What Do You Call A Dog That Sweats So Much? Understanding a Dog’s Behaviour
What do you call a dog that sweats so much? The answer might surprise you. But before we spell out the answer, we have a question for you: do you have any guesses?
Hot dog!
No, we have not taken a U-turn and jumped to another topic. “Hot dog” is the answer. The dog that sweats so much is called a hot dog! Has it gotten a chuckle?
Now, let’s move to some serious angle. Your dog may have a “sweating” problem. Yes, dogs do sweat, and in this article, we’ll try to cover the various aspects of sweating in dogs.
How Do Dogs Sweat?
Many dog parents wonder how their furry babies sweat – there are no beads of sweat running down their faces. They sweat through their paws – shocked, right? Dogs have merocrine glands in their paws, which help them with sweating. These glands help a dog “cool down” and maintain its body temperature.
They also have another set of glands called apocrine glands. The function of these glands is that they release scent pheromones that help a dog identify another one.
Is Sweating Enough for a Cool Down?
While sweating does help a dog cool down to a great extent, it isn’t enough. Dogs also “pant” to regulate their body temperature. You may have noticed – especially during the summer – that a dog pants profusely. It does so to regulate their internal body temperature.
Dogs’ Fur and Heat
Many dog parents get their dogs shaved during the summer to supposedly keep them safe from the heat. It is the biggest mistake that they made. Contrary to popular beliefs, dog fur helps them maintain their body temperature and is programmed to keep the dog cool. In the winter, the fur helps the dog to remain warm. And in the summer, it keeps the heat away – a normal characteristic of a warm-blooded animal. When their coat is shaved, these dogs become vulnerable to a heat stroke.
Symptoms of Heat Stroke in Dogs
Heat strokes are quite common in dogs. Even with dogs’ natural cooling techniques, they sometimes fail to save themselves from the damaging sun rays. Some dog breeds – especially those with flat faces and a small nose (bulldogs, pugs, etc.)- cannot sweat effectively to keep themselves safe. Here are the signs of heatstroke in dogs:
- Lack of coordination
- Rapid or irregular heart rate
- Body temperature over 41 degrees Celsius
- Seizures
- Vomiting
- Muscle tremors
- Dehydration
- Excessive drooling
- Frantic panting
- Unconsciousness
How to Keep Your Dog Safe From Heat Stroke
While you cannot help your dog sweat more, you can pay attention to some external factors. During the summer, keep a close eye on your dog’s environment. If you have an outside dog, make sure that it has access to cold water and a proper shade. In the same manner, keep regulating your house’s temperature to make sure that your dog is comfortable. If you have taken a dog out in your car, don’t leave it inside the car with windows up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do dogs sweat under their armpits?
Ans: Many people wrongly assume that a dog’s sweating is similar to that of humans. Dogs’ sweat glands are in their paws, and they sweat through that. So, there is no sweating going on in the armpits.
Q: What is the reason for my dog’s stinky armpit?
Ans: If you have a dog with smelly armpits, you should get it checked by a vet. In most cases, a medical condition called seborrhoea causes smelly armpits. Under this condition, a greasy and waxy substance is stored around a dog’s ankles, belly, and elbows.
Q: What can I do if my dog suffers from a heat stroke?
Ans: Don’t wait a minute and take your dog to the vet. The signs of a heat stroke are mentioned above. If your dog exhibits any one of them, take them straight to the vet. You should keep a soaked towel on its face or put it in the bathtub to run cool water on it as a first-aid measure. Make sure that your dog’s head is out of the water. Also, you can give cold water to your dog to drink.
The Final Word
Understanding the behaviour of a dog is crucial for every pet parent. Many dogs suffer because of the ignorance of their owners. It doesn’t mean that owners deliberately want to put their furry friend in trouble.
They may make some mistakes, but their actions are mostly motivated by their love and care for their dogs. The best way to deal with any dog-related problems is by considering the vet and listening to their advice. If you have the habit of getting your dog shaved in the summer, you must consider putting an end to it. Also, learn about ways to prevent a heat stroke in dogs to keep your adorable pets safe during the scorching-hot summer.
