Why do dogs pant?
Quick Answer
Dogs pant mainly to cool down, because they have very few sweat glands and rely on evaporation from the mouth and airways.
The Full Story
Unlike humans, dogs have sweat glands mainly on their paw pads, which do little to cool the body. Instead they pant, breathing rapidly and shallowly so air moves over the moist surfaces of the tongue, mouth and lungs. As moisture evaporates, it carries heat away. Panting rates can rise from around 30 breaths per minute at rest to over 300 in hot conditions. Dogs also pant from excitement, stress or pain, and flat-faced breeds such as pugs and bulldogs struggle to cool themselves, putting them at higher risk of heatstroke.
Key Facts
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Suggested video title for this topic:
"Dogs can’t sweat like us — so they pant"
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