Toe beans: what they are and why they smell like snacks
noun · also: beans, toe beanz
toe beans: The soft pads on a dog's paws. Squishable. Smell like snacks.
Toe beans are paw pads, so called because they look like little jelly beans. Humans love to squish them. Dogs tolerate this, mostly.
In DoggoLingo
“Do not touch the toe beans. Ok you may touch ONE toe bean.”
Use “toe beans” in a sentence
Mocha's toe beans smell like corn chips and nobody can explain it.
Toe beans: the real science
Toe beans sweat
Dogs have merocrine sweat glands in their paw pads, so damp paw prints on a hot day are real. Sweating plays only a small role in keeping them cool; panting does most of the work. [1]
Why they smell like corn chips
That famous Fritos smell comes from normal bacteria living on the paws, such as Pseudomonas and Proteus. [2] A sudden strong or bad smell, redness or constant licking is a reason to check with your vet.
Toe beans questions
What are toe beans?
Toe beans is DoggoLingo for a dog's (or cat's) paw pads, which look like little beans.
Why do my dog's toe beans smell like corn chips?
Normal paw bacteria such as Pseudomonas and Proteus make that corn-chip smell. [2]
Do dogs sweat through their paws?
Yes, a little: they have sweat glands in their paw pads, though panting does most of their cooling. [1]
How we got this
The meaning comes from how the word is used online and from slang dictionaries. The science section says only what the linked sources say; we read each one before quoting it. The drawing and example sentences are made up for fun.
Sources
- Do dogs sweat?. American Kennel Club. Supports: Dogs have merocrine sweat glands in their paw pads, but sweating plays only a small role in cooling them; panting does most of the work.
- Why do my dog's feet smell like Fritos?. American Kennel Club. Supports: The corn-chip smell of paws comes from normal bacteria such as Pseudomonas and Proteus.