Pet dogs' paws have 'central heating' say scientists

Pet dogs keep their feet warm in frozen weather, thanks to a blood-warming system in their paws, say scientists.

Researchers in Japan used special microscopes to study pet dogs' paws. They found that dogs have a network of veins in their feet which help to keep blood warm - a bit like central heating in houses.

The system in dogs' paws has been seen in many other wild animals, including penguins' beaks and dolphins' fins. But this is the first time scientists have discovered it in dogs which are pets, and not just in the wild.

Dogs' paws can cope even in temperatures as cold as -35C. So when you're walking the dog in the ice and snow, your pooch's feet will probably feel a lot warmer than yours!

Match the words below to their definitions

researchers / microscope / central heating / penguin / cope / pooch

people who study a subject to discover new things
tool that uses lenses to let you see very small things
system in a building that heats air or water in one place and then sends it to rooms using pipes
black and white bird that swims in the ocean and can’t fly
deal successfully with a difficult situation
dog

True or false?

1. No other animals have a similar system.
2. The veins in dog’s feet keep their blood warm.
3. The system keeps a dog’s legs warm.
4. The scientists needed microscopes to see the veins.
5. Only pets can keep their paws warm.
6. Penguins keep their beaks warm in the same way.
7. The discovery was made in Japan.
8. Dogs can cope with temperatures below -35C.

What is the missing word?

1. They found that dogs have a network of ___________ in their feet.
2. But this is the first time ___________ have discovered it in dogs.
3. Dogs' paws can cope even in ___________ as cold as -35C.
4. Pet dogs keep their feet warm in frozen _____________.


KEY

researchers
people who study a subject to discover new things
microscope
tool that uses lenses to let you see very small things
central heating
system in a building that heats air or water in one place and then sends it to rooms using pipes
penguin
black and white bird that swims in the ocean and can’t fly
cope
deal successfully with a difficult situation
pooch
dog


True or false?

1. False
2. True
3. False
4. True
5. False
6. False
7. True
8. False

What is the missing word?

1. veins
2. scientists
3. temperatures
4. weather