yobyts Hot Blog - Understand Your Dog�s Senses � Smell...

yobyts Hot Blog - Understand Your Dog�s Senses � Smell... Understand Your Dog’s Senses – Smell A dog’s sense of smell is awesome. Based on studies and research, a dog’s sense of smell appears to be about 1,000 to 10,000,000 times more sensitive than a human. The wide disparity is due to the dog’s breed. When a dog smells something, they are absorbing information about the owner of the smell. They can smell pheromone which is found in urine, fecal, skin and fur. Pheromone is a secreted chemical factor that causes a reaction in members of the same species. There are different kinds of pheromones, such as food trail pheromones, sex pheromones, and many others that help identify certain aspects of the individual. From this, dogs are able to discern if the individual is another dog or human being, their gender, what they ate, where they have been, what they touched, and other types of information. Some tests show that certain breeds of dogs can even identify the specific different ingredients that went into a food. When you feed a dog, they sniff the food first. They are checking if the food is palatable and acceptable to them. If you are new to them, they will most probably sniff your hand and other parts of your body too. With proper training, some breeds of dogs can be taught to smell drugs, guns, bombs and other types of contraband. Some of them are used to locate victims of disasters, such as people who have been buried under ground or in fallen buildings. The St. Bernard dog has been used to rescue people lost in the alps. The nostrils of the dog can move independently and this allows them to determine what direction a smell is coming from. The mucus on a dog’s nose helps them capture scent particles. If their nose is dry, they lick it to aid in the scent. A normal nose is cool and moist but not wet. A dog’s nose has no sweat glands. The moisture is caused by the mucus lining. The nose is generally dark-colored. A runny nose indicates a possibility of an illness, allergy or tumor. Some diseases involve nasal discharge, such as distemper, bacterial rhinitis, and infected sinuses. Dogs do not catch colds like humans and if they do sneeze, it may be due to some irritation in the nose. If they sneeze persistently, have them checked at the veterinarian. If the dog has something in their nostril, they will try to paw it out or rub their muzzle against a hard surface. Such actions can normally dislodge any minor obstruction in their nostril. You can try looking In their nostril and if it is near the entrance, you might be able to pick it out with tweezers without harming the dog. Do not attempt to reach deep into the nostril as you might damage the lining and cause additional harm to the dog. If you have to attend to the dog temporarily, treat them with antibiotics to prevent tissue buildup, which lead to chronic breathing problems. Check with the veterinarian what medications can be applied and keep a stock ready in case of emergencies. A dog can smell and breathe through the nose. These are two different functions on one organ. They breathe through the nose for air. However if you see them sniff with short breaths, they are saving some scent that does not get exhaled. When puppies are newly born, their eyes and ears are close and they rely on heat sensors in the nose to help find their mother. These sensors disappear as they grow older. CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS... Unique Membership Site on Training & Care of Dogs: Click Here!