Can Dogs Sweat?

Written and verified by the lawyer Francisco María García

Last update: 27 December, 2022

Dogs have sweat glands all over their body. They can also use their pads and tongue to cool themselves down. However,  in today’s article, you can take a close look at how dogs are really able to sweat.

A dog’s skin isn’t like their owner’s. They don’t have sweat glands as humans do. They sweat through their pads and they cool down by using their mouths. This is why people sometimes say that dogs sweat through their mouths.

A different way to sweat

There is a difference between humans and dogs. When humans increase their body temperature from physical activity, we start to cool off immediately. The same thing happens when we’re exposed to hot weather. The human sweat glands are a group of particular cells that give off water vapor. When they do this, they start to work and produce sweat quickly.

Dogs don’t have sweat glands spread on their skin, which is rather different from humans and other mammals like horses. Animals have different kinds of cells that get rid of the excess heat their bodies build up. Panting and getting rid of water by using their tongue are different ways they can cool themselves off.

Their paws sweat

Most of a dog’s sweat glands are located in their paws’ pads. However, the cells that get rid of excess heat and help dogs regulate their temperature aren’t located all over their body. Even though they only have a small amount, these cells are mostly found in the paw pads. This explains why dogs practically never sweat.

The fatty layer on their paws allows dogs to cushion the impact or pressure from walking. Also, they function as an insulator from the ground temperature.

On the other hand, dogs sweat by using their paws. This explains why they leave a wet paw print trail on tile or other smooth floors.

Can dogs sweat through their mouth?

Despite what was just mentioned above, a dog’s paw pads aren’t enough to get rid of excess heat. To do this, dogs evaporate water by breathing and sticking out their tongue. In other words, they pant breathe quickly. Everyone has seen dogs pant when it’s hot out. They also do this when they’re overwhelmed, anxious, etc. This is their way of cooling off.

A dog’s body acts as a thermostat that’s normally at 100.4ºF and 102.2ºF.  When their body detects excess heat, it transfers the heat to their tongue to get rid of it.

A dog’s body does this by pumping hot blood to their tongue that’s full of saliva glands, which use moister to get rid of the excess heat.

 Their face and ears

When your dog gets rid of excess water vapor by using their tongue, they also end up cooling down their brain.

This same action also occurs with their ears that have veins. These veins can dilate or expand. If it’s not too hot out, this helps your furry friend lower their blood temperature.

Some things to know about dogs sweating

• Heat exhaustion in dogs is caused by two different things. It could be that they create more heat than they can get rid of or that they’re in an environment that’s too hot.
• Cooling off is more complex and less effective for dogs. When they get heat exhaustion is when you need to think about this.
• Larger dogs have a harder time cooling off than small ones due to their reduced sweating. Due to their big stature, they create more heat than they can get rid of.
• Smaller dogs have a greater sensitivity to higher environmental temperatures.
• Other animals use tricks to cool off. For instance rats and kangaroos lick their bellies. Storks fight the heat by defecating on their large feet.