Yes, your dog will do many interesting and even strange things. Sticking his tongue out is probably one of the most interesting things. Why do dogs stick their tongue out? As always, there is not just one simple reason. There are a few of them and each one is interesting. We will share all the reasons and all the things owners need to know.
5 Reaons Dogs Stick Their Tongue Out
1. Tonguing
Here is one of the most fascinating reasons. Why do dogs stick their tongue out? He will do this after he sniffs a female dog. It is tasting the air and it is common among mammals. Some species do it differently but most of them will do it at some point. It is perfectly normal and there is no need to worry about it. Keep in mind that if this is the case, the tongue may stick just a bit or not at all.
2. Panting
A dog will pant in order to cool himself down. It is an effective method and one that is not present in humans, obviously. During panting, water will evaporate from the tongue and even the upper airways. This process helps him cool down and regulate his body temperature. Dogs don’t have sweat glands as humans hence they need an alternative method. Panting is one of them. Keep in mind that normal panting is shallow and fast breathing with the tongue sticking out.
3. Mass On The Tongue
Sadly a dog can do this due to cancer or masses on the tongue. The first option here is dangerous and proper treatment is mandatory. The latter will be a by product of the papilloma virus. It will create papillomatosis that is not extremely dangerous (they are not malignant) but can cause issues. Once again, treatment is mandatory. In both cases, a dog will have a mass or a bump on his tongue hence he won’t be able to keep it in the oral cavity. He will stick it out. Try to remember that if this is the case, he will stick his tongue all the time outside.
4. Hanging Tongue Syndrome
This is an interesting reason and the one that will probably make you wonder. Some dogs have ‘’pushed’’ faces. Their mouth is too small to accommodate the tongue. Hence, he will have to keep it outside the mouth. It is also possible that a dog keeps his tongue out if he has an abnormal jaw or some deformity. If he doesn’t have front teeth, this may happen as well.
5. Dental Disease
All kinds of dental diseases can cause this syndrome or behavior. Some of the most common are glossitis, stomatitis, gingivitis, and cheilitis. All of these are inflammations. Some affect the tongue, other lips, and some soft tissue around the tongue. There are all kinds of other causes and diseases that can make your dog do this all the time. In all cases, proper treatment is something you need to consider.
When Should You Take Your Dog To A Vet?
In most cases, this is not a dangerous problem. You don’t need to do anything. If your pet is panting when the temperature is high or he is running around for hours, it is normal. As we have mentioned, this is perfectly normal and he will do this in order to cool down.
If your pet is sticking his tongue all the time and there is no obvious reason why he is doing this (the temperature is low, he is not running around etc.) you will need to take action. You will need to examine his oral cavity and the tongue. Make sure there are no masses or anything similar inside. Also make sure that the tongue, lips, and gums are of the proper color. Too pale gums or extremely red tongue will mean a bad thing.
If you don’t find anything and your dog stops sticking his tongue out, the problem is probably a thing of the past. If he continues to do this, take him to a vet. He can examine the dog better and use proper diagnosis. He may find out some infection, inflammation, or something similar. In that case scenario, a vet will start treatment.
Medications are usually used and they are very helpful.
All we can add here is that all kinds of treatments are available nowadays and many of these are very successful. But, in order to make the best treatment, you will have to start it as soon as possible. It is far more effective and it will decrease the risk of a more severe problem.
We must add that if he sticks his tongue due to genetics, you can’t do anything. There are no treatments or anything else available. If he does this due to oral cancer or a similar disease, you can start the treatment but you cannot prevent this. There are no things you can do which will eliminate the risk of oral cancer, obviously. All you can do is keep your eye on your dog and make sure he doesn’t lick toxins or anything similar. The treatment for oral cancer can be really expensive. If you start sooner, you will complete it sooner and the cost will be lower.
There is one more thing we would like to discuss. Trying to change this behavior and make your dog don’t stick his tongue out is not an option. If he does this to cool down himself, you must not try to change that. It is normal behavior, period.
The Final Word
Why do dogs stick their tongue out? In most cases, it is perfectly normal and there is no need to worry about it. In rare cases, there might be an issue and you will need to take him to a vet. We have shared all the things you should know so pay attention to your pet more if you believe he is sticking his tongue more than he should.
