fur Make Dogs Hot?
Many people assume that a thick coat automatically makes a dog hotter during summer, but a healthy coat actually helps regulate temperature.
“Your dog’s coat actually acts as an insulator. A dog’s coat captures air to keep out the cold and hold heat in during winter, and to keep your dog cooler in hot weather,” explains Dr. Jerry Klein, Chief Veterinarian for the AKC.
“This is why you should not shave a double-coated breed. The inner coat, which is shed regularly, is also the dog’s insulating coat. Shaving that coat to reduce shedding or supposedly to keep the dog cool also eliminates that insulating layer of fur and makes the dog susceptible to heatstroke and can result in improper hair growth and the possibility of follicle damage.”
For double-coated breeds in particular, routine grooming and coat maintenance are better options than shaving.
Understanding Heatstroke in Dogs
Unfortunately, panting, vasodilation, and limited sweating aren’t as efficient as sweating is for humans. As a result, dogs are more vulnerable to overheating and may experience heat stress, heat exhaustion, or heatstroke.
Heatstroke is a serious medical emergency for any dog, though Dr. Klein notes that dogs with short noses or flat faces face particularly high risks because they cannot cool themselves as efficiently as other dogs.
Other dogs at increased risk include:
- Dogs that have previously experienced heatstroke
- Overweight dogs
- Dogs with dark-colored coats
Heatstroke occurs when a dog’s body temperature rises to dangerous levels. Without prompt treatment, it can become fatal.
Signs of heat stress and heatstroke include:
- Heavy, frantic panting
- Dehydration
- Body temperature over 41° C (105.8° F) and feeling hot to the touch
- Excessive drooling
- Bright red gums
- Rapid or irregular heart rate
- Vomiting
- Seizures
- Muscle tremors
- Lack of coordination (ataxia)
- Unconsciousness
If you suspect heat stress or heatstroke:
- Move your dog to a cooler environment and contact your veterinarian immediately
- While arranging emergency veterinary care, cool your dog with cool (not cold) water from a hose or in the bathtub, or place a soaked towel on their body
- Keep their head elevated and out of the water
- Offer room-temperature drinking water if they’re able to drink
How to Help Your Dog Cool
While you cannot increase your dog’s ability to sweat, you can help them stay comfortable by managing their environment and activity level.
Dogs spending time outdoors should always have access to shade and plenty of clean, fresh water. Also, keep an eye on the temperature inside your house to ensure that it’s cool enough for your pets. Never leave your dog unattended in a car, even for a few minutes, as temperatures inside a vehicle can quickly climb to dangerous levels.
Avoid exercising your dog during the hottest parts of the day. Early morning and evening walks are generally safer options. Remember that hot pavement can burn paw pads even when air temperatures seem manageable.
After active play, such as a game of fetch, allow your dog to cool down without carrying toys in their mouth, since panting is essential for heat release. Cooling products such as vests and bandanas may also help improve comfort during warm-weather outings.
Even moderately warm days can be challenging for senior dogs, puppies, and dogs with heavy or dark-colored coats. Be sure to watch your individual dog’s behavior and adjust activities based on their needs.
By understanding how dogs regulate their body temperature, you can better protect them from overheating and help keep them comfortable, healthy, and safe year-round.
Key Takeaways
- Dogs do sweat, but only in limited areas, primarily through glands in their paw pads.
- Panting and blood vessel expansion are a dog’s primary cooling mechanisms.
- A healthy coat helps insulate dogs from both heat and cold, especially in double-coated breeds.
- Dogs are more susceptible to heatstroke than humans because they cannot cool themselves through widespread sweating.
- Shade, water, appropriate exercise timing, and heat awareness are essential for preventing overheating.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Do dogs sweat through their paws?
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Yes. Dogs have merocrine sweat glands in their paw pads that release small amounts of sweat when they become hot. This is why you may occasionally see damp paw prints during warm weather. However, paw-pad sweating provides only limited cooling compared to panting.
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How can you tell if a dog is sweating?
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The easiest sign to spot is damp or wet paw prints during hot weather or periods of stress. Unlike humans, dogs do not sweat across most of their bodies, so you generally won’t see sweat on their fur. Panting is usually the more noticeable sign that your dog is trying to cool down.
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Do puppies keep gaining weight after they stop growing taller?
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Dogs have relatively few sweat glands compared with humans, making sweating an inefficient cooling method. Panting allows moisture to evaporate from the tongue, nasal passages, and respiratory tract, helping release body heat more effectively.
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Does shaving a dog help keep them cool?
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Not necessarily. For many breeds, especially double-coated breeds, the coat provides insulation against both heat and cold. Shaving can remove this protective layer and may actually increase the risk of overheating.
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Which dogs are most at risk for heatstroke?
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Overweight dogs, dogs with dark-colored coats, senior dogs, puppies, dogs with short noses or flat faces, and dogs that have previously experienced heatstroke are generally at greater risk of overheating in hot weather.
This article is intended solely as general guidance, and does not constitute health or other professional advice. Individual situations and applicable laws vary by jurisdiction, and you are encouraged to obtain appropriate advice from qualified professionals in the applicable jurisdictions. We make no representations or warranties concerning any course of action taken by any person following or otherwise using the information offered or provided in this article, including any such information associated with and provided in connection with third-party products, and we will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary or other damages that may result, including but not limited to economic loss, injury, illness or death.