Fun Fact #1: Dogs Sweat Through Their Paws
If you have ever wondered if dogs sweat, they do! Just not from where you’d expect.
Dogs sweat through their paws. In combination with panting, the sweat glands in their paws help to keep them cool. Sweaty paws can also help with traction.
Fun Fact #3: Some Breeds Have ‘Hare Feet’
Dogs with hare feet have two elongated central toenails.
A dog that has hare feet doesn’t mean they are adept at the bunny hop. Rather, they are used for speed in slender running breeds like Greyhounds, whippets, and Borzois.
The Functionality of a Dog’s Paws
If you’ve ever tried running on asphalt with bare feet, you’ll immediately understand the importance of having socks and shoes to cushion the force of impact. The pads of a dog’s paws serve a similar, albeit organic, role. Four digital pads cover each of a dog’s four toes, while a larger metacarpal pad below extends to either side of the foot’s bottom. Behind this is a smaller pad known as the carpal pad and a small claw known as the dewclaw.
The digital and metacarpal pads are where a dog places the most of its weight when moving, and they’re constructed of adipose — or fat tissue — and a layer of the skin thicker than anywhere else on the dog’s body. Elastic fibers connecting the adipose let these pads absorb and redistribute the pressure from the impact of a dog’s paws hitting a surface. Sweat glands on the pads help keep the body cool in hotter weather, while the adipose within the pads resists freezing and offers insulation against ice and snow.
The carpal pad plays a different but important role in how dogs move. Positioned approximately where the human wrist would be, the carpal pad serves a similar purpose to a car’s handbrake. It doesn’t normally touch the ground when a dog is walking or running, but adjusting the legs to scrape the carpal pad across the ground lets a dog come to a quick stop. And since it’s made from the same material as the other pads, it can significantly reduce the impact on the dog’s joints and muscles.
Dewclaws tend to be less important. Although they help a rare few dog breeds climb steep hills, they’re mostly just used to get a better grip on toys, sticks, and bones. Claws can also help with navigation, as they can be used for digging and gaining traction on looser surfaces.
7 FACTS About DOG PAWS Dog Paw Anatomy
You may have noticed that dog paws come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some dogs have wide paws, and others are narrow. Some dogs have rear dew claws, and others do not. Some have hair between their toes, and others have webbed feet. Although there are many kinds of dogs, one thing that is remarkably consistent, regardless of breed or mix, is basic dog paw anatomy.
Unlike humans, who walk on the balls and soles of their feet, dogs are digitigrade animals, meaning that they walk on their toes. Regardless of the form or outward appearance of dog paws, a dog’s fore and hind paws are formed for durability and functionality. Let’s explore the wonderful world of dog paws together!