26/05/2026
HOW DO DOGS AND CATS SWEAT?
The Paws Have It (Merocrine Glands)
Dogs do have traditional sweat glands, called merocrine glands, but they are located almost exclusively in their paw pads. 🐾👣
How it works: When a dog gets hot, these glands activate to release moisture through the bottoms of their feet. 💧♨️
The damp proof: If you’ve ever noticed damp paw prints on the hardwood floor or pavement on a scorching day, you’ve seen their sweat glands at work. ☀️🐾
These glands, combined with natural bacteria on the skin, are also what give dog paws that famous corn chip scent! 👃🐕
The Main Cooling Engine: Panting 🌬️🐶
Because sweaty paws aren’t nearly enough to cool down an entire furry body, dogs rely on evaporative cooling through panting as their primary defense against heat. 🥵
The Process: When a dog pants, they rapidly circulate air over the moist surfaces of their tongue, mouth, and lungs. 💨👅
The Result: As the moisture evaporates from their respiratory tract, it cools down the blood vessels in their tongue and mouth, which then circulates cooler blood throughout the rest of their body. 💧🩸
⚠️ A Quick Note on Heat Safety
Because a dog’s cooling system is way less efficient than ours (panting takes a lot more effort than just sweating through skin), they overheat easily. Always make sure your pup has plenty of shade and fresh water on hot days!
If you have read all this and have learned something today, my job is done.
Barks & Bubbles is more than just grooming your pets. I want to try and educate as well.
Sarah
