Pets If your dog’s tongue is hanging out, it might be a health issue: here’s what you should do. A dog’s tongue hanging out can be normal, but persistent exposure may signal health issues.

Otis the 8-month-old cat, with dwarfism, showing his tongue sticking out. Kate, 20, explained that Otis's gums "began growing over his teeth," alongside a lot of bleeding and intense pain.

A dog’s tongue hanging out is similar to a human’s sweating. In both cases, it’s the body’s way of cooling down. When a human sweats, the sweat evaporates, and that process cools the body.

Photos of Jax with his "iconic" tongue hanging out. The golden retriever had to have some teeth removed when he was 1 year old, and the rest taken out when he was 2.