Special circulation in dogs paws, keeps them warm in winter
According to scientists, dogs can keep warm, even on frozen ground, due to a highly specialised circulation system in their paws.
Researchers in Japan have studied the internal structure of dogs paws. They found that cold blood cold or cooled blood could not be returned to the body because heat was transferred from the artery to the network of veins. Dogs are not the only animal to benefit from this system. Many other animal extremities such as Penguin’s beaks and Dolphins fins also benefit from the same type of evolved system. Artic foxes and wolves who live in extremely cold conditions almost year round are also known to have been able to adapt their circulation to keep them constantly warm, even in the coldest of conditions.
Amazingly, previous studies have shown that dogs and other canines species, are able to keep their feet from freezing in temperatures as extreme as –35 degrees. Now you can imagine that this system will be life saving to may creatures who live in freezing conditions year round, but what about the domestic dog? Is this system necessary for the domestic dog to stay warm year round, or is this an interesting link back to the ancestors of our furry pets, that has remained with them even though it is no longer required. This is quite possibly a link which ties our current domestic breeds to wild dogs from thousands of years ago who lived in very cold climates which required such specialised adaptations.
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