Why Do Dogs Have Their Tongues Out?

We want to take a picture of our dog. He looks so cute! We all think this of our pet. But it’s always the same, every time we take a picture and he sees us, opens his mouth and sticks his tongue out, taking away all the charm of the innocent, sweet look he had when his mouth was closed. Is not true?

Can’t we help but wonder  why dogs are always sticking out their tongues? There are several reasons for this and the canine language has very different characteristics from the human language.

Dog Tongue Characteristics

Unlike us, for dogs the tongue serves much more than simply identifying flavors or drinking water. It has characteristics that help the animal in several of its physiological functions. For example:

• Regulates the temperature. The tongue acts as a “radiator” in dogs. Its nostrils are not very long, so its tongue fulfills its functions and also allows the animal to perspire or sweat through it. Upon contact with air, the moisture in the tongue cools the blood flow, regulating the temperature.

• Favors blood circulation. Have you ever noticed how dogs’ tongues grow when they are tired? This is because more blood flows through it, allowing it to recover more easily.

• Hygiene method. Dogs also use their tongue to clean certain areas of the body or wounds.

• Socialize. Yes, that’s right, it serves to socialize. A dog’s tongue is one of the most sensitive parts of a dog’s body, so licking another dog means trying to calm or stop any hostile gestures, even before they happen. Let’s say it’s their way of hoisting the white flag.

We know, for all these reasons, that dogs don’t stick their tongues out of their mouths just for fun, but because they have one or more biological reasons for doing so. Let’s look at some!

Why do dogs stick out their tongues?

• Thirst. If your throat and mouth become dry at any time, it is normal for your tongue to stick out, causing it to moisten in contact with the atmosphere.

• Tiredness. When dogs are tired, the tongue concentrates more blood flow. So they put it out of the mouth so that the flow freely returns to its place.

• Excitement. When a dog is excited, he may not be able to breathe as his nasal cavities are extremely short, so letting his tongue stick out will help him breathe better.

• Ache. If the animal is in pain, it will not even be able to keep its muzzle closed and its tongue in its mouth. That’s why we sometimes see sick dogs with their “dead” tongue hanging out.

• Cold or heat. As we saw at the beginning of the article, the tongue is the canine radiator. That way, your pet will use it instinctively if it’s cold or hot to regulate its body temperature. If he repeatedly breathes loudly, don’t panic, it’s a way to speed up this process.

These are some of the reasons your dog sticks his tongue out of his mouth. Of course, if you don’t notice that there are some of the above reasons listed when your dog’s tongue is hanging out and this is accompanied by noisy, repetitive breathing, there may be something more serious involved.

In cases like this, the best thing to do is to consult a veterinarian. It could be that your dog has some illness or virus that may cause a fever, or some bacteria that is causing problems in his body that we couldn’t recognize.

We humans and animals are so similar in some things, yet so different in others… Sometimes we can’t understand all the reasons why they make some gestures. So, as we always say, it ‘s important to watch your dog whenever you’re with him. Check if he has different attitudes than normal.

Sometimes dogs show through attitudes that something is not right. Don’t expect your pet to always scream when he feels bad or cry if he’s in pain.

Be aware, be persistent and help your dog whenever he needs it.