Why does the dog stick out its tongue?

Many people notice that dogs periodically stick out their tongues, but few can explain the cause of this phenomenon. Some people think that this shouldn’t be emphasized, and that’s just a dog’s habit. And they have reason to think so, because this is not so rare. But in fact, this is not an ordinary habit, but a consequence of certain processes in the animal’s body, which helps him adapt to the world around him and maintain his own health.

Dog tongue is an important organ, because with it, dogs not only drink water and lick their owners, but also wash themselves and cool themselves in hot weather. Therefore, there can be many reasons for this action (protruding the tongue).

Reasons a dog sticks its tongue out of its mouth

• Labored breathing.
• Hot season.
• Strong physical exertion on the dog’s body.
• Also, the protruding tongue can be seen by the dog during sleep or rest.
• The reason for this may be the good mood of the pet.

Hard breath
Tongue sticking out for this reason is often found in dog breeds such as a pug, a Pekingese or a bulldog. These representatives belong to the "brachycephalic breeds." They all have flattened noses, and therefore they have a greater tendency to brachycephalic syndrome, which consists in difficulty breathing due to damage to the upper respiratory tract. Therefore, in this case, we can say that these dogs stick out their tongues due to genetic characteristics.

Representatives of these breeds can also stick out their tongues due to the fact that they are quite long for their mouth. And some animals simply have an irregular jaw structure, because of which it can not hold the tongue inside. This phenomenon is often found among the Pekingese.

Hot weather
It’s hard for dogs, and almost all breeds, to endure the hot season. Sometimes this can lead to the disease of the animal. And the reason for this is that dogs have a completely different arrangement of sweat glands. Because of what their body can not cool like a human. In humans, these glands are located throughout the body, and in dogs they are only on the nose and pads of their paws.

The tongue of the animal is equipped with a whole system of blood vessels, and when the dog's body temperature rises from heat, these vessels expand due to increased pressure. The blood flow increases significantly, and the dog feels the need for cooling. Therefore, she sticks out her tongue. The saliva that is on it evaporates on contact with air, which leads to cooling. Because of this, the dog's well-being improves significantly, and the temperature returns to normal. Therefore, in this case, we can say that dogs stick out their tongue in order to adapt to environmental conditions.

How to help your pet in hot weather

In order for the dog to feel better in hot weather, it is necessary to supply it with clean drinking water. If this is not done, the animal may overheat, and this can lead to dehydration. Which does not positively affect the condition and health in general. Also, in order to alleviate the condition in the heat, it is worth bathing the pet or pouring water over it. But with this you should not overdo it, because the dog can catch a cold.

It is worth considering the fact that in the hot season, if the pet is wearing a muzzle, it must be selected in such a way that it cannot prevent the tongue from protruding.

Thermoregulation and dog hair
Dog breeders noted that the shorter the coat of a pet, the less it sticks out its tongue. For example, a dachshund and a Labrador with a Doberman do this much less frequently than a Samoyed or a collie.And bald pets have absolutely no need for this, because their cooling occurs through the surface of the body.

At risk are dogs that have a rather thick and long coat of black color.

Physical exercise
Due to the fact that during outdoor activities or jogging, the pressure increases and blood circulation becomes more intense, the body temperature of the pet rises significantly and the body urgently needs to be cooled. This is the reason that the dog sticks out its tongue. Here the principle of action is the same as in the case of the hot season.

Sleep or rest
If during sleep or rest the dog sticks out the tip of its tongue, then you can be sure that the pet is feeling quite comfortable. If the pet played for a long time, and then lay down with its tongue sticking out next to the owner, then it feels relaxed. The dog also feels good if it sticks out its tongue when it just rests lying in its place.

Expression of emotional state
The most positive reason a dog sticks out its tongue is an expression of a friendly disposition. When the animal is in an excellent mood, the tongue is a kind of confirmation of this. The pet can touch the language of things or lick its owner, thereby expressing his disposition to him. Also, with the help of the tongue, the dog marks “his” things and objects. And this further helps him to recognize where his things are and where strangers are.

If the weather is not hot, and the pet does not suffer from obstruction of the upper respiratory tract, and he did not run in the near future, then it is safe to say that the reason for the tongue sticks out is the friendliness and good mood of the pet.

In order to better understand the specific dog and its behavior, you need to follow him. Basically, these animals are quite open, and all their actions have a cause. Therefore, protruding the tongue does not pose any danger if you properly care for your own pet. It is worth paying attention that if the animal’s tongue is wet, then its health is normal. But you should be wary if the dog sticks out a dry tongue.

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