Hello, beautiful humans! It is me, Blu! Your favorite high-energy, big-eared Griffon Bleu de Gascogne rescue. Today, I want to talk about one of my absolute favorite activities: running. I run when I’m happy, I run when I see a squirrel, and I run just because the wind feels amazing in my floppy ears. But have you ever noticed what happens after a high-speed zoomie session on a warm day?
You might see me flop onto the cool kitchen tile, tongue lolling out like a pink slip of giant bubblegum. And if you look closely at where I just walked, you might see tiny, damp paw prints. Yes, those are sweat marks! But wait—do dogs actually sweat like humans do? How do we keep our cool when we don’t wear athletic tees or carry water bottles? Grab a cold bowl of water, sit back, and let me break down the fascinating science of canine thermoregulation.
The Secret of the Sweaty Paws: Merocrine Glands
Unlike you humans, who get all sweaty under your arms and on your foreheads when you work out, we dogs are a bit more selective. According to the experts at the American Kennel Club (AKC), dogs do sweat, but we only have true sweat glands in a few specific places. The main ones are called merocrine glands, and they are located right in our paw pads.
When my body temperature rises, these little glands start pumping out moisture. If you’ve ever seen little wet damp prints on your hardwood floor after a walk on a sunny afternoon, you’ve seen merocrine glands in action! However, because our paws are relatively small compared to the rest of our glorious, furry bodies, sweating through our feet isn’t actually enough to cool us down completely. It is more like a tiny backup system. Some scientists even believe that sweaty paws actually help us get a better grip on the ground when we need to bolt away from a scary bath situation. Sneaky, right?
The Other Glands: Why We Smell Like ‘Fritos’
Now, you might have heard of another type of gland we have: the apocrine glands. As noted by PetMD, these glands are located all over our bodies, associated with every single hair follicle. But here is the catch—they don’t cool us down at all!
Instead of sweat, apocrine glands release special scent pheromones. This is our natural cologne! It’s how Niki (our resident, very proper English Setter) knows exactly where I’ve been, and how I know which neighborhood dogs have visited our favorite sniffing lamppost. Sometimes, the combination of moisture from our merocrine paw glands and the natural bacteria on our skin creates a scent that humans swear smells just like corn chips or Fritos. Don’t knock it until you try it—I think it’s a very distinguished fragrance.
Panting: Our Ultimate, High-Powered Air Conditioner
So, if sweating through our paws doesn’t do the trick, how do we stop from overheating? Enter the mighty pant! Panting is our primary method of thermoregulation, and it is a marvel of biological engineering.
When I pant, I am performing evaporative cooling. As explained by the Carey Animal Hospital, the rapid, shallow breathing moves warm air over the moist surfaces of my tongue, mouth, and lungs. As this moisture evaporates, it cools down the blood vessels flowing through my tongue and mouth. That cooled-down blood then circulates back through the rest of my body, bringing my overall temperature down. It is like having a built-in swamp cooler right in our mouths! This is why my tongue gets so incredibly long and wide when I’m warm—I am maximizing the surface area to get maximum cooling power.
The Magic of Vasodilation
Another neat trick we have up our sleeves (or rather, under our fur) is called vasodilation. According to studies on animal thermoregulation, including those referenced by the Veterinary Kinetics Rehab and research on PubMed, when a dog gets hot, their blood vessels expand—especially the ones in the face, ears, and neck.
By dilating these blood vessels, our bodies bring the warm blood closer to the surface of the skin. This allows the heat to radiate out of our bodies and into the surrounding air. It’s the reason my big, beautiful ears might feel extra warm to the touch after I’ve been playing fetch. My body is hard at work radiating that heat away!
Why Shaving Us Isn’t Always a Good Idea
A lot of well-meaning humans look at us in the summer and think, “Oh, poor Blu looks so hot in all that fur, let’s shave him down!” Please, hold the clippers!
As the veterinary experts at DuPont Veterinary Clinic point out, a dog’s coat actually acts as insulation. Just like insulation keeps your house warm in the winter and cool in the summer, our fur protects us from the harsh heat and sunburn. Shaving a double-coated dog can actually ruin their natural ability to regulate their temperature and leave them vulnerable to heatstroke. A good brush to get rid of loose undercoat is much better!
How You Can Help Your Best Friend Beat the Heat
While our bodies are pretty amazing, we still need your help to stay safe. Dogs can overheat quickly, which can lead to a medical emergency known as heatstroke. The Cornell University Riney Canine Health Center warns that heatstroke is incredibly dangerous and requires immediate veterinary attention.
Here is how you can be our cooling hero:
- Always provide fresh, cool water: Keep bowls filled, and maybe throw in an ice cube! (I love chasing ice cubes around the floor before eating them).
- Never leave us in a parked car: Even with the windows cracked, a car can turn into an oven in minutes. As emphasized by Sahara Pines Animal Hospital, it is never worth the risk.
- Find the shade: When we are outside, make sure there is a cool, shady spot for us to rest.
- Avoid hot pavement: Remember our sweaty paw pads? They are very sensitive! If the pavement is too hot for your bare hand, it is too hot for our paws.
- Know the warning signs: If you see excessive, frantic panting, dark red or purple gums, extreme lethargy, or vomiting, get us to a cool area and call the vet immediately.
Now if you’ll excuse me, all this talk about running and thermoregulation has made me very sleepy. I think I will go find a nice, cool patch of tile to lie on and take a well-deserved nap. Stay cool out there, friends, and don’t forget to give your pups some fresh water!
