4 Reasons Why a Dog’s Tongue Feels Hot

A dog’s body is naturally warmer than a human’s. Dogs often feel hotter because their average body temperature is between 37°C and 39°C. When a dog licks a person’s face, its tongue may feel hot, but this is completely normal. A dog’s mouth isn’t the best way to check its temperature, which is why veterinarians use a rectal thermometer.

Cooling Mechanism:

Dogs don’t sweat like humans. Instead, they use their tongue to cool down. Panting works similarly to sweating; as moisture evaporates from the dog’s tongue, it helps to lower its body temperature (similar to how sweat evaporating from human skin cools us down). When a dog pants, its tongue may feel warmer than usual.

Heatstroke:

If a dog’s body temperature rises above 39°C without any previous signs of illness or after spending a long time in the heat, it’s likely suffering from heatstroke. Other signs of heatstroke include:

• Unusual gum color
• Bruising on the gums
• Dry or sticky gums
• Rapid breathing
• Lethargy or disorientation
• Seizures

If the temperature reaches around 40°C, organ failure and death can occur, so it’s important to lower the dog’s temperature safely and quickly. Pour cool (not cold) water on the dog’s belly, head, feet, and armpits, or apply cool cloths to these areas, but be sure to change them frequently. Generally, if the temperature hasn’t risen too high, the dog will recover quickly. However, heatstroke can damage organs, leading to complications. Since panting relies on water evaporation to cool the dog, heatstroke can occur at much lower temperatures if the humidity is high.

Fever:

A fever can cause a dog’s tongue to feel hot. Fever symptoms range from mild to severe and may include diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, chills, and loss of appetite. Since dogs naturally have a higher body temperature than humans, identifying a fever can be difficult, and it’s usually detected by a vet.

There are many causes of fever in dogs, including:

• Cancer
• Infection
• Inflammation

The dog’s ears can be a good indicator of whether it has a fever. If so, take it to the vet. Urgent situations include blood in vomit or stool, refusal to eat, extreme lethargy, or a temperature reaching 40°C. It’s important not to treat a dog’s fever on your own, as many human medications can be harmful or even toxic to pets.