If you are basking in the delights of your sauna and you have a furry pet friend living with you, this thought has probably crossed your mind: ‘Can I bring my dog into the sauna?’ We all love our dogs and want the very best for them and given how beneficial saunas can be for humans do the same factors hold true for canines?
While this article will focus on mammalian domesticated animals with a focus on dogs, this does not mean that reptilian pets should necessarily shy away from the use of medicinal infrared light. If you are a horse owner or enthusiast, most likely you are well aware of the benefits of red and infrared light for horse care. Sauna, and long wavelength light therapy, can be wonderful for the health of your pet when specific precautions are observed.
The primary caution when it comes to bringing your dog into the sauna with you is very simply that dogs do not sweat. This means that your pet will not respond to the heat of a sauna with the same thermoregulatory system that you have. Dogs do respond very well to dose appropriate red and infrared light. If you have access to an infrared sauna and you use it in a safe way, your dog will likely respond very well to this healthy vibration of radiant light.
Learn how your dog regulates their temperature, why you should avoid a traditional sauna, and what the scientific data tells us about mammals and infrared light. Furthermore, find out the exact protocol to follow if you do decide to bring your dog into your infrared sauna.
Thermoregulation in Dogs Versus Humans: The Basic Cooling Mechanism Differences
If you are considering bringing your dog into your sauna then it is important to remember a very important fact. Dogs do not sweat! The ability to sweat is uniquely human, and is a critical factor that sets us apart from the rest of the animal kingdom.
Many of the benefits associated with sauna therapy are directly linked to the human cooling mechanism engaged by the thermoregulatory system. Once the human body is queued to begin to cool itself off there are many biochemical processes that are set in motion. This is when heat shock protein production begins, anti-inflammatory signals are sent out, cardiovascular engagement begins to improve overall heart health and circulation, as well as so many other heat related health benefits. In fact, one could say that it is not the sauna that cures illness, but rather the human body’s reaction to the heat of the sauna, and very specifically the uniquely human capacity to sweat in response to heat.
So, if a species cannot sweat is it still possible to benefit from a sauna? The answer to this question largely depends upon what type of sauna that you plan to use for other non-human species.
Dogs do not sweat and therefore are unable to cool themselves off as effectively as humans. This means that leaving your dog in the sauna for a prolonged period of time could ultimately be lethal. Understanding the thermoregulatory system of your dog is critical before beginning to think of inviting your furry friend into the sauna with you.
While dogs have a few sweat glands, these are used to communicate hormonal messages with other dogs and are not used to cool the body down. (1) Dogs use two primary mechanisms to cool themselves off. The first and most notable is panting. Dogs pant to cool their bodies off. Anyone who has spent time around a dog on a hot day knows that dogs pant heavily with tongue splayed out, while dripping lots of drool. This action is the canine equivalent to sweating.
Sophia Catalano, DVM author of Pet MD’s article ‘Why do Dog’s Pant’ writes:
“Panting is a normal behavior for happy and active dogs. It helps dogs cool themselves down because they can’t sweat like humans do. Panting allows a dog to rapidly inhale, humidify, then exhale the air. This increases the evaporation of water from your dog’s nose and lungs. The evaporation of water cools the body from the inside out.” (2)
While panting does help to cool dogs off it is not nearly as effective as the human ability to sweat. This is why caution must be taken when exposing a dog to high heat.
The second way that a dog can cool itself off is exposure to cold water on the paws, or even through full body submersion. (1) Many dogs will stand in a river bed, the edge of the ocean, or in a small pond while they pant to cool their bodies off. You can help your dog to cool off by providing cold packs for the paws or a cool body of water for your dog to stand in.
The fact that dogs cannot sweat significantly impacts their ability to join you in the sauna. Dogs will respond well to the healing rays of infrared light, so before you invite your pet into your sauna make sure that you have an infrared sauna instead of a traditional sauna.
Infrared Saunas Over Traditional Saunas For Your Pet
If it is a very cold winter night and you have a traditional sauna, then you may want to welcome your dog in from the cold, for a very short period of time. This is likely the only time your dog can enter a traditional sauna. The high heat of a traditional sauna may be dangerous for dogs, and ought to be generally avoided altogether. Dogs simply do not have the capacity to cool themselves off in an effective enough manner to withstand a traditional sauna safely.
If, on the other hand, you own an infrared sauna, you will be able to invite your dog into the sauna for a very brief period of time provided the sauna is set to a very low temperature. Consider following a similar protocol for your dog as you would a child. Children do not have the same capacity to sweat as their adult counterparts.
Your dog will benefit greatly from the long wavelength frequency of an infrared sauna.
