Dog's Long Tongue: Why Canines Extend So Far?

Understanding the Role of a Dog's Tongue:

Essential for Eating and Drinking

As the cornerstone of a dog's mouth, the tongue is paramount for the fundamental act of eating and drinking, ranking at the top of its duties.

Have you ever wondered how dogs drink water? Unlike us, they can't simply lift a bowl and sip. It's all thanks to their tongue.

It might seem like they're drinking a drop at a time, but the truth is, they use a unique method. When drinking, dogs curl their tongue back, forming an arc that resembles a spoon, effectively scooping up water and bringing it into their mouth. This method is far more efficient than sipping water drop by drop.

Dogs have more developed tongue muscles and greater flexibility than humans, which is why you often see their tongues sticking out, sometimes extending quite a bit from their mouths.

Regulating Body Temperature

When discussing the functions of the tongue, it's impossible not to mention its role in regulating body temperature. Unlike humans, dogs cannot rely on sweating all over their bodies to cool down.

While dogs do have sweat glands, they are primarily located in their paws, with the rest of their body lacking in sweat glands. This means they can't produce sweat like humans do, and the cooling effect is much less effective.

So, how does the tongue help with cooling? When it's hot, dogs will open their mouths wide, sticking out their tongues, and pant heavily. The tongue's cooling process involves evaporating saliva to dissipate heat, which is why they extend their tongues and produce a lot of saliva to increase the surface area for evaporation.

However, both paw and tongue cooling are relatively insignificant during the hot summer months, so it's crucial to take precautions against the heat when taking your dog outdoors.

Just as a person's tongue can reveal insights into their health through the color and texture of their tongue coating, the same is true for dogs. By observing the color of a dog's tongue, you can get a preliminary idea of their health status.

Dog Tongue Colors:

Red

In a calm state, a normal dog's tongue is a rich pink or light red. After exercise or in hot weather, the expansion of blood vessels can cause the tongue to appear bright red. However, if the tongue remains bright red even at rest, it may indicate a fever or inflammation.

Purple

Some dogs, like the Tibetan Mastiff, have tongues that are naturally purple. Therefore, a purple tongue doesn't necessarily mean there's a problem. However, if a normally pink tongue turns purple after intense exercise, it's a cause for concern, as it might be related to heart issues.

Observing such changes should prompt a visit to the vet for further examination, as early detection and treatment of heart conditions are crucial. It could also be a sign of heatstroke or poisoning, which would require a thorough assessment of the dog's lifestyle and recent events.

White

A white tongue, with a lack of visible blood, may indicate anemia, malnutrition, parasitic disease, or extreme weakness. This is a symptom that requires further investigation, and it's best to consult a veterinarian to determine the cause of the anemia and receive timely treatment.

Yellow

A yellow tongue is often a sign of jaundice, where not only the tongue but also the eyes, oral mucosa, and skin may appear yellow. Symptoms may include excessive drinking, vomiting, lack of energy, dark urine, drowsiness, and more. Jaundice indicates a problem with bilirubin, usually pointing to liver or kidney dysfunction.

Jaundice can range from mild to severe, and if left untreated, it can be lifethreatening. It's essential to seek veterinary care to determine the cause and receive appropriate treatment.

Lastly, it's worth noting that while dogs have a highly developed sense of smell and hearing, their sense of taste is often underestimated. Taste is detected by taste buds on the tongue, and humans have about 9,000 of them, allowing us to distinguish a wide range of flavors.

Dogs, while they can taste as well as humans, have only about 1,500 taste buds, which are not as sensitive. They tend to rely more on their nose and mouth feel to discern food, highlighting the importance of their other senses in the culinary experience.