Arggh. I’ve been kissed by a dog! Contrary to popular belief, Lucy, a dog’s tongue is so much more useful for a dog than simply for kissing.

A dog’s tongue is used for greeting, eating, drinking and panting. That relaxed mouth and loose tongue is your dog’s way of inviting you to interact with him. No one can resist sloppy puppy kisses or the friendly, compassionate kisses of an older faithful companion. Sometimes those kisses may be to investigate the taste of salt from your skin or the remains of the fried chicken you just had in your hands.

Your dog’s taste buds can discern the sensations of salt, sweet and sour tastes.  The top of the tongue senses sour; whereas the sides and back of the tongue can distinguish a salty flavor. Sweet flavors are distinguished on the sides and front of the tongue. If you watch your dog drink, you may note that it is accomplished with only the tip of the tongue as that is where the taste of water is sensed.

In this hot summer weather you may notice that your dog is panting. Dogs do not have sweat glands as we think of them in humans. The only place a dog can sweat is through his foot pads. To help dissipate heat from his body, he will pant.  By opening his mouth to pant, he is releasing moisture from his body as we would “sweat.” The breath in his mouth is more warm and moist than that in his nasal cavity, so when he opens his mouth to pant, his tongue actually expands and assists in pushing the heat out of his body to cool him down.

Chinese medicine teaches that the condition of the tongue is important in assessing the dog’s overall health condition and is a reflection of the balance of yin and yang. Assess your dog’s tongue for smell and color. The saliva can be an indication of his digestive system.  A normal tongue color is more of a pink hue indicating adequate blood flow and can be indicative of heart function. A purple tongue may indicate blood stagnation.

And finally, we don’t often think of the tongue as a muscle but it is. If it is a muscle, does it have an integral part in a dog’s movement? The answer is yes. If you watch your dog run around a corner to the left, you may notice his tongue out to the side on the right as he rounds the corner. The tongue is acting as a counter balance and will return to center as the dog returns to straight on movements. If you watch films of agility dogs, you can further assess how the tongue assists in adjusting for jumps and turns. Take time to observe your dog’s tongue and the many uses it serves him.