Here are some basic guidelines to follow if you plan to bring your dog into your infrared sauna:
- Set your sauna temperature to no higher than 105 degrees Fahrenheit
- Do NOT allow your dog to remain in the sauna longer than 5-7 minutes maximum
- Ensure your dog hydrates well after the sauna session
- Make sure that your dog is free to exit at any time
Dogs may not be able to sweat, but like humans, they respond very well to red and infrared light. In fact, many veterinarians recommend red and near infrared therapy to high performing horses and dogs recovering from surgery.
Dogs & Horses Thrive on Red and Infrared Light Therapy: Mitochondrial Metabolism, Joint Strength , Wound Healing, and Immunity
While you may be able to invite your dog into your infrared sauna to benefit from the glow of red and infrared light, some other animals may be too big for saunas. Despite their size, horses benefit from red and near infrared light and can stand in front of a red and near infrared light panel.
When red light wavelengths are combined with near infrared light it creates a phenomenon called photobiomodulation. This process relies on the sensitivity of the photo receptors lining the membrane of the mitochondria to receive these long wavelength light frequencies into the mitochondria where they are transmuted into usable energy (ATP). (3) Ultimately this creates a stabilized life-death cycle of the cells, improved immunity, and more available energy for wound healing.
According to this paper ‘Photobiomodulation—Underlying Mechanism and Clinical Applications’, published by the National Institute of Health, photobiomodulation (PBM) can be used to improve the healing process in numerous mammalian species.
“Several studies showed the effects of PBM in the healing process, focusing on soft and hard tissue repair following surgeries, where the healing process significantly improved.” (3)
Provided that your dog is not getting too hot in your infrared sauna, inviting your dog in to enjoy the benefits of photobiomodulation afforded by the light panels of the sauna can be very beneficial. Whether your dog is needing to strengthen joints, heal skin wounds, improve mitochondrial metabolism, or simply enhance immunity it is definitely worth bringing your dog into an infrared sauna. Keep in mind the four primary stipulations for dogs and infrared sauna use:
- Set your sauna temperature to no higher than 105 degrees Fahrenheit
- Do NOT allow your dog to remain in the sauna longer than 5-7 minutes maximum
- Ensure your dog hydrates well after the sauna session
- Make sure that your dog is free to exit at any time
Remember your dog cannot sweat to cool itself off and must never be put into a situation where they feel constrained or confined to a hot space as this can be lethal.
Most notably, the use of red and near infrared light has become widespread among high performance horses to improve wound healing, and to release more bioavailable ATP (Adenosine triphosphate) via photobiomodulation. (5)
Lucia K Ryan, MVD writes in the article published by MB Mad Barn the following in reference to the potential benefit of using infrared light on horses.
“Horses, particularly performance or aging horses, often suffer from chronic pain and inflammation due to conditions such as chronic pain, or past injuries. Red light therapy is believed to offer pain relief, anti-inflammatory effects, and could potentially reduce the reliance on medication.” (4)
The benefits of photobiomodulation to mamammalian species is well documented, and has been shown to be quite safe and non-invasive. Infrared saunas, particularly those offering red light therapy as well, are an excellent opportunity for any of your mamammalian pets to benefit from the healing rays of long wavelength light frequencies.
Allow Your Pet To Benefit From Long Wavelength Light Without Getting Too Hot
Invite your furry friend into your sauna as long as it is an infrared sauna and you follow very specific protocol, making sure that your dog does not get too hot. If you have a traditional sauna, then your dog will need to skip this treatment.
Long wavelength light therapies as seen in photobiomodulation may help to alleviate pain from inflammation in your pet, improve immunity, heal wounds at a faster rate, strengthen joints, and promote mitochondrial health. If you do have an infrared sauna bring your dog in for 5 minutes, at a low temperature to enjoy the same health benefits as you do from your sauna.
Remember: Dogs do NOT sweat and can overheat easily! This means the temperature must be set very low while your dog is in the sauna and the duration of your pet’s sauna session must be very short. Also please ensure that your dogs maintain excellent hydration before, during, and after each sauna session.
If you are unsure if long wavelength light therapy, or an infrared sauna is right for your dog please consult with your veterinarian before bringing your dog into your sauna with you.
It may be possible that both you and your dog can both enjoy the health benefits of infrared sauna!
Sources Cited:
- https://www.goodrx.com/pet-health/dog/do-dogs-sweat
- https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/why-do-dogs-pant
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7356229/#:~:text=Several%20studies%20showed%20the%20effects,improved%20%5B64%2C65%5D.
- https://madbarn.com/red-light-therapy-for-horses/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553175/#:~:text=ATP%20is%20commonly%20referred%20to,Go%20to: