Do Poodles Sweat?

This might seem like an odd question to be asking – however, you must have wondered this to find yourselves here. Have you ever seen perspiration dripping down a dog’s face after their morning run? Have they ever “felt” sweaty to touch? Is the sweat process different from humans? Where do they sweat on their bodies and why? Time to explore the sweaty world of Poodles.

Poodles do sweat. However, the process is different from the way we humans do and you may not see any visible signs of your Poodle sweating. They sweat from their paw pads and sometimes their noses. They do not sweat in areas where there is fur.

Why can’t Poodles sweat through their fur and why do they sweat through their paws and noses? Let’s look at whether a sweaty Poodle needs more frequent bathing and we’ll also share some tips on keeping your pooch cool in the heat.

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The Facts About Poodles and Sweating

Poodles do indeed sweat – as do all dog breeds. However, the process is different from that of humans. Humans sweat through the eccrine glands and apocrine glands. The eccrine glands can be found all over the human body whereas the apocrine glands are situated under the armpits. Sweat can be very visible on humans all over the body.

Dogs sweat differently. They sweat mainly through their paw pads. These are called the merocrine glands and dogs sweat here because there is no fur present to stop evaporation. Dogs also have the apocrine glands, but these do not have the purpose of cooling your dog down. Instead, they release pheromones which are the scents emitted from your dog. These scents include sexual, fear, avoidance, and aggression. You may not see your dog sweat but it’s worth looking closely at your kitchen floor the next time it’s hot outside, you may notice wet paw prints.

Dogs also have sweat glands located on their noses. Dogs don’t have sweat glands in any places that contain fur. This is because the process of sweating in dogs involves the sweat being evaporated which acts as a cooling function for the dog. In long fur this sweat wouldn’t be able to evaporate, it would become trapped. This would mean dogs would not be able to cool down adequately.

Can Dogs Sweat Excessively?

Humans can suffer from a medical condition called hyperhidrosis where they produce excessive amounts of sweat. It is believed that dogs can sometimes also sweat excessively in certain situations. One situation is when a dog is anxious. Sometimes anxiety in dogs’ triggers lots of panting episodes. A less visible sign of anxiety can be sweating – in their paw pads and perhaps noses too. If you are concerned your dog might be sweating excessively your vet will be able to offer advice so it’s always worth chatting to them about it.

A Dog’s Cooling Process

Sweating plays an important role in humans when they are trying to cool down. The evaporated sweat effectively acts as a cooling system for us. It’s not quite the same for our four-legged friends and sweating isn’t their most effective way of cooling down.

Panting provides a much more effective way of cooling down your pooch and accounts for why they do it on hot days or after physical exercise. They collect moisture on their tongue which in turn evaporates during the panting process which cools them down. Dogs also cool down by a process called vasodilation in which blood vessels expand and allow the hot blood to cool down at the surface before flowing back to the heart.

You can read more about panting in our Why Does Our Doodle Pant So Much article.

Does Sweat Make Poodles Smelly?

The Poodle coat requires regular grooming and bathing due to their coat being a single coat, unlike many other dog breeds. They are prone to matting and skin conditions if they are not groomed every 3 – 6 weeks.

Brushing is very much a part of the Poodle’s daily routine and bathing should generally take place every month. For this reason, even if your Poodle does sweat from time to time you shouldn’t need to do anything differently because they are a high maintenance dog in terms of grooming anyway.

Top Tips on Keeping Your Poodle Cool

Keep walks scheduled to the cooler periods of the day so early morning and late-night walks will be a must during hot weather
Always have water on offer all year round and on walks when the weather is humid
Have a cool shaded place for your Poodle for those hot summer days
Air conditioning, fans, and wet towels are all great ways to keep dogs cool. It might be tempting to use ice cubes but dogs should not be cooled down too rapidly, so this is best avoided. You should also make sure the air con isn’t blowing straight onto your dog, or if it is, they have space to move away
Keep curtains closed during the hours when the sun is beating in on the windows and then open the curtains and windows when the sun has moved
Never be tempted to leave your dog in a hot or even warm car, even for a short time

Signs of Heat Stroke in Dogs

Dogs can go from normal health to being ill with heat stroke very quickly so here are some of the signs to be aware of:

Extreme panting
Lethargic behavior
Increased heart rate
Sickness or diarrhea
Seizures
High body temperature (higher than 104°F)

If you suspect heat stroke in your dog you must seek advice from your vet in the first instance.

In Conclusion

Yes, Poodles do sweat, and this is normal for dogs just like it is for humans. Sweating is one form of cooling down in the canine world but the main way they keep their temperature regulated is through panting. If you do notice your Poodle’s paws or nose are damp on hot days then it’s very likely caused by sweating as these are where the merocrine glands are situated.