Hot Asphalt is No Good for Dogs’ Paws.
Dogs are not only at risk of overheating in summer. High temperatures might also burn their paws, if we let them walk on hot surfaces.
The Secrets of Dog Paws
Have you ever wondered how it is possible that dogs can wade through snow or run on ice with their bare feet and the paws don’t get frostbites? We know why!
Dog paw pads are one of a few spots where dogs sweat and they aren’t covered by fur. When you think about it you could easily get the idea that they might be more prone to frostbites or even freeze to the icy surface because of their dampness. So how is it possible that dogs can walk and run in snow or on ice without consequences?
Japanese scientist Hiroyoshi Ninomiya and his team of experts brought an explanation in 2013. Together, they found out that dogs have a special arrangement of vessels in the paw skin and it can maintain them warm even at very low temperatures.
These vessel structures are so tiny that they aren’t visible with regular microscopes. They were discovered and photographed with the use of an electron microscope which can achieve much better efficient enlargement than a common light microscope.
The vessels in dog paws create a net around arteries. They are so close to them that the warmer arterial blood warms the blood in vessels and a significant amount of the warmth is saved. This system is called heat exchangers and penguins, whales or seals also have it.
But it’s not everything. To keep the paws warm, dogs use one more trick. The same one is used by arctic foxes and wolves. The vessels of these animals control the supply of blood into paws according to the ambient temperature. If the temperature drops, the blood flow in paws speeds up and it can’t get much colder.
As the character of individual breeds is more or less different from their wolf ancestors these days due to breeding, the same applies to their physical properties. Therefore, it is possible that the predispositions for dog paw resilience against freezing will be different in different breeds. It’s difficult to say how the miniature breed’s paws will handle snow for a long time. This research was done on beagles.
As you can see, dog paws can stand much more than you might think. However, nature definitely didn’t take into account salt, gravel and other grits. It’s paradoxical, but we have to pay more attention to dog paws in winter in cities even with very short walks than on a day-long trip to the countryside.
Related articles
FeLV – Feline Leukaemia Virus
Besides FIP and FIV, FeLV is another fatal virus disease of cats. It is often called cat leukaemia because leukaemia is one of the common symptoms of the disease. How can your cat get infected, how can you recognize and treat it?
Portraits of Popular Breeds at Home and Abroad: Abyssinian cat
The Abyssinian is a short-haired elegant creature with a strong personality and history going back to the ancient Egypt. It wants to be a rightful family member and you won’t get enough of its thick, silky fur.
Portraits of Popular Breeds at Home and Abroad: Japanese Chin
If you are looking for a very social breed, you have already found one. The Japanese Chin takes the role of a companion as its life’s mission. This mini dog is joyful, playful and obedient companion for both children and adults.
How to Pick the Best Meat Can for Your Dog
Would you like to give the best to your dog but there is so many brands and types of cans on the market that you get confused? I’m coming with a few tips how to choose, what shouldn’t be missing in the can and what shouldn’t be there at all.
Mixed Household or How Can a Cat and a Dog Live Together
Relationships between a cat and a dog can be difficult. Some of them might be companions for life, others are mortal enemies. This is a story of our pack which consisted of various characters but we have always somehow managed living together.
Long Hair is Good for Dogs in Summer
In summer, we throw off one piece of clothes after another. Especially in the last few years when the temperatures go up to tropical values. You may say that the fur of your pet must be terrible and it will be better to cut it. Is that really true?
What Might be Dangerous for a Cat Outdoors?
Many adventures await a cat outside and hopefully even a few cat friends. However, also various dangers might be there as well. What can happen to a cat outdoors?
Rabbits’ Body Language
Not only dogs and cats communicate with us non-verbally. Even rabbits tell us what and how they feel with their non-verbal expressions such as postures, gestures and sounds. It helps us understand what mood they are just in. Let’s look at expression...
Natural Protection against Ticks
You can get natural variants of antiparasitic agents to you dogs as well or you can make them at home. What are their benefits and their downsides?
Feline Spring Fever
It is a well-known fact that cats love bright and warm spots, they like to relax on warm windowsills. Therefore, even though they are famous sleepyheads, they get new energy with the spring coming, they are more active, more sociable and more joyful....
AIDS of Cats Called FIV
FIV is a feared viral infectious disease of cats. It causes a slow disruption of immune systems, similarly to human virus called HIV. What is the cause and the progress of this malicious disease and what does its terminal stage look like?...