When we think of the endocrine system, we are really thinking of one of the two body glandular systems: exocrine and endocrine. The exocrine system glands provide tears, saliva, sweat (in the case of dogs, sweat for the footpads) and digestive enzymes. The endocrine system secretes hormones, those amino acids, amines, steroids and prostaglandins that are picked up by the circulatory system and delivered to the appropriate sites. The endocrine system is an extremely complex system of controls, checks, balances, and inter-related feedback mechanisms.

